Practice area

Disaster Risk Management

We help organizations prevent disasters, respond to disasters safely and carry out fair and defensible reparation, reducing loss of life, legal risk and years of conflict.

Talk to the partnersSee our areas of work

Approach

First-hand experience in the Rio Doce basin reparation

For years, the partners worked on the reparation of the Rio Doce basin, the largest reparation process in Brazil and one of the largest and most complex in the world. They led mediated indemnification, emergency financial aid and human rights programs, in constant dialogue with affected people, public bodies and justice institutions, and know first-hand what works, what gets stuck and what drives up costs.

We bring this experience to companies in mining, energy, sanitation, infrastructure, industry, agribusiness, logistics, construction and services, including the textile and food sectors, as well as to public institutions and non-profit organizations. We combine academic research in disaster law with the practical ability to set up crisis committees, support the organization’s institutional dialogue with the Public Prosecutor’s Office, the Public Defender’s Office and other institutions, alongside its lawyers, and maintain ongoing, respectful dialogue with affected communities.

Cycle

The full disaster management cycle

Disasters cost lives and leave regions scarred for decades, and reparation can take years. Prevention and preparedness always cost less, for people and for the organization.

  1. 01

    Prevention

    Vulnerability mapping, risk analysis and contractual and operational safeguards to prevent incidents.

  2. 02

    Preparedness and mitigation

    Simulation exercises, protocols for assisting affected people, emergency action plans and training for decision-makers.

  3. 03

    Response

    Crisis committee governance, protection of people’s safety and coordination with public authorities and civil protection agencies.

  4. 04

    Full reparation and non-repetition

    Compensation programs, resettlement, livelihood restoration and guarantees of non-repetition.

Areas of work

How we help

Risk and vulnerability mapping

An integrated view of hazards, exposure and the vulnerabilities of people and territories, with clear priorities for prevention.

When clients call usWe need to know where a disaster could strike and who it could affect.

Disaster Risk and Vulnerability Mapping

Integrated mapping of hazards, community exposure and territorial vulnerabilities, based on the Sendai Framework.

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What it is for
Risks prioritized by severity for people and operations, providing a solid basis for emergency plans.
Key deliverables
  • Vulnerability map
  • Prioritized risk matrix
  • Emergency plan recommendations
Who it is for
  • Operational risk, health and safety, community relations and business continuity teams

Prevention, preparedness, mitigation and response

Contingency plans, protocols, crisis committee governance and simulation exercises.

When clients call usThe operation needs a contingency plan, protocols and drills.

Disaster Prevention, Preparedness, Mitigation and Response

Contingency plans, protocols and simulation exercises to protect lives and rights in emergencies.

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What it is for
Fast, coordinated crisis response, with documented and defensible decisions.
Key deliverables
  • Response plan
  • Crisis committee manual
  • Simulation exercise
Who it is for
  • Crisis committees, operations, dam safety, health and safety, legal and communication

Reparation: design and monitoring

Clear criteria, participation of affected people and independent monitoring of reparation.

When clients call usThere is a reparation program or settlement to design or assess.

Fair Reparation: Design and Advisory

Reparation programs with clear criteria, auditable processes and dialogue with affected people and justice institutions.

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What it is for
Faster, more defensible reparation, with fewer disputes and lower risk of litigation.
Key deliverables
  • Criteria matrix
  • Claimant service protocols
  • Monitoring dashboard
Who it is for
  • Companies under settlements or consent agreements, reparation foundations, legal and finance teams

Reparation Observatory

Independent monitoring of targets, effectiveness and community perception in reparation programs.

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What it is for
Transparency for boards and parties to the settlement, with bottlenecks and risks of new conflicts identified in time.
Key deliverables
  • Indicator dashboard
  • Quarterly reports
  • Board summaries
Who it is for
  • Boards, reparation departments, governance committees and auditors

Memory, non-repetition and lessons learned

Lessons learned from disasters and serious incidents, institutional memory and non-repetition measures.

When clients call usA disaster has happened and we need to learn from it and prevent it from happening again.

Memory, Non-Repetition and Lessons Learned

Capturing lessons from disasters and serious incidents to consolidate safeguards and non-repetition measures.

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What it is for
Lessons turned into lasting processes, reducing the risk of the same problem happening again.
Key deliverables
  • Lessons learned report
  • Non-repetition matrix
  • Institutional memory
Who it is for
  • Boards, risk and compliance committees and senior leadership

See also our formats: Executive Radar, technical notes, training and reporting

Preparedness that protects people, operations and reputation

Talk to the partners about the risks in your operations. We bring the experience of people who worked on the reparation of one of Brazil’s largest disasters, together with research in disaster law and a multidisciplinary, cross-cutting approach that integrates law, the social sciences, engineering and management, for preventive, well-founded and sustainable decisions.

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