Ricardo Motta has solid experience in complex and high-profile cases, representing domestic and international clients in various matters related to competition law and international trade. He has a well-recognized practice in a broad range of antitrust issues, including unilateral conduct, cartel investigations, merger control filings, and the development of compliance programs. He acts in administrative proceedings before CADE (including negotiations) as well as in litigation before the Judiciary. Ricardo has represented clients in various industries, with solid experience in markets such as banking and finance, internet, technology, media, retail, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, and others. He also has expertise in cases involving intellectual property rights and competition. In international trade, he represents clients in trade defense proceedings (anti-dumping, subsidies, and safeguards), tariff modifications, and customs law.
Ricardo holds a Master’s degree in Commercial Law from the University of São Paulo (USP), a specialization in Economic Law from Fundação Getulio Vargas (FGV – GVLaw), and an LL.B. from Pontifícia Universidade Católica de São Paulo (PUC/SP). In 2009, he participated in the exchange program of the Secretariat of Economic Law at the Ministry of Justice (SDE/MJ). He is currently the Director of Digital Markets and Board Member of the Brazilian Institute for Competition, Consumer, and International Trade Studies (IBRA). He was previously the Coordinator of the Competition Committee at IBRAC (2020–2021) and the Coordinator of the Digital Markets Committee at IBRAC (2020–2023). He is also a member of the Brazilian Institute of Business Law and Ethics (IBDEE) and the American Bar Association (ABA).

  • Book Chapter: “Ticket Sales for Sporting Events, Discrimination, and Exclusivity”, in Competition and Sports, Amanuense Publishing, 2024.
  • Article: “Brazil’s Ministry of Finance Proposes New Regulatory Framework for Digital Platforms”. Available at: https://gcalaw.com.br/ministerio-da-fazenda-do-brasil-propoe-novo-marco-regulatorio-para-plataformas-digitais/
  • Article: “What to Expect from a Digital Platforms Regulation Bill in Brazil?”, Jota, 2024. Available at: https://www.jota.info/artigos/o-que-esperar-de-um-projeto-de-regulacao-de-plataformas-digitais-no-brasil.
  • Article: “Trade Remedies in Brazil: Overview”, co-authored with Bernardo Leite, Thomson Reuters, Practical Law (Editions: 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025).
  • Article: “The Balance of Innovation Between Competition Law and Intellectual Property”, JOTA, 2022. Available at https://www.jota.info/coberturas-especiais/inovacao-e-pesquisa/a-balanca-da-inovacao-entre-o-direito-concorrencial-e-a-propriedade-intelectual-28102022
  • Article: “Brazil in Mercosur: Analyzing the Evolution of Brazil’s Trade Relations with Other Members”, 5th edition of the International Trade Law Review, IBRAC, Singular Publishing.
  • Book: “Competition: A Contemporary Look at Unilateral Conduct”, Singular Publishing, 2021 (Coordinator).
  • Book Chapter: “Loyalty Discounts: Lessons from the Intel Case”, in Competition: A Contemporary Look at Unilateral Conduct, Singular Publishing, 2021.
  • Article: “Brazil and Digital Market Analysis: Where Are We?”, co-authored with Mariana Mello Henriques, Icarus – American Bar Association Section of Antitrust Law Media and Technology Committee, 2021.
  • Book Chapter: “10 Years of the Brazilian Competition Law”, Singular Publishing, 2021.
  • Article: “CADE Resolution 24/2019: A New Standard for Gun Jumping Fines?”, JOTA, 2020. Available at: https://www.jota.info/opiniao-e-analise/artigos/resolucao-cade-24-2019-um-novo-parametro-para-o-valor-das-multas-de-gun-jumping-07012020
  • Book Chapter: “Antitrust, Intellectual Property, and Innovation”, in Competition Law in Transformation: A Tribute to Mauro Grinberg, Singular Publishing, 2020.
  • Article: “Facebook/WhatsApp Case: The Fine That Was (Not) Imposed by the European Commission”. Available at: https://gcalaw.com.br/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Caso-Facebook-WhatsApp-o-que-n%C3%A3o-foi-a-multa-imposta-pela-Comiss%C3%A3o-Europeia-EN.pdf
  • Article: “CADE Resolution 24/2019: A New Standard for Gun Jumping Fines?”, JOTA, January 7, 2020. Available at: https://www.jota.info/artigos/resolucao-cade-24-2019-um-novo-parametro-para-o-valor-das-multas-de-gun-jumping.
  • Article: “The New Law of Regulatory Agencies Approved”. Available at:: https://gcalaw.com.br/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Sancionada-Nova-Lei-das-Ag%C3%AAncias-Reguladoras-EN.pdf.
  • Book Chapter: “The Application of Special Safeguards Against China”, in Industrial and Trade Policies of China Under the WTO Rules Perspective, Elsevier, 2016.
  • Book Chapter: “Cooperation Between Competitors to Restrict Competition: The Case of Trade Defense Investigations”, in Current Economic Law, Método Publishing, 2015.
  • Article: “Cartel Regulation 2015”, Brazil chapter, Global Competition Review.
  • Article: “Cartel Regulation 2014”, Brazil chapter, Global Competition Review.
  • Article: “Cartels and Their Evidence”, IBRAC Journal, Year 21, Vol. 25, January/June 2014.
  • Article: “Trade Remedies – Brazil in a Transitional Stage”, ABA International Trade Committee Newsletter, Vol. 3, No. 1, p. 6, 2013.
  • Article: “The Boundaries of Antitrust Law – Antitrust and White Collar Crime”, IBA Competition Law International, Vol. 8, pp. 71-74, 2012.

  • Director of Digital Markets and Data at IBRAC for 2024-2025.
  • Board Member of the Deliberative Council of the Brazilian Institute for Competition, Consumer, and International Trade Studies (IBRAC) since 2018.
  • Coordinator of the Digital Markets Committee at IBRAC in 2020-2023.
  • Coordinator of the Competition Committee at IBRAC in 2020-2021.
  • Member of IBDEE – Brazilian Institute of Business Law and Ethics.
  • Member of the International Bar Association (IBA). Member of the American Bar Association (ABA).Participant in the Exchange Program of the Secretariat of Economic Law of the Brazilian Ministry of Justice (SDE/MJ) in 2009.
  • Recognized by Who’s Who Legal, since 2017, in Competition and International Trade Law, with highlights such as: “Ricardo Motta excels in competition and international trade matters, representing and advising clients in a variety of sectors including banking, technology, and retail”, and “a go-to representative for major clients in complex antitrust matters. His impressive expertise spans the technology, retail, and pharmaceutical sectors”. He is also mentioned as an “excellent professional”, who “stands out for his impressive knowledge of international trade and cartel law” and “a consummate professional”
  • Recognized by Chambers & Partners, since 2017, in Competition and International Trade Law, with highlights such as: “his expertise, dedication, focus, and attentiveness to the client”, and “[h]elpful and very good up-and-coming practitioner Ricardo Casanova Motta is regularly instructed by domestic clients to act on anti-dumping investigations, in addition to assisting with other trade remedies issues and requests for the reduction of import tariffs”.
  • Recognized by The Legal 500, since 2017, in Competition and International Trade Law, with highlights such as “truly exceptional lawyer”, “precise and extremely reliable”. He is also described as someone who “always strives for the best results”, and “creates a great atmosphere with the client’s team”.
  • Recognized by ANÁLISE ADVOCACIA 500 in Competition Law as one of the most admired lawyers, since 2016.
  • Nominated for the Global Competition Review – GCR Award in 2019 as Lawyer of the Year – under 40.
  • Recognized as “Best Lawyers – Brazil” in Competition and International Trade Law in 2019.

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