After 15 years at the helm of FGV’s Rio de Janeiro Law School (Direito Rio), Professor Joaquim Falcãostepped down as dean last Friday, during a lunch party held in his honor for all the work and dedication to the institution. After an extensive selection process, led by a Selection Committee composed of five members, the Deputy Dean of Education, Research, and Graduate Studies of Direito Rio at the time, Professor Sérgio Guerra, was chosen from a three-name list and takes over the position at the School.

The event was attended by directors, professors, students, and employees of the institution, as well as guests linked to the field of Law, who either followed or were part of Falcão’s successful trajectory.

The president of FGV, Carlos Ivan Simonsen Leal, opened the meeting by talking about his affectionate relationship with the honoree: “I come here today with a bittersweet feeling”.  He went on praising the honoree’s character, in addition to the invitation made to him in 2002 to create Direito Rio, based on an innovative model. “When I invited Joaquim to create Direito Rio, I was attracted by his brilliance and his ideas”, he said.

In addition to the president of FGV, other guests also addressed words of encouragement, thanks, and praise to Falcão’s work. Among them, the new dean of Direito Rio, Professor Sérgio Guerra, also said a few words thanking him for everything that he had learned in the 10 years serving as deputy dean at the School. Next, Falcão thanked President Leal and Professor Guerra, and received a huge applause.

About the new dean of Direito Rio

Professor Sérgio Guerra holds a Post-Doctorate in Law (Visiting Researcher, Yale Law School), a Post-Doctorate in Public Administration (FGV’s Brazilian School of Public and Business Administration (EBAPE)), a PhD in Economic Law (UGF), and a Master’s in Law (UCAM). He has written several legal books and papers, and received the ‘Emeritus Award of the Brazilian Association of Regulatory Agencies’ for his research carried out for more than 15 years in the regulatory field, which has helped shape case law for the Superior Court of Justice (STJ) regarding control over the actions of regulatory agencies. 

He is currently professor of Administrative Law and coordinator of the Academic Master’s in Regulation Law at Direito Rio; coordinator of the International Business Law Course at University of California (Irvine); arbitrator of the Chamber of Arbitration and Mediation of the Federation of Industries of Paraná; arbitrator of FGV’s Chamber of Mediation and Arbitration; arbitrator of the Brazilian Center of Mediation and Arbitration – CBMA; as well as Ambassador of Brazil at Yale University.

With over 30 years of experience in Public Law, focusing on Administrative and Regulatory Law, his main areas of expertise include regulatory agencies, regulation of public services and economic activities, contracting, arbitration, and control of public administration.