Hogan Lovells welcomes partner Rafael Ribeiro's return to firm following his in-house position with Disney

Ribeiro will rejoin Hogan Lovells’ Disputes practice group in the firm’s Investigation, White Collar, and Fraud practice area. He also joins our Sports, Media, and Entertainment industry sector.

“We are really pleased to welcome Rafael back to Hogan Lovells,” said Des Hogan, Global Head of the firm’s Disputes practice group. “His experience at Disney builds on an already stellar career as a leader in complex, high-stakes investigations and litigation.” Stephanie Yonekura, global leader of the firm’s Investigations, White Collar, and Fraud (IWCF) practice area, added: “We are so happy to have Rafael back at the firm. His experience in investigations, particularly with matters in Latin America, aligns with our strategy to continue to grow our footprint in this region. As a U.S-qualified native Portuguese speaker, he is a great resource for clients that do business in Brazil.”

While at Disney, Ribeiro was responsible for overseeing the company’s compliance program for the Americas and its Corporate departments, including compliance with anti-corruption laws and trade regulations. He provided counsel to many of Disney’s globally-recognized affiliated companies, including ABC News, ESPN, National Geographic, Marvel Studios, Pixar, Lucasfilm, Searchlight Pictures, Twentieth Century Studios, the various Disney theme parks and resorts in four different countries, numerous product lines, and Disney Cruise Lines.

In his prior tenure at the firm from 2016-2021, much of Ribeiro’s Miami and São Paulo-based practice focused on clients in the Life Sciences and Energy sectors. Among the matters he worked on were two of Latin America’s most high profile, publicly disclosed FCPA investigations arising out of Brazil’s Operation Car Wash (Operação Lava Jato). In addition to Portuguese and English, he is proficient Spanish and French.

Speaking on his return to Hogan Lovells, Ribeiro commented: “I am looking forward to returning to private practice, and to seeing many familiar faces at Hogan Lovells and getting to know some new ones. The opportunities to re-join the firm’s outstanding Miami team, re-connect with former clients, and help the firm expand its presence in a rapidly growing Miami market were too good to turn down.”

Miami Office Managing Partner Jorge Diaz-Silveira added: “As we continue to grow our Miami office, we are very pleased that Rafael has returned. He is widely respected among clients for his legal excellence and seasoned counsel. On a personal note, he is a valued friend, colleague, and mentor to younger lawyers.”

Ribeiro is a 2001 graduate of New College of Florida, and a 2004 graduate of the University of Florida Levin College of Law.