Lawfare: Waging War through Law with Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, 35th President of Brazil

Lawfare is not just a slogan: it is a political tool that can be used to demolish democracy and the rule of law. Protecting constitutional democracy requires careful reflection about the role, scope and reach of the law and its (mis)uses. This special event from the Department for International Development will discuss the concept of lawfare and examine in detail the best-known case of lawfare today with former President of Brazil, Luís Inácio Lula da Silva. 

With special guest 

Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, 35th President of Brazil.  

Other speakers will include:

Alfredo Saad-Filho

Head of Department of International Development, King’s College London 

Cristiano Zanin 

Cristiano Zanin is an Attorney and an expert in lawfare, transnational litigation, state investigations and bet-the-company litigation. He is a member of the Brazilian Lawyers Institute (IAB), the São Paulo Lawyers Association (AASP), and the International Bar Association (IBA). He is the co-founder of the Lawfare Institute. He is also coordinator of the legal defence of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, former President of Brazil, within "Operation Car Wash" and before the UN Human Rights Committee and other relevant proceedings pending before Brazilian courts.

Valeska Teixeira Zanin Martins 

Valeska Martins is an Attorney and an expert in lawfare, transnational litigation, bet-the-company and corporate law. She is a member of the International Bar Association (IBA) and coordinator of the legal defence of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, former President of Brazil, within "Operation Car Wash" and before the UN Human Rights Committee and other relevant proceedings pending before Brazilian courts.

Rafael Valim 

Rafael Valim was Professor at the Pontifical Catholic University of São Paulo, Brazil, and is currently Simon Visiting Professor at the University of Manchester, UK, and Visiting Professor at Université Le Havre Normandie, France. He is one of Brazil’s leading scholars of law and actively participates in Brazilian public debate. He has published a number of monographs and articles, which have been translated into several languages. He is also Editor-in-Chief of Editora Contracorrente, and has held many visiting positions in France, Spain, Portugal, Italy, the UK and Latin America.