Ana Maria Damasceno
Dispute Resolution Mining Real Estate
+55 31 3261 7747 adamasceno@demarest.com.br Belo Horizonte
Partner in Demarest’s Dispute Resolution practice area, Ana Damasceno holds a Ph.D. in Civil Procedural Law from Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), a Master of Laws (LL.M.) from Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto (UFOP), and a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) from Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG). She also holds a postgraduate degree in Public Law from Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Minas Gerais (PUC-Minas). Among her main clients arecompanies operating in the mining, steel, metallurgy, energy, agribusiness, and forestry sectors. She serves as a professor in postgraduate programs at PUC-Minas and at Centro de Estudos em Direito e Negócios (CEDIN). Ana has extensive experience in civil litigation and in real estate matters, not only from a judicial standpoint but also in related administrative and advisory proceedings.
Ana Damasceno has been recognized by leading legal publications, including Chambers Brazil, The Legal 500, The Latin American Lawyer, and Leaders League.
- Advised a prominent iron ore producer on the execution of an inter-institutional settlement agreement within the context of a public-interest civil action concerning the resettlement of communities located in the vicinity of a mining project, involving amounts exceeding BRL 100 million.
- Advised a leading trade association representing the mining sector in a class action challenging the constitutionality of an infra-legal regulation governing tailings and waste rock, the enforcement of which directly and materially impacts companies operating in the sector.
- Advised a prominent iron ore producer of significant economic and operational significance in the Northeast region of Brazil in judicial disputes over mining rights and operational areas for production outflow, resulting in the recovery of at least BRL 93 million in financial liabilities.
- Advised a major iron ore producer in obtaining a declaration of public utility to enable the expansion of its mining project, as well as in the subsequent litigation phase concerning access to the relevant areas.
- Advises a leading trade association representing the mining sector in public-interest civil actions addressing the mandatory enforcement of an international standard as a condition for issuing mining authorizations in regions occupied by traditional or quilombola communities.
- Ph.D. in Law from Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil (2025)
- Master of Laws (LL.M.) from Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, Brazil (2019)
- Postgraduate degree in Public Law from Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil (2016)
- Extension course in Mining Law from Centro de Estudos em Direito e Negócios, Belo Horizonte, Brazil (2015)
- Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) from Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil (2014)
- Member of the Brazilian Procedural Law Institute (IBDP).
- Administrative Director of the Brazilian Institute of Mining Law (IBDM).
- Member of the Legal and Compliance Committee of Women in Mining Brasil (WIM Brazil).
- Member of the Minas Gerais Institute of Lawyers (IAMG).
- Member of the Collective Procedure Committee of the Brazilian Bar Association - Minas Gerais branch (OAB/MG).
- Author of the chapter “Regulatory Rulemaking Authority and Judicial Deference” [Competência Normativa Regulatória e Deferência Judicial] in the book Direito da Mineração: temas, Editora D’Plácido, 2025.
- Co-author of the chapter “Regulatory and Environmental Aspects and Significant Commitments in Mine Closure” [Aspectos regulatórios, ambientais e os compromissos significativos no fechamento de mina] in the book Mineração com Elas, TLM Edições, 2025.
- Co-author of the chapter “Legitimate Expectations of Investors and Legal Certainty in Mining: A Reflection on the Compensability of Mining Rights” [Legítima expectativa do investidor e segurança jurídica na mineração: uma reflexão sobre a indenizabilidade de direitos minerários] in the book Mulheres na Mineração: contribuições femininas ao direito minerário, Editora D’Plácido, 2025.
- Author of the article “Current Issues Regarding the Application of Decree-Law No. 3,365/1941 to Mining Easements” [Questões atuais sobre a aplicação do Decreto-Lei nº 3.365/1941 às servidões minerais], published in Revista Brasileira de Infraestrutura, Editora Fórum, vol. 14, no. 27, pp. 137–152, 2025.
- Author of the article “The Liquidation of Judgments as a Fundamental Stage in the Enforcement of Structural Decisions” [A liquidação de sentença como etapa fundamental ao cumprimento de sentenças estruturais], published in the book Processos Estruturais, Editora JusPodivm, 2026.
- Co-author of the chapter “The Protection of Collective Rights under the Italian Legal System” [A tutela de direitos coletivos pelo ordenamento jurídico da Itália] in Direito e Processo Coletivo Estrutural: Perspectivas Comparadas, 2nd ed., São Paulo: Editora Dialética, 2024, vol. II, pp. 289–311.
- Co-author of the article “Mining Contracts and the Doctrine of Revision in the Case Law of the STJ” [Contratos minerários e o instituto da revisão na visão do STJ], published in In The Mine, issue no. 114, year XVIII, 2025, addressing precedents of Brazil’s Superior Tribunal de Justiça (STJ).
- Co-author of the article “The Regulation of Mineral Resource Exploitation in Indigenous Areas Advances on the STF’s Agenda” [A regulação da exploração de recursos minerais em áreas ocupadas por indígenas avança na pauta do STF], published in Consultor Jurídico (CONJUR), March 2025, concerning matters before Brazil’s Supremo Tribunal Federal (STF).
- Co-author of the article “Those Affected by Mining Dams, Statutes of Limitations, and STJ Theme 1,280” [Os atingidos por barragens de mineração, aspectos prescricionais e o Tema 1.280 do STJ], published in JOTA, January 16, 2025, regarding precedents of the Superior Tribunal de Justiça (STJ).
- Co-author of the article “Mining and Regulatory Uncertainty: Why NR 22 Deserves Revision” [Mineração e incerteza regulatória: por que a NR 22 merece revisão], published in JOTA, June 18, 2024.
- Portuguese and English