In an era where the intersection of government policy and private enterprise demands high-level legal precision, few practitioners have navigated the complexities of administrative law with as much consistency as Edson Hernandes Soares. A seasoned attorney and consultant, Soares has spent over two decades shaping the discourse around public procurement and government contracting in Brazil.
Soares’ entry into the specialized world of public bidding was not incidental, but the result of early, rigorous immersion. Following his graduation from law school in 2002, Soares began his career under the direct guidance of a senior mentor.
“My first job as a lawyer was precisely in this area,” Soares recalls. “I learned by observing. I studied how my boss drafted complex legal documents and navigated client interactions. That initial exposure was my classroom, allowing me to develop the technical skills necessary to master the nuances of administrative contracts.”
Edson acted as a conciliator in the Special Court in 2001 (during college). He then graduated from his postgraduate studies in Economic Administrative Law at the Universidade Presbiteriana Mackenzie. His diverse career path has included significant roles, such as a member of the bidding committee for the Municipal Health Secretariat of São Paulo and as a conciliator at the Special Civil Court of Guarulhos.
As the partner and administrator of Edson Hernandes Soares Sociedade de Advogados, Soares now focuses on providing consultancy to private companies navigating the labyrinthine nature of public auctions and procurement. When asked about the greatest hurdle in his field, he points toward the ambiguity of the law itself.
“The greatest concern is the varying interpretation regarding the application of the law,” he explains. “While most statutes are drafted to be clear and objective, certain articles leave room for multiple interpretations. This creates a fertile ground for legal disputes and leads to divergent rulings that can stall government projects and create uncertainty for private contractors.”
Looking toward the future of Brazil’s legal landscape, Soares advocates for legislative evolution. He suggests that while current laws provide a framework, they are struggling to keep pace with technological advancements and the realities of modern administration.
“To advance and modernize administrative law, we need to update our legislation to ensure transparency and efficiency,” says Soares. He specifically highlights Law No. 14.133/21 (the Public Procurement Law) as a candidate for modernization, particularly regarding the integration of artificial intelligence to streamline and expedite contracting procedures.
Furthermore, Soares addresses the tension between oversight and efficiency concerning the Administrative Improbity Law (Law No. 8.429/92). “We need adjustments that better combat corruption while providing actual legal certainty for public administrators,” he notes. “Currently, many operate under an excessive bureaucratic burden, driven largely by the fear of legal liability, which ultimately hinders the efficiency of public service.”
Beyond his legal practice, Soares’ career is marked by a rare dual perspective: that of a legal counsel and an entrepreneur. As the director of FERG Service and a partner at Fast Giant da Engenheiro Ltda, he understands the high stakes of business growth from the inside out.
This, combined with his dedication to teaching Administrative Law for bar exam candidates and his published contributions to legal literature, positions Edson Hernandes Soares as a key figure in the push for a more transparent and agile public contracting environment in Brazil. As the country continues to refine its administrative standards, the insights of practitioners like Soares serve as a vital roadmap for aligning private ambition with the public good.
