Pinho Law · Boutique Counsel
Boutique business counsel. For Brazilian-American entrepreneurs who outgrew their accountant.
Operating agreements, shareholder disputes, asset protection structuring, investor visas. You work directly with Dra. Izi Pinho. Small firm, one table, no handoff to a first-year associate.
Positioning
Three things your current attorney should be telling you — and probably isn't.
Anyone can open an LLC. Structuring a business that survives any administration, any dispute, any audit — that's a different conversation.
Protection, not promise
We don't sell 'the American dream.' We sell legal structure that protects what you've already built. Five layers of asset protection. No Brazil-US tax treaty in force. $60K estate tax floor for non-residents. Our job: you don't lose what took you years to earn.
Real agreements, not templates
An LLC operating agreement with non-resident members isn't an internet template. Shareholder agreement, NDA, services contract, employee vs. IC, franchise — written for your case, in EN, PT, or bilingual.
Disputes, not just prevention
Minority oppression, fiduciary breach, partnership dissolution. When a partner turns adversary, you want someone who's mediated and litigated that — not just filed your LLC.
Immigration when it makes sense
EB-5, L-1A, EB-2 NIW, EB-1, and E-2 when applicable. Investor visas built in parallel with entity structure — because the wrong structure invalidates the petition. Important: Brazil is not an E-2 treaty country; Brazilians qualify only via dual citizenship (Portugal, Italy, Spain). We evaluate the right route on the first call.
Brazil-US, no improvising
FBAR, FATCA, Form 5471, CBE, SISBACEN. No ratified Brazil-US tax treaty. Every decision you make today touches your filings in both countries. We work with Brazilian and US accountants as a single team.
What we deliver
What's actually in the work.
Engagements typically start around $30K — varies with complexity. We talk through the number on the first call, and it's clear before you sign anything.
Entity structuring
LLC, C-Corp (Delaware when it fits), holding, asset protection. EIN without SSN, Operating Agreement in EN/PT, bank account, FinCEN BOI compliance.
Operating agreements + shareholder agreements
The documents that decide who runs it, who collects, who exits and how. Bilingual. Customized to your business — never template.
Shareholder disputes
Mediation first, litigation when required. Florida Bar #126610. Nine years of practice. Litigated in Orange County and Circuit 09.
EB-5 / L-1A / EB-2 NIW / EB-1 / E-2
Investor visas built alongside the corporate structure. For Brazilians without dual citizenship, EB-5 ($800K in TEA) and L-1A (multinational executive) are the most common doors. E-2 only via dual citizenship with a treaty country (Portugal, Italy, Spain).
Asset protection — 5 layers
LLC per asset, holding, Florida Homestead, DAPT, umbrella liability. Estate planning with offshore Trust when there are assets in both countries.
Brazil-US taxation
FBAR, FATCA, Form 8938, Form 5471. CBE/SISBACEN at the Brazilian Central Bank. Unilateral foreign tax credits (Brazil-US treaty was never ratified).
Who this is built for
For entrepreneurs who want counsel, not just a filing.
Our work tends to pay off most when your business already has some traction. It's not a hard line — it's the point where what we deliver starts making a real difference for you.
- Business operating in the US, or expanding into it now
- Annual revenue typically $350K+ — where legal structure starts compounding
- Real team (2+ employees or regular contractors)
- Ready to build — not just explore options
- Growth and asset protection as goals, not just compliance
Who hires us
Entrepreneurs who want real counsel, not generic service.
Our clients are owners who've outgrown the 'open the company with anyone' stage. They need someone who understands Brazil and the US, who signs their name to the work, who's on the same side of the table — because the lawyer who is already yours is the lawyer who won't sue you tomorrow.
— Pinho Law positioning, 2026
Frequently asked questions
- Is Pinho Law the right home for my business right now?
- Our work pays off most from around $350K annual revenue and 2+ employees — not because of a hard rule, but because that's where entity structuring, asset protection, and Brazil-US taxation start delivering value greater than the fee. Below that, a good accountant or formation service usually serves better. When your business gets there, come back — no pressure.
- Are you expensive?
- Engagements start at $30K and reach $60K+ depending on complexity. Compare: the cobbled alternative (immigration attorney + US accountant + Brazilian accountant + contracts attorney) costs the same or more — with communication gaps between them. Here it's one team that talks to itself. Clear structure before you sign.
- Why boutique and not a large firm?
- Large firms can't choose clients — their economics depend on volume. Boutique can. We have five people. We're not Morgan and Morgan and that's the point: you talk to Dra. Izi, not a first-year associate.
- Do you handle immigration and the company together?
- Yes. In investment-based immigration, your corporate structure MUST support the petition — separate firms on each side create conflicts (wrong structure invalidates the L-1 or EB-5). We work both fronts in parallel from day one.
- What happens after I submit the form?
- Routed directly to Dra. Izi. Initial screening within 1 business day — call or WhatsApp, your choice. If it's a fit, we schedule a strategic consultation (paid, credited toward the engagement). If it's not a fit, we tell you honestly and suggest someone better suited.
- Do you serve clients in English too?
- Yes. Portuguese, English, Spanish. Full team is trilingual. We serve non-Brazilians — Americans, Canadians, Europeans — who need boutique counsel in Central Florida. Not just a firm for Brazilians; a firm that also speaks Portuguese.
Family case, AOS, or marriage-based?
Family immigration is our volume funnel — specialized team, clear pricing, simpler process.
Go to Family Immigration →