Our Team

Carlos Eduardo Machado founded Carlos Eduardo Machado Advogados in 1990. With more than three decades practicing criminal law, Carlos Eduardo Machado has acted as criminal defense counsel in several high-profile cases, including many cases with international repercussion, and has become one of the most recognized national defense attorneys.

Carlos Eduardo Machado has obtained his bachelor’s degree from the University of the State of Rio de Janeiro in 1983. In 1988, he completed his Master’s Degree in Criminal Law and Criminology at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). He has also obtained a LLM in Business Law from IBMEC and has completed two graduate degrees from the University of Coimbra, specializing in Economic and European Criminal Law and in Criminal Offenses. 

Highlights of his relevant qualification includes:

• Member of the Board of Counselors of the Rio de Janeiro Section of the Brazilian Bar Association (Ordem dos Advogados do Brasil/RJ – OAB/RJ); 
• Member of the Board of Counselors of the International Association of Penal Law (AIDP/IAPL);
• Chairman of Brazilian Section of the International Association of Penal Law;
• 3rd Vice-President of the Institute of Brazilian Lawyers (Instituto dos Advogados Brasileiros – IAB);
• Member of the Board of Counselors of the Brazilian Bar Association from 2001 to 2006;
• Guest Professor for the Master’s Degree in Criminal Science of Cândido Mendes University – Centro campus (Universidade Cândido Mendes – Centro); 
• Accredited Professor of Criminal Law, Economic Criminal Law and Financial Crimes at Cândido Mendes University – Ipanema campus (Universidade Cândido Mendes – Ipanema).

Carlos Eduardo Machado is the author of several publications, including: co-author of the book Lei Anticrime? – Estudos do IAB sobre os Projetos e Lei 38/2019, 881/2019 e 882/2019, where he has published an article about self-defense, co-author of the book Pareceres Selecionados – Emitidos pela Comissão Permanente de Direito Penal do Instituto dos Advogados Brasileiros, where he has published an article about organized crime, and co-author of the article Enriquecimento ilícito e a inversão do ônus probatório, published in the edition of July 23rd, 2012 of the Journal Correio Braziliense.

Rafael Luiz Duque Estrada has obtained his bachelor’s degree from the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro (PUC-Rio). He has completed a graduation degree in Law at the Judicature School of Rio de Janeiro (EMERJ) and a Master’s Degree in Criminal Law by the University of the State of Rio de Janeiro.

Mario Fabrizio Polinelli has obtained his bachelor’s degree from the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro (PUC-Rio). He has completed a postgraduation degree in Civil Procedure and a specialization course in Public Bids and Administrative Contracts, both at the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro.

He has been a member of the Defense, Assistance and Prerogatives Commission of the Brazilian Bar Association – Rio de Janeiro Section (OAB/RJ) from 2015 to 2018, and is currently a member of the Commissions of Penal Law and Constitutional Law of the Institute of Brazilian Lawyers (IAB). He is also a member of the International Association of Penal Law.

Mario Fabrizio Polinelli is co-author of the book Lei Anticrime? – Estudos do IAB sobre os Projetos e Lei 38/2019, 881/2019 e 882/2019, where he has published an article about self-defense, and co-author of the article Enriquecimento ilícito e a inversão do ônus probatório, published in the edition of July 23rd, 2012 of the Journal Correio Braziliense, signed with the founder of Carlos Eduardo Machado Advogados, the lawyer Carlos Eduardo Machado.

Nastassja Chalub was recognized in 2024 as one of the most admired lawyers in the country by the publication “Análise Advocacia Mulher.” She graduated from the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro (PUC-Rio). Currently, she is a master’s degree candidate in Procedural Law at the University of São Paulo (USP).

She holds postgraduate degrees in Criminal Procedure from the Brazilian Institute of Criminal Sciences (IBCCRIM) and the University of Coimbra, and in Environmental Science from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (COPPE/UFRJ). She is also a postgraduate in Criminal Law from the Center for Studies and Research in Legal Education of the State University of Rio de Janeiro (CEPED/UERJ).

She has completed an extension course in Theory and Tools of the Harvard Negotiation Project at Harvard University, an extension course in Plea Bargaining conducted by the Brazilian Institute of Criminal Sciences (IBCCRIM), an extension course in Criminal Compliance offered by the University of Coimbra and the Brazilian Institute of Criminal Sciences (IBCCRIM), as well as an extension course in Economic Criminal Law and Specific Crimes, both conducted by the Brazilian Institute of Criminal Sciences (IBCCRIM).

Chalub is a member of the Brazilian Institute of Lawyers (IAB) and the Brazilian Institute of Criminal Sciences (IBCCRIM), as well as a member of the Brazilian Group of the International Association of Penal Law (AIDP), and finally, a member of the Commission for the Study of Criminal Law of the Brazilian Bar Association, Rio de Janeiro State Section (OAB/RJ).

Jéssyca Teixeira has obtained her bachelor’s degree from University Estácio de Sá (UNESA). She also holds a postgraduate degree in Criminal Sciences and Law Enforcement at the State University of Rio de Janeiro.

She has completed specialization courses in Criminal Law and Criminal Procedure at the Superior School of the State Public Defender’s Office in Rio de Janeiro.

Jéssyca Teixeira is a member of the Brazilian Institute of Criminal Sciences (IBCCRIM) and of the International Association of Penal Law (AIDP).

Ignácio Machado graduated from the State University of Rio de Janeiro (UERJ) in 2019. He obtained his Master of Laws degree with academic distinction, specializing in Criminology and Criminal Justice from The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE).

He also holds postgraduate degrees in Criminal Law and Criminology from the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul (PUC-RS), as well as in Criminal Compliance from the University of Coimbra and the Brazilian Institute of Criminal Sciences (IBCCRIM).

Moreover, he has completed extension courses in Digital Law and Cybercrimes and in The New Horizons of Criminology, both at the Brazilian Institute of Criminal Sciences (IBCCRIM).

Machado is a member of the Brazilian Institute of Criminal Sciences (IBCCRIM) and the International Association of Penal Law (AIDP).

He is a co-author of the book “Direito e Globalização,” coordinated by Professors Cleyson de Moraes Mello and Vanderlei Martins from the State University of Rio de Janeiro (UERJ), in which he wrote the article “Plea Bargaining and Violations to the Democratic Criminal Procedure.” He is also a co-author of the article “The Abuses and the Necessary Reform of the Money Laundering Legislation,” published in the Justice and Citizenship Magazine n. 246, together with lawyers Carlos Eduardo Machado and Natan Duek. Additionally, he authored the articles “New Code of Criminal Procedure and the Disruption of Equality of Arms” and “Marielle Franco’s Murder Investigation and Breach of Data Privacy,” published respectively in Exam Magazine and Valor Economico Newspaper. Machado is also a co-author of the articles “The Relevance Amendment and its Impact on Justice” and “The End of Temporary Leave Threatens Resocialization and May Increase Insecurity,” both published on the Conjur website.

Eduardo de Luna has been a part of the team at Carlos Eduardo Machado Advogados since 1996, making him the longest-standing member apart from the founding partner. He holds a degree in Law and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in the research line of Access to Justice and Effectiveness of the Process, in the Postgraduate Program in Law at Universidade Estácio de Sá, with an expected completion date of June 2025.

He is also involved in the “Center for Studies and Research in Criminal Sciences in Contemporaneity” and the “Introduction to the Critical Study of Criminology” group.

Maria Eduardo Ferrante has been a part of the team at Carlos Eduardo Machado Advogados since 2021. She graduated in Law from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ) in 2023 and is currently pursuing a postgraduate degree in Criminal Law from the State University of Rio de Janeiro (UERJ).

Laura Deveza has been an intern at Carlos Eduardo Machado Advogados since April 2024. She is an undergraduate student in Law at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ).

Yasmin Costa has been an intern at Carlos Eduardo Machado Advogados since April 2024. She is an undergraduate student in Law at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ).