Mining, agribusiness, land and environmental licensing. Based in Sinop, Mato Grosso, on Brazil's agricultural frontier.
Sinop is the urban and services hub of northern Mato Grosso, with about 231,000 inhabitants, on the BR-163 highway. Neighboring Sorriso is Brazil's largest corn producer, and six of the ten Brazilian municipalities with the highest crop value are in Mato Grosso. The north of the state also holds gold and other mineral deposits.
Investing in the region means dealing with corporate, mining, land and environmental law at the same time, and each of them has specific rules for foreign capital.
Sources: Conab, 12th crop survey, September 2026; USDA, WASDE report 677, November 2026; Ministry of Development, Industry and Trade, Comex Stat; IBGE, Municipal Agricultural Production 2025 and 2026 population estimate; National Mining Agency (ANM), Brazilian Mineral Yearbook 2024.
Incorporation of limited liability companies or corporations with foreign shareholders, appointment of the shareholder's legal representative in Brazil, registration with the Federal Revenue Service and, together with partner accountants, registration of the foreign direct investment with the Central Bank of Brazil.
Due diligence on applications and titles at the National Mining Agency (ANM), assignment of mineral rights, agreements with title holders and cooperatives, and compliance through the exploration and mining stages. Under the Brazilian Constitution, mining may only be carried out by a company organized under Brazilian law, with its head office and management in Brazil.
Purchase and lease of rural land by foreigners or by Brazilian companies controlled by foreign capital, within the area limits and approvals of Law 5,709/1971. In the border strip, prior consent of the National Defense Council is also required.
Licensing before the Mato Grosso Environmental Agency (SEMA-MT), the federal agency Ibama and the agencies of other states, plus the Rural Environmental Registry (CAR), water use permits and vegetation clearing authorizations.
Before a purchase or partnership, we check Ibama and SEMA embargoes and fines, overlaps with indigenous lands and protected areas, the status of the CAR, and the deforestation history through satellite imagery, delivered as a report with maps.
Defense against infraction notices, environmental embargoes and sanctioning proceedings, lawsuits, and appeals to the higher courts.
Continuous legal support while the project is implemented: contracts, dealings with government agencies, deadlines and disputes.
Diovane Franco is the founder of the firm and practices environmental and agribusiness law. He is the author of Embargos Ambientais em Áreas Rurais (Thomson Reuters · Revista dos Tribunais, 2025) and co-author of Cadastro Ambiental Rural: direito, prática e tecnologia (Thomson Reuters · Revista dos Tribunais, 2026).
Offices in Sinop, Mato Grosso (head office), Belém, Pará, Brasília, Federal District, Novo Progresso, Pará, and Rio de Janeiro.
Brasília time is UTC−3 and Mato Grosso is UTC−4. Morning in Brazil is evening in Beijing, which suits video meetings.
This page is for information only and is not legal advice. In case of discrepancy, the Portuguese version prevails.