​International Recognition: The Brazilian Law Firm Revolutionizing Legal Advisory in Tokenization and Web3

In the fast-evolving global landscape of decentralized finance (DeFi) and tokenization, the Brazilian law firm Lopes e Zorzo Advocacia has gained prominence for its expertise and pioneering approach. Founded by Fernando Lopes and Marcella Zorzo, the firm is the first in Brazil to specialize in legal advisory for tokenization projects and Web3. With a solid international reputation, the firm serves clients worldwide — from Singapore to Italy, Estonia to Panama, and the United States — combining a deep understanding of European and U.S. regulations with full English fluency, which allows for effective, precise advisory across jurisdictions.

The phenomenon of “tokenization” has drawn the attention of various companies seeking to offer real estate tokens, often in a centralized way, thus limiting the economic potential of this technology. This happens when the proper use of smart contracts is overlooked, retaining or even increasing intermediaries and forfeiting the potential benefits that could be gained through automation and reduced transaction costs. As such, having specialized legal advisory is crucial to ensuring that tokenization processes truly generate value.

Since 2019, Fernando Lopes and Marcella Zorzo have been advising entrepreneurs interested in creating tokenization projects, pioneering legal services that tackle this disruptive technology. In July 2024, the lawyers released The Legal Guide to Tokenization, which received a best-seller seal and became Brazil’s first legal guide dedicated to tokenization projects. Besides serving as a handbook for lawyers, the book was designed for entrepreneurs, offering practical guidance on how to create, analyze, and implement tokenization projects legally and effectively. Key goals of the guide include explaining how to tokenize assets and rights without violating securities laws, creating real estate rights through tokens, and conducting thorough legal analyses for these projects. The book also presents an innovative thesis on the infeasibility of Bitcoin as a material object of money laundering — an essential topic for understanding the legal implications of cryptocurrencies.

Marcella Zorzo, an attorney with extensive experience in agribusiness and in social media’s use within the business sector, compares the importance of tokenization to the impact of e-commerce in the 1990s. “No business owner who loves their enterprise can ignore tokenization, when all it takes is to look around and see that all major companies worldwide have been heavily investing in it for at least two years,” she emphasizes.

Fernando Lopes, an attorney and programmer, reinforces the idea that what’s missing to popularize tokenization among Brazilian companies is awareness of its benefits. “Only large companies have qualified personnel to understand how this technology can reduce transaction costs. Unfortunately, no one shares knowledge as valuable as gold for free.” Lopes also emphasizes that, although there are tokenization projects underway in Brazil, few explore the technology’s full potential. “Tokenization alone is not enough; decentralization is essential,” he says, stressing that the true transformation lies in disintermediating negotiation processes, following the successful model observed in the European Union.

The Legal Guide to Tokenization goes further by offering a practical and disruptive approach, launching an NFT associated with the guide to provide readers with constant updates and access to other exclusive benefits. This is another example of the authors’ pioneering spirit, seeking to combine innovation and legal knowledge in what they call “Law 4.0.”

Furthermore, Lopes e Zorzo Advocacia has already achieved significant milestones, including Brazil’s first blockchain-based vehicle purchase and sale registration and the launch of the first tokenized YouTube channel. The firm’s pursuit of excellence and innovation is evidenced by its wide-ranging services, assisting companies worldwide and offering customized advisory suited to the specific needs of each client and jurisdiction.

With the recent launch of the Real Digital, a pilot project by Brazil’s Central Bank to create a tokenized version of the country’s currency, interest in tokenization is expected to grow further. Lopes e Zorzo Advocacia, therefore, positions itself as an essential partner for companies and lawyers looking to understand and leverage the opportunities of tokenization with legal security and maximum innovation potential.

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