Reference material for courts and authorities on assessing domestic violence allegations, determining grave risk, and applying exceptions under the 1980 Convention.
The Hague Conference on Private International Law has released the Guide to Good Practice under the 1980 Child Abduction Convention, Part VI, Article 13(1)(b). It provides structured guidance for evaluating domestic violence claims, analysing grave risk, and applying return exceptions, promoting consistent judicial reasoning and effective cooperation among Contracting States.
The Guide reinforces the Convention’s core aims: prompt return of abducted children, protection of fundamental rights, and reciprocity across jurisdictions.
Português
A Conferência da Haia de Direito Internacional Privado publicou o Guia de Boas Práticas da Convenção da Haia de 1980, Parte VI, Artigo 13(1)(b). O documento orienta a análise de alegações de violência doméstica, a identificação de risco grave e a aplicação das exceções ao retorno, promovendo uniformidade interpretativa e cooperação entre os Estados Contratantes.
O Guia reafirma os objetivos centrais da Convenção: retorno imediato das crianças subtraídas, proteção de direitos fundamentais e reciprocidade entre jurisdições.
Français
La Conférence de La Haye de droit international privé a publié le Guide de bonnes pratiques de la Convention de La Haye de 1980, Partie VI, Article 13(1)(b). Le document fournit des orientations sur l’évaluation des allégations de violence domestique, la détermination du risque grave et l’application des exceptions au retour des enfants, promouvant une interprétation uniforme et la coopération entre États contractants.
Le Guide réaffirme les objectifs fondamentaux de la Convention : le retour rapide des enfants enlevés, la protection des droits fondamentaux et la réciprocité entre les juridictions.
About Dr. Ejchel:
What do Preta Gil, Neymar, Ronaldinho, and Robinho have in common? In addition to international headlines, all were part of legal cases that required a deep understanding of jurisdiction, diplomacy, and international law. And curiously, behind the legal clarity brought to the public in each of those moments was the same figure: Dr. Mauricio Ejchel.
A graduate of the University of São Paulo, with over three decades of legal experience in Brazil and abroad, Dr. Ejchel is more than just a lawyer. With a calm voice, strategic reasoning, and fluency in both law and media language, he has become—almost naturally—the professional Brazil turns to when celebrity legal cases spill into the international arena. Known for his specialization in international family law and the Hague Convention, he has also earned the informal title of “the lawyer of the celebrities” by the media—not for representing artists in tabloids, but for offering consistent legal clarity in the country’s most debated international cases.
This article presents a fascinating timeline of the most prominent celebrity-linked legal cases of recent years, where Dr. Mauricio Ejchel either acted as legal counsel or was the key public legal interpreter. All of them reflect a mixture of media curiosity, legal novelty, and the importance of having the right legal voice at the right time.
Preta Gil and Gugu Liberato – Bringing the Body Home
In July 2025, the Brazilian public mourned the death of singer Preta Gil in New York. Just as with the passing of presenter Gugu Liberato years earlier, one question emerged immediately: what does it take to bring a Brazilian citizen’s body back home? Called by national press outlets to explain the process, Dr. Ejchel walked viewers through a topic few understand but many fear—international repatriation.
He explained the exact steps: from obtaining the local death certificate, medical clearance, embalming, and the use of zinc-lined coffins, to consular approval and the role of specialized funeral carriers. He also broke down the costs, which may exceed R$80,000 depending on the country and urgency.
In an unprecedented move in 2023, Brazil enforced a criminal conviction issued by Italy against football star Robinho. The case sparked national debate: could Brazil really impose a prison sentence handed down abroad? Dr. Ejchel stepped in to explain how the Superior Court of Justice (STJ) applied the rules of international cooperation to validate and enforce Italy’s decision without extradition.
This was the first time the Brazilian judiciary recognized and executed a foreign sentence of this nature involving a Brazilian citizen on national soil. The novelty of the legal event—combined with Robinho’s fame—demanded precise explanation, and Dr. Ejchel delivered it.
Millionaire Social Circle – International Party or Criminal Scheme?
What began as an elite “coaching” seminar for affluent foreigners rapidly escalated into a federal investigation in São Paulo. In 2025, authorities opened proceedings against a group of American and Chinese nationals accused of organizing an event marketed as a dating course, but suspected by some as a cover for exploitation, possibly involving minors.
The media spotlight intensified after coverage on Fantástico and G1, turning the case into a national conversation. Dr. Ejchel appeared publicly not only as a legal analyst but as the official defense attorney for one of the accused. He argued forcefully that the event complied with Brazilian law, emphasized the absence of criminal elements in the available evidence, and underscored the risks of conflating luxury social experiences with illegal conduct. As of the latest updates, no convictions have been confirmed, and the defense continues to challenge the allegations on both procedural and factual grounds.
Few conventions are as misunderstood—and as powerful—as the 1980 Hague Convention on Child Abduction. In 2024, two Brazilian sisters were taken to Ireland by their mother without the father’s consent. The Brazilian Federal Prosecution Office (MPF) requested their return.
Interviewed live on GloboNews Estúdio i, Dr. Ejchel explained how return requests work, what qualifies as wrongful removal, and the role of international judicial cooperation in such emotionally charged cases. His voice provided calm, clarity, and legal education to a national audience.
Neymar – Can He Be Prosecuted in Brazil for a Crime in France?
In 2019, Neymar was accused of rape in a Paris hotel. While public opinion erupted, Dr. Ejchel offered a sober legal explanation published in UOL: under Article 7 of the Brazilian Penal Code, crimes committed abroad can be prosecuted in Brazil if both the alleged perpetrator and victim are Brazilian—and if the accused is within national territory.
This technical insight reframed the legal conversation, shifting the focus from scandal to jurisprudence.
Ronaldinho – Can a Passport Retention Order Stop a Football Icon?
Even legends have legal trouble. In 2018, Ronaldinho had his passport seized due to unpaid environmental fines. Media outlets speculated whether he could be prevented from traveling abroad. Dr. Ejchel clarified in UOL that the court order had effect only within Brazil and that international enforcement would require specific actions, such as issuing a red notice via Interpol or invoking international cooperation mechanisms outlined in multilateral treaties. Since no such steps were taken, the travel restriction was not recognized outside Brazil.
Dr. Mauricio Ejchel remains a singular presence in Brazil’s legal and media landscape, recognized not only for his courtroom expertise but for his rare ability to translate complex legal events into accessible public commentary. His background in international law, decades of experience, and active role in landmark cases have made him the consistent legal voice featured across major media outlets whenever high-profile international disputes unfold. Beyond the high-profile cases listed above, he has contributed legal insight to over 30 other television and print media stories, including appearances on CNN, GloboNews, Record TV, Deutsche Welle, Journal de Québec, and Folha de São Paulo. From extradition and deportation to cross-border custody, his voice is one of credibility, clarity, and consistency.
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