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.
Over the years, Flavia Melo has been ranked amongst the best shipping lawyers in Brazil by Chambers and Partners, Leaders League, Legal 500 and Who's Who Legal. She is one of the founding members of WISTA Brazil, to which she served as ExCo Member (2016-2021). She has been also involved with ABDM (Associação Brasileira de Direito), IIDM (Instituto Iberoamericano de Derecho Maritimo), as well as the Maritime and Transport law Committee of the International Bar Association. Flavia Melo is a frequent speaker at Brazilian and foreign seminars, and law instructor of shipping short courses. She has written several papers published by national and international magazines, and she has contributed to the Manual on Petroleum Law in Brazil, vols. I and II, being the author of chapters “Brazilian Shipping Company and Offshore Service Supply Navigation” and “The limits of Brazilian jurisdiction to hear and try international maritime industry conflicts in light of the Brazilian Civil Procedure Code". Flavia Melo was awarded the "Amigo da Marinha" medal by the Brazilian Navy in 2019, recognising her contribution to the shipping industry in Brazil.
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
