About us

We have been operating for over 80 years in the areas of claims management, dispute and litigation consulting, and recovery of funds both in Brazil and abroad.

Our team includes lawyers and professionals specialized in insurance and transportation, as well as partner offices and correspondents in multidisciplinary fields such as naval engineering, meteorology, master mariners, electrical engineering, agronomy, geology, and entomology.

We have been involved in some of the most significant marine claims in the Brazilian insurance market, including:

  • The grounding of the Nedlloyd Recife in 1996, in Santa Catarina, with cargo losses exceeding US$15 million;
  • The fire and total loss of the vessel DG Harmony (1998) off the coast of Bahia, involving amounts of approximately US$31 million, under our management;
  • The explosion and fire aboard the MAERSK LONDRINA on April 25, 2015, off the coast of Africa, which constituted the largest general average claim ever recorded in Brazil;
  • The LOG IN PANTANAL incident, resulting in the loss of 47 containers at sea, in Santos, August 2017;
  • The grounding and total loss of the STELLAR BANNER, carrying 270,000 tons of Carajás iron ore, off the coast of Maranhão;
  • The collapse of the TGPM grain terminal in Barcarena, Pará, in March 2025.

Who is SMERA BSI?

We are active members of the Allied International Services – AIS (currently reestablished as AMD – World Association of Average Adjusters), a global network formed by the most renowned and experienced general average adjusters.

In 2011, we incorporated BSI – Brasil Serviços Internacionais, previously managed by the international adjuster Janusz Fedorowicz, into the SMERA group.

Since then, our worldwide network of correspondents and experts has continued to expand, maintaining solid representation throughout Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Africa, North, Central, and South America.

The SMERA-BSI adjustment process is entirely focused on maximizing insurers’ recoveries, while strictly complying with all legal requirements for protests, deadlines, notifications, and private surveys.

Who is SMERA Surveyors?

SMERA Surveyors specializes in inspections, surveys, and claims adjustment for cargo and goods. We operate in ports, airports, warehouses, and throughout transportation routes, providing precise and impartial technical reports that support effective risk management and informed decision-making.

Our goal is to ensure that all incidents are documented with technical rigor, providing solid support for insurers, freight forwarders, importers, and exporters. In cases where claims occur within Brazilian territory, we have achieved excellent results in terms of both efficiency and effectiveness, particularly through timely technical and legal measures that safeguard insurers’ future subrogation rights.

Who is SMERA Law Firm?

SMERA Advogados Associados brings together a team of highly qualified professionals with expertise in national and international transportation, Maritime Law, Insurance Law, and Civil Law.

Our approach is strategic and tailored to each client, always focused on protecting their interests in advisory, preventive, or contentious matters.

Through recovery lawsuits, preventive settlements, and coordination of specific agreements, we have successfully recovered over US$150 million for the transport portfolios of our represented insurers.

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