Biography: Management Labour and Employment

Cassio Mesquita Barros is the chairman of the board at Mesquita Barros Advogados. He has a broad practice including international law, employment and labour and collective law. He was head professor of labour law studies at, the University of São Paulo (where he also graduated) teaching from 1993 onwards.

Mr Mesquita Barros is the founder and president of the Arcadas Foundation, a cultural supporting body to São Paulo University School of Law; he was an expert member of the ILO Comission (the International Labor Organization) a branch of the United Nations based in Geneva, from 1990 to 2006; and a founding member of the Asociación Iberoamericana de Derecho del Trabajo e de la Seguridad Social.

In addition, he has been the honorary president of the Academia Nacional do Direito do Trabalho; an honourary member of the Institute of Political and Juridical International Studies in Lima, Peru; he was awarded the medal of meritorious work from the Brazilian Ministry of Labour; the medal of meritorious work awarded by the Superior Labour Court; a Doctor 'honoris causa' awarded by the Romanian University, Constantin Brâncusi; a Doctor 'honoris causa' awarded by the Private and Technologic University of Ica, Peru; and the title of emeritus master at the Technologic University of Mexico.

His literary activities comprise books, articles and conferences. He is the author of over 200 works, including the following: Previdência Social Rural, 1972; Tendências do Direito do Trabalho Contemporâneo, 1980; Perspectivas do Direito do Trabalho no Mercosul, 1993; and O futuro do trabalho, do emprego e da proteção social, 2004.

He is an active partner, fluent in Portuguese, Spanish and English; he is invited to speak at national and international congresses and conferences. He organised the preparation and printing of the 2010 Global Mobility Handbook, (first edition São Paulo Saraiva, 2009) with the contribution of 53 lawyers offices from different countries, presenting basic procedures for professionals to work in the various countries. Such work had the institutional support of the Brazilian Foreign Ministry and is being distributed to Brazilian Diplomatic missions worldwide, as well to the general public.

Above all, his contribution as professional and a professor has enlightened labour law practice in general. In Brazil, case law and jurisprudence has been constructed under the influence of some of his formal opinions, for example regarding the commercial nature of stock options.