Rafael Szmid is Counsel in the Regulatory & Investigations practice at Reed Smith LLP, where he advises multinational clients on high-stakes legal, compliance, and enforcement matters involving Latin America, the United States, and key international jurisdictions including Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.

A dual-qualified attorney in the U.S. and Brazil, Rafael is fluent in English, Spanish, and Portuguese, and is widely recognized for his cross-border experience handling complex investigations, regulatory challenges, and corporate compliance programs. With nearly 15 years of practice, he has led major FCPA and anti-corruption investigations across Latin America, provided strategic advice to leadership at Brazil’s Competition Authority (CADE), and supported global compliance operations for Fortune 100 companies.

Rafael regularly counsels clients on internal and government investigations involving transnational corruption, cartel behavior, sanctions, export controls, and other forms of corporate misconduct such as money laundering, fraud, and workplace harassment. He designs and strengthens compliance programs aligned with global standards, including the FCPA, UK Bribery Act, Brazil’s Clean Company Act, and international sanctions and antitrust regimes.

Beyond investigations and compliance, Rafael offers strategic legal support on cross-border litigation, corporate transactions, and asset recovery tools such as Section 1782 applications. His work is trusted by Brazilian companies investing abroad, as well as international clients navigating Latin American legal systems.

A published legal scholar, Rafael holds a Ph.D. and Master’s degree in Law from the University of São Paulo, an LL.M. from Stanford Law School, and has completed a Visiting Program at the University of Barcelona. He authored Brazil’s first book on corporate monitors—cited by DOJ-appointed monitors—and is frequently invited to speak at legal forums and academic institutions.

Rafael’s thought leadership extends to anti-corruption and antitrust education initiatives with organizations such as the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the International Olympic Committee (IOC), reflecting his commitment to ethical business conduct worldwide.