During the crisis caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, Mattos Filho has committed to remaining accessible and connected, given the importance of acting quickly, being close to its clients, understanding the needs of its professionals and, also, those of the people who — directly or indirectly — are impacted by the firm. All this without deviating from its outlook into the future and its long-term vision.
“More than a health crisis, we are faced with a humanitarian crisis. Guided by our social DNA, we have redirected our pro bono and Corporate Citizenship activities to act strategically in reducing the impacts caused by the virus, as well as in promoting and defending the rights of vulnerable groups,” Mattos Filho managing partner Roberto Quiroga pointed out.
Aware that constructing alternative approaches to manage the crisis depended on everyone’s collaboration, Mattos Filho put its legal expertise at the service of society. The firm has expanded its cooperation with clients and companies, supporting projects to enable private investments in public health policies and income distribution. It has also stepped up its free legal services to civil society organizations.
“To cite just some examples, we have advised projects that aim to expand the country’s coronavirus detection system and increase the offer of hospital services to the Brazilian population. We have also increased the initiatives of our volunteer and Diversity and Inclusion programs,” explained Quiroga.
“All of these actions were planned and executed with a focus on the public interest and the greater good,” added Marcelo Mansur, a partner of the Insurance, Reinsurance and Pensions practice area who has been leading the firm’s pandemic-related actions since March 2020. “In the legal world, we talk about the concept of force majeure from the time we are at law school, but there are rare opportunities to apply it in a concrete case. In the pandemic, we have seen important cases that discussed whether to apply this theory or not.”
To expand the population’s access to Covid-19 tests, the firm supported the #2em2 movement, idealized by the companies Rappi, Renovatio, Cia. Da Consulta, and Vitta. For each test purchased on the project’s official platform, another was donated to the public health system. In the same sense, Mattos Filho cooperated with the diagnostic medicine group Dasa in an action to significantly expand the testing system for coronavirus in the country, in agreement with the Ministry of Health.
More than a health crisis, we are faced with a humanitarian crisis. Guided by our social DNA, we have redirected our pro bono and Corporate Citizenship activities to act strategically in reducing the impacts caused by the virus, as well as in promoting and defending the rights of vulnerable groups.”