Our History

About Us

Founded in 1969 by the maritime lawyer Osvaldo Sammarco, Sammarco Advogados is a boutique law firm specialised in maritime law, recognised and awarded internationally by tradition and excellence in this field, as well as in other sectors related to international commerce, logistics and cargo transportation.

We attend the principal P&I Clubs, owners, charterers, cargo brokers, freight forwarders, multimodal carriers, terminals, port operators and other players in the segment of transportation and logistics concerning navigational accidents, such as shortage of and damage to cargo, collision, grounding, environmental damage, ship arrest, accidents with crewmembers and port workers, freight collection, demurrage, detention, warehousing and other maritime and port matters.

We render legal services in the litigation area, strategic litigation, mediation, arbitration and preventive consultation through legal opinions. Led by 6 partners, our team of lawyers, legal trainees and collaborators is highly qualified to render services with a global vision, updated and focused to present the best solutions to our clients.

Our main office is strategically established at Santos, the biggest port of Latin America. In addition through our net of correspondents in the principal capitals, ports and airports of the country, we attend all Brazil.

Our credibility is a result of a trajectory based on ethics, transparence and an attentive vision to innovation in the juridical field that allows us to offer solutions of quality.

The law firm Esteves Sá is now Sammarco Advogados.

Together, they now form a team with 100 years of accumulated experience.

The law firm Sammarco Advogados, founded in 1969 by maritime lawyer Osvaldo Sammarco, is internationally recognized and awarded for its tradition and excellence in areas of law related to maritime, air, road, and rail transportation, as well as Port Law, Customs Law, Strategic Litigation, Regulatory Law, Mediation, and Arbitration.

Our team’s specialization enables us to provide quality service to our clients, addressing environmental issues, contract review, compensations, navigation accidents, inquiries, recovery of logistics services credits, and legal support in infrastructure asset purchases and sales, as well as bids and tenders.

We offer advocacy services to our clients, working with the Executive and Legislative branches to monitor sectoral regulation and legislative processes, develop strategies, and manage institutional and government relations.

Our Partners

Osvaldo Sammarco

He is a founding partner with over 50 years of experience, graduated from the Catholic University of Santos (Unisantos). He has extensive experience in Maritime, International, Aeronautical, Port, and Arbitration Law. He was the President of the Association of Lawyers of Santos/SP in the biennium 1978/1979. He served as a Prosecutor for the Municipality of Santos/SP from 1975 to 1995. He was a Professor of Maritime Law at the Metropolitan University of Santos (Unimes) from 1996 to 2005. He was a guest lecturer at the Postgraduate Course in Maritime and Port Law at the Catholic University of Santos (Unisantos). He was Vice-President of the Brazilian Maritime Law Association (ABDM) and President of the São Paulo Section of ABDM. He was a member of the Working Group responsible for drafting Amendment No. 56, which creates and institutes the Maritime Commercial Law Book in the Project of the new Commercial Code. He is a speaker and author of several articles on Maritime Law published in books and magazines in Brazil and abroad. Recognitions: Chambers Global, Shipping (2016, 2017, 2018, 2019).

Marcelo L. Sammarco

He is a lawyer with 18 years of experience, practicing in Maritime, Aeronautical, Port, and Customs Law. He holds a Master’s degree in Diffuse and Collective Rights from the Metropolitan University of Santos (Unimes). He has experience in civil liability in cargo transportation, cargo insurance, port regulatory law, and related areas. Since 2013, he has chaired the Maritime Law Commission of the OAB/Santos. He is an arbitrator at the Brazilian Center for Maritime Arbitration (CBAM). He is the Vice-President of the Brazilian Maritime Law Association (ABDM) and President of the São Paulo Section of ABDM. He is a guest lecturer at the Postgraduate Course in Maritime and Port Law at the Catholic University of Santos (Unisantos) and at the Santa Cecília University (Unisanta). He is a National Counselor and President of the Southeast Council of Brazil Export. He is the author of several articles and lectures related to the maritime, port, and regulatory sectors.

Marcus Vinicius L. Sammarco

He is a lawyer with over 25 years of experience, graduated from the Catholic University of Santos (Unisantos) and Master in Law from the Metropolitan University of Santos (Unimes), with a Postgraduate Course in Arbitration from the International Chamber of Commerce – OAB/SP and Fundação Arcadas. He is a partner with a strong focus on Maritime and International Law. He has extensive experience in P&I matters, including cargo claims and navigation accidents. He is a professor of Maritime Law, International Law, and Introduction to Legal Studies at the Metropolitan University of Santos (Unimes) and Santa Cecília University (Unisanta), with over 20 years of experience. He is a guest lecturer at the Postgraduate Course in Maritime and Port Law at the Catholic University of Santos (Unisantos) and Santa Cecília University (Unisanta). He is a member of the Brazilian Maritime Law Association (ABDM). He is the Vice-President of the Port Law Commission of OAB/SP – Santos/SP Subsection. He is the author of several articles and a speaker at Congresses and Seminars in the sector.

Bruna Esteves Sá

She is a lawyer with 23 years of experience, exclusively practicing in the area of ​​business labor law. She has a specialization in Labor Law and Procedure, a Master’s degree in Labor Law (PUC/SP), and International Human Rights Law (Unisantos). She is a member of the Port Law Commission of OAB/Santos and a guest lecturer at the Postgraduate Course in Maritime and Port Law at the Catholic University of Santos (Unisantos).

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