Labor and Social Security Castro Barros provides legal advice to many national and international companies in all facets of human resources and labor relations in general, paying special attention to actions to prevent contingencies. The Office also helps with hiring of expatriates, harmonizing of compensation policies to Brazilian law and formulating profit sharing and voluntary downsizing programs. The labor sector plays a key role in due diligence, with focus on preventing future liabilities. In the social security area, Castro Barros helps evaluate private pension plans, with focus on identifying their financial equilibrium, together with accounting and actuarial experts. The Office also performs overall studies of the social security system in Brazil, with attention to changes in constitutional legislation and the current trend for private enterprise to assume a greater role in this area. Castro Barros has a strong presence in defending the interests of companies in individual and collective labor suits, at all administrative levels and instances of the labor courts, as well as in negotiating and drafting collective bargaining agreements.