Attorney João Daniel Rassi announced the launch of JD Rassi Advogados, a boutique firm specializing in Corporate and Economic Criminal Law, which will begin operations in April 2026 in São Paulo. With over 25 years of experience in criminal law and a track record recognized by clients and peers, Rassi now leads his own firm, created to address the increasing complexity of corporate cases.
The firm’s opening stems from a clear understanding of the market: corporate criminal cases have become more complex, increasingly intertwined with other areas of law, and now generate effects that extend far beyond the criminal sphere. In a landscape of more sophisticated investigations, greater attention to reputational and compliance risks, and ever-blurring boundaries between criminal law, regulation, and business, there is a growing demand for services that combine technical expertise, a multidisciplinary perspective, and a genuine understanding of the client’s operations.
It is precisely in this context that the new firm was born. The proposal is to offer technical, strategic, and client-focused services, capable of addressing complex issues without losing sight of what, at the end of the day, matters most: understanding the business, the context, and the real impact of each decision.
“The market has matured, but it still lacks corporate criminal law firms that combine high specialization, multidisciplinary action, and genuine client relationships. In complex cases, it’s not enough to know criminal law: it’s necessary to understand the business, engage in dialogue with other departments, and build legally sound and strategically viable solutions,” stated João Daniel Rassi.
The firm’s creation also reflects its founder’s career path. After working in traditional boutique criminal law firms and consolidating his experience in the full-service environment, Rassi is now opting for a model that combines technical sophistication, a multidisciplinary approach, and closer case management. In other words, the idea is to bring together the best of both worlds.
JD Rassi Advogados will represent individuals and legal entities in criminal proceedings and act as a liaison with law enforcement agencies and regulators. The firm’s services also include criminal compliance, internal investigations, and strategic consulting in situations with potential criminal implications.
Among the issues the firm will be investigating are crimes against the national financial system, against the economic order, against tax regulations, and against the public administration, as well as corporate, competition, environmental, public procurement, and cybercrimes, and matters related to combating piracy. The scope also includes cases of money laundering, fraud, swindling, intellectual property, cyber investigations, and internal investigations.
Based in São Paulo, the firm will also have a coordinated approach with specialists from different disciplines and national coverage, reflecting the understanding that, in the most complex business cases, criminal defense requires an integrated reading of tax, competition, regulatory, corporate, environmental and reputational aspects.
About João Daniel Rassi
João Daniel Rassi is a lawyer specializing in Corporate and Economic Criminal Law. Throughout his career, he has built his expertise at leading criminal law firms such as Delmanto and Paulo José da Costa Júnior, and later consolidated his experience in a full-service environment, where he led the Corporate Criminal Law practice at SiqueiraCastro for over a decade. His practice is recognized by directories such as Chambers and Partners, The Legal 500, Leaders League, Latin Lawyer, and Análise Advocacia. Rassi has also developed a strong academic career, publishing books and articles, in addition to institutional involvement and a recognized dedication to pro bono legal work.
Throughout his career, the lawyer has participated in highly complex and high-profile cases, including those related to Operation Lava Jato and other significant developments in corporate criminal litigation. His experience also includes representing the interests of large national and multinational companies, including those in the pharmaceutical, telecommunications, and financial sectors, as well as handling matters related to money laundering, environmental crimes, the financial system, corporate fraud, compliance, and other issues of particular sensitivity to business activity.
His academic background also plays a significant role in his career. João Daniel Rassi holds a Master’s degree in Criminal Law from the University of São Paulo (USP), a Doctorate in Criminal Law from USP, and a Doctorate in Criminal Procedure from the same institution. He is the author and co-author of books and legal articles on key topics in the field, focusing on, among other issues, crimes related to public tenders and administrative contracts, corporate liability, evidence in criminal proceedings, and contemporary issues in Economic Criminal Law.
