IW Melcheds adds Kutomi and Marques as of counsel
The appointments
IW Melcheds has brought on Vilma Toshie Kutomi and Christiani Marques as of counsels, bolstering the firm’s labor law practice. The two join a team that includes partners Karina Sasaki and Jorge Soares, with the combined group set to position the practice as a reference point for the corporate segment.
Vilma Toshie Kutomi brings more than four decades of experience in corporate labor law, with a track record spanning union negotiations, workforce restructurings, strategic litigation, and M&A transactions with significant labor components.
Partner Ricardo Inglez de Souza noted that Kutomi brings a reputation and authority that are rarely found, and that together with Christiani Marques, she will make an enormous contribution to the team and its clients. Partner Roberto Rached described her as an institution, adding that her arrival reflects the direction the firm wants to pursue.
Christiani Marques holds a PhD in labor law, has been a professor for more than 25 years, and brings over three decades of experience in complex mediations and strategic labor litigation. A recognized conflict mediator and ombudsperson, she is the author of two books in the field: The Protection of Strenuous Work, addressing adverse workplace conditions, and Employment Contracts and Aesthetic Discrimination, a study on discrimination in corporate environments.
Partner Karina Sasaki, who previously worked with Kutomi, said her arrival brings a perspective that only comes from decades of experience handling the most complex cases and negotiations. Partner Jorge Soares added that Kutomi‘s experience, reputation, and strategic vision add greater technical depth to the firm and expand its ability to support increasingly sophisticated matters.
