Brazilian Criminal Defense & Defensive Investigation

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Gabriel Bulhões is a Brazilian criminal defense attorney based in Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, with a second office in São Paulo, serving clients throughout Brazil. His practice spans criminal defense, economic criminal law, and defensive investigation — a distinctive area in which he co-authored the Brazilian Bar regulation (Provimento 188/2018) and authored the leading reference book. Learn more about the firm.

Practice Areas

Defensive Investigation Fact-finding by the defense itself, under OAB Provimento 188/2018, to produce evidence and strengthen the defense strategy. Criminal Defense Criminal defense at every stage, from the police inquiry to jury trial, including urgent matters such as arrest in flagrante. Economic Criminal Law Financial crimes, tax crimes, money laundering, and offenses against the economic system and public administration. Criminal Compliance Preventing criminal risk inside companies, with integrity programs and internal corporate investigations. Digital Evidence Technical handling of digital evidence and chain of custody — central to cybercrime cases and modern investigation. Victim Assistance Acting as assistant to the prosecution and defending victims' interests, including recovery of damages. Anti-Organized-Crime Compliance Assessing a company's exposure to organized crime and to U.S. anti-terrorism sanctions regimes, backed by investigation. Defense of Lawful Management Acts Legal protection for pension fund and company directors in proceedings before Previc, the Federal Audit Court (TCU), and criminal court. Appeals to Brazil's Superior Courts Special appeals (STJ) and extraordinary appeals (STF), with admissibility strategy and oral argument in Brasília.

Area pages are in Portuguese — the firm's full legal analysis is written for the Brazilian market and Brazilian courts.

The Firm in Numbers

11+ years in practice

19 Brazilian states + Federal District

182 publications

3 books

Credentials

President of the Criminal Defense Attorneys Commission — OAB/RN (2016–2018)
Vice-President of the Defensive Investigation Commission — CFOAB (Brazilian Federal Bar)
President of the National Defensive Investigation Commission — ABRACRIM
Deputy Regional Coordinator of IBCCRIM in the Federal District and its Advanced Study Groups (2025–2026)

Read the full credentials timeline. In the press: BBC News Brasil , ConJur , Migalhas .

Practice Areas

The Firm in Numbers

Credentials

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