Flavia Melo has more than 20 years of experience within the shipping industry. She has served both Brazilian and foreign clients and specializes in maritime accidents, cargo claims, ship detention, environmental pollution, third-party compensation, and insurance matters. Flavia also handles contractual disputes arising from shipbuilding, sale and purchase of vessels and units, charter parties, commercial carriage, international trade and the provision of services to the offshore oil and gas industry. Due to her experience in both dry and wet shipping, Flavia Melo has consolidated her consultancy practice in relation to the aforementioned matters, as well as Brazilian and international norms and regulations. Flavia Melo also provides advice on marine insurance and reinsurance, particularly with regards to Brazilian regulations and handling of claims. Throughout her career, she has had the opportunity to work on some prominent projects, such as PROSUB, where she advised the Brazilian Navy on a series of contracts for the construction, acquisition and disposal of ships and military facilities. More recently, Flavia Melo has earned a significant reputation for obtaining urgent measures, dealing with emergency response, and crisis management related to marine casualties. These include the explosions onboard the FPSO Cidade de São Mateus, the rig Norbe VIII, and the vessel Normand Maximus, involving multiple players and complex developments.
Flavia Melo está listada entre os melhores advogados maritimistas do Brasil pela Chambers and Partners, Leaders League, Legal 500 e Who’s Who Legal. Ela é uma das fundadoras da WISTA Brasil, onde atuou como membro do Comitê Executivo (2016-2021). Ela também é membro da ABDM (Associação Brasileira de Direito Marítimo), do IIDM-Brasil (Instituto Iberoamericano de Derecho Marítimo – Rama Brasil), e frequentou por anos as reuniões do Maritime and Transport Law Committee da International Bar Association. Flavia Melo é palestrante frequente em eventos nacionais e internacionais, e instrutora de Direito Marítimo em cursos diversos. Ela é também autora de vários artigos publicados por periódicos nacionais e internacionais, sendo uma das autoras da “Cartilha do Direito do Petróleo no Brasil”, Ed. Lúmen Júris, com os capítulos “Empresa Brasileira de Navegação e Navegação de Apoio Marítimo” (vol. I) e “Os limites da jurisdição brasileira para processar e julgar conflitos oriundos da indústria marítima internacional à luz do Código de Processo Civil” (vol. II). Em 2019, Flavia Melo foi agraciada com a medalha Amigo da Marinha, em reconhecimento à sua atu ação na área marítima no Brasil.
Flavia Melo is married, has two stepchildren and four cats. She is a feminist, fascinated by geek culture and loves to travel. She appreciates music, cinema, series, good food and craft beer.
Education
UERJ, Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.)
UFRJ, COPPE, Post-graduate lato sensu in Oil & Gas Businesses
FGV Direito Rio, PEC, Insurance and Reinsurance Law Course
The North of England P&I Association, UK Residential Training Course in P&I Insurance and Loss Prevention
Languages
Portuguese and English
