Édis Milaré

Career

Founder of Milaré Advogados (1996) - the first law firm in the country dedicated exclusively to environmental law.

Retired Justice Attorney, he was the creator of the Coordination of Environmental Prosecutors in the Public Prosecution Service of the State of São Paulo, in 1985.

In the Public Ministry, he acted in defense of the Environment, promoting pioneering actions, which are paradigms for jurisdictional protection in all Brazilian states.

Co-author of the preliminary draft of the Public Civil Action Law (Law 7.347/1985), an institute that has revolutionized Law practice in the defense of transindividual interests.

One of the main contributors to the writing of Chapter VI of the 1988 Federal Constitution, on Social Order, precisely with regard to the treatment of the Environment in terms of citizenship and environmental policy.

At the head of the Secretariat of Environment of the State of São Paulo, from July 1992 to January 1995, he modernized the structure of the public machine, speeding up the environmental licensing processes, as well as stimulating an intense dialogue with entities from civil society in order to reduce distances and minimize conflicts between government and population.

He was president of the Commission of Jurists, instituted by the Government of the State of São Paulo, with the purpose of elaborating a Draft of the National Environmental Code (Decree 36.860, of June 5, 1993, as amended by Decree 39.684, of December 15, 1994).

In Environmental Management, he was president of the Foundation for the Conservation and Forest Production of the State of São Paulo (Fundação Florestal), from January 1995 to August 1997, concentrating efforts in research, education, and inspection of the State's conservation units.

He was president of the Superior Council for the Environment of the Federation of Industries of the State of São Paulo – FIESP.

He actively participated in the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, Rio+20, held in 2012 in the city of Rio de Janeiro. Before this important international event, it had already marked its presence at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, Eco-92, in 1992, also in the city of Rio de Janeiro, taking its proposals to numerous discussions.

He is a professor in the Specialization Course in Diffuse and Collective Interests (Environmental Law) at the Study and Functional Improvement Center of the Public Prosecution Service of the State of São Paulo, and an invited professor in the Specialization Course in Environmental Law of the Diffuse and Collective Rights Department of the Law School of PUC/SP.

He is a professor in the Specialization Course in Diffuse and Collective Interests (Environmental Law) at the Study and Functional Improvement Center of the Public Prosecution Service of the State of São Paulo, and an invited professor in the Specialization Course in Environmental Law of the Diffuse and Collective Rights Department of the Law School of PUC/SP.

Publications

• Public Civil Action - After 40 years (coordinator and co-author). São Paulo: Thomson Reuters/RT, 2025;

• Environmental Crimes Law, 25th Anniversary – Precursors, effectiveness and Prospects of Criminal and Administrative Enforcement (co-author). São Paulo, Thomson Reuters/Revista dos Tribunais, 2023.

• Studies in Environmental Law – Studies in Environmental Law – in remembrance of jurist José Eduardo Ramos Rodrigues (co-author). São Paulo, Terra Redonda (IBAP/APRODAB), 2023.

• New Forest Code, 10th Anniversary (co-author). Belo Horizonte. 7ADireito, 2023.

• Environmental Law and Policy in Brazil – Studies in Honor of Professor José Afonso da Silva (co-author). São Paulo, 2023.

• Development and the Environment: the 50th anniversary of the Stockholm Conference (co-author). Curitiba (PR), Editora Íthala, 2022.

• Complementary Law 140, 10th Anniversary: challenges and prospects (co-author). Joinville (SC), Editora Meraki, 2022.

• The Principle of Legality in Environmental Law (co-author). Porto Alegre (RS), Editora Paixão, 2022.

• Forestry Law: an analysis after 10 years. (coordinator and co-author). São Paulo: Thomson Reuters/RT, 2022;

• 40 anos da Lei da Política Nacional do Meio Ambiente: reminiscências, realidade e perspectivas, São Paulo/Belo Horizonte, Editora D'Plácido, 2021. (Coordination);

• Environmental Law 12th ed. São Paulo: Thomson Reuters/RT, 2020;

• Public Civil Action - After 35 years (coordinator and co-author). São Paulo: Thomson Reuters/RT, 2020;

• Environmental Law and the 30 Years of the 1988 Constitution (co-author). Londrina: UBAA/Editora Thoth, 2018;

• 30 Years of the Federal Constitution and Brazilian Law (co-author). São Paulo: GEN/Editora Forense, 2018;

• Infrastructure in Environmental Law (co-coordinator and co-author). São Paulo: RT, 2016;

• Science and Consciousness. Marco Aurélio Mello (co-author). Ribeirão Preto: Migalhas, 2015;

• Dictionary of Environmental Law. São Paulo: RT, 2015;

• Public Civil Action after 30 years. São Paulo: RT, 2015;

• Environmental law. 8th ed. São Paulo: RT, 2013;

• New Forest Code (coord.). 2nd ed. São Paulo: RT, 2013;

• Handbook of Public and Private Law (co-author). 19th ed. São Paulo: RT, 2013;

• Fundamental Issues of Diffuse and Collective Rights: Challenges and Perspectives (co-author). Rio de Janeiro: Lumen Juris, 2013;

• Controversial Aspects of Environmental Law: Material Protection and Procedural Protection (co-author). Belo Horizonte: Fórum, 2013;

• National Policy, Management and Solid Waste Management (co-author). São Paulo: Manole, 2012;

• Essential Doctrines: Environmental Law (coord.). São Paulo: RT, 2011;

• The public civil action after 25 years (coord.). São Paulo: RT, 2010;

• Collective Procedural Law and the Draft Brazilian Code of Collective Proceedings (co-author). São Paulo: RT, 2007;

• Law, Politics and the Environment: 25 years of Federal Law 6.938/81 (co-author). Curitiba: Ordem dos Advogados do Brasil, Seção Paraná, 2006;

• Public Civil Action after 20 years: Effectiveness and Challenges (coord). São Paulo: RT, 2005;

• Public Civil Action: Law 7.347/85 - 15 years (coord.). 2. 2nd revised and updated ed. São Paulo: RT, 2002;

• Public Civil Action: Law 7.347/85 - Reminiscences and Reflections after Ten Years of Application (coord.). São Paulo: RT, 1995;

• Preliminary Environmental Impact Assessment (co-author). São Paulo: RT, 1993;

• Brazil's Environmental Legislation. São Paulo: APMP, 1991;

• Basic Environmental Legislation. São Paulo: APMP, 1990;

• Public Civil Action in the New Constitutional Order. São Paulo: Saraiva, 1990;

• Curator of the Environment. São Paulo: APMP, 1988 (Cadernos Informativos Series);

• Public Civil Action and the Jurisdictional Protection of Diffuse Interests (co-author). São Paulo: Saraiva, 1984.

Professional Memberships

He is a founding member of the Brazilian Environmental Law Professors’ Association – APRODAB, an entity that fosters the subject’s nationwide dissemination and where he currently serves as a member of the Advisory Committee.

He spearheaded the creation of the Brazilian Environmental Lawyers’ Union – UBAA, a trade entity formed in 2016 where he currently serves as a member of the Advisory Committee.

Experience

With over forty years' experience in the study and practice of environmental law, Édis Milaré began his career in the public sector and later turned to the private sector with the founding of Milaré Advogados, Brazil's leading environmental law firm. His book Environmental Law (the first edition of which was published in 2000 and is currently being updated for the 13th edition) is considered a best seller by the publishing market and the publisher, and is the leading textbook in the field of Brazilian environmental law. His academic publications have been cited in numerous decisions by the High Courts of Justice, including the Federal Supreme Court (STF), the Superior Court of Justice (STJ), the Federal Regional Courts and the State Courts of Justice.

Édis Milaré has extensive experience in advising leading companies and economic groups on projects of fundamental importance and complexity for the country, aimed at developing infrastructure in the energy, oil, gas, transportation, mining, ports, airports, steel sectors, among others.

Languages Spoken

Spanish, French and Italian.

Practice Areas

Environment law;

ESG;

Climate changes.

Education