Zoning and Urban Planning

We intervene in expropriation proceedings for public utility, representing owners, developers, and, when applicable, public entities. For individuals and companies, we analyze the legality of the public utility declaration, the zoning framework of the asset, and the criteria for calculating compensation. Based on this evaluation, we participate in the negotiation of compensation values and, when appropriate, pursue administrative claims, challenges, and lawsuits, aiming to obtain compensation that reflects, as much as possible, the asset's value and applicable legal parameters. When advising public entities, we support the preparation of expropriation processes, the definition of the communication strategy with the expropriated parties, and the necessary documentation, acting to ensure legal compliance and the reduction of subsequent litigation risks.

We provide advisory services in urban rehabilitation operations, from the delimitation of Urban Rehabilitation Areas (ARU) and the definition of Urban Rehabilitation Operations to the concrete execution of projects. We analyze the zoning and heritage framework of the area in question, support project preparation and coordination with local authorities and other competent entities, and monitor applications for tax benefits and financing lines associated with rehabilitation. We coordinate the formalization of agreements and partnerships between developers, municipalities, investors, and owners, ensuring that the legal structure of the operations is compatible with the objectives of requalification, heritage conservation, and economic sustainability of each intervention.

Urban planning and environmental issues are increasingly intertwined. We follow projects that require environmental impact assessment, environmental licensing, or compliance with specific sustainability, energy efficiency, and waste management standards. We integrate environmental criteria into urban analysis and planning, in coordination with technical environmental teams, preparing or reviewing studies, reports, and environmental licensing applications, and defining mitigation and compensation measures required by the authorities. We provide ongoing consultancy in sustainable urban planning, monitoring legislative changes and administrative guidelines with an impact on ongoing or future projects, and adjusting the client's strategy to reduce the risk of non-compliance, delays, or disputes in environmental matters.

Before buying land, signing promissory contracts, or closing financing. In this phase, we evaluate which indexes are possible, what easements and restrictions exist, what licensing procedures will be required, and what a realistic regulatory timeline looks like.

We review the project against active plans, prepare requests and communications, follow opinions from external entities, inspections, and technical verifications, and coordinate the municipality's requirements with the construction, sale, and financing schedules. We follow the procedure until the issuance of the use license.

We legally design the land subdivision operation, verify compatibility with the municipal master plan and other territorial management instruments, prepare legal documents, and assist with the entire procedure before the municipality, including potential reviews of constraints and land dedications (cedências).

For owners and developers, we analyze the legality of the public utility declaration, the framework of the asset, and the criteria used for compensation, negotiating amounts and challenging decisions when necessary. For public entities, we structure expropriation processes to reduce the risk of nullities and litigation.

We assist operations in urban rehabilitation areas, supporting coordination with local authorities, requalification programs, tax benefits, and financing lines. We guarantee that the legal structure of agreements between developers, municipalities, and owners complies with rehabilitation objectives and the law.

In projects requiring environmental impact assessment or environmental licensing, we work alongside technical teams to guarantee that studies, reports, and mitigation measures meet legal requirements. We bridge sustainable urban planning and environmental compliance to reduce the risk of delays or sanctions.

We reconstruct the procedure, evaluate whether public law rules or principles were violated, and define the strategy: technical dialogue with the local authority, administrative complaint, hierarchical appeal, or contentious challenge. The focus is on unblocking the project or obtaining appropriate compensation if the damage is already irreversible.

We handle both sides. We plan the regulatory path, and when harmful acts arise - such as rejections, disproportionate constraints, or poorly conducted expropriations - we proceed with administrative challenges and lawsuits, always coordinated with the investment strategy.

Right at the feasibility study phase of the land or project. This is when the design, timeline, and legal structure of the transaction can still be adjusted to the reality of the applicable urban planning rules, instead of trying to recover urban operations planned from the outset in conflict with the master plan or the licensing procedure.