After that, we worked together for nearly four years, until the time came that Leandro graduated and I had to decide whether he would be hired on as a lawyer or not. Another intern graduated at the same time as him. Both of them were excellent, but there was only room for one of them in the team. I consulted other professionals who worked with me and the decision was not to hire Leandro on as a lawyer. Life has shown me that this choice was a terrible mistake. Leandro left and set up his own firm. He started from nothing and began to grow. This experience made him a brilliant professional, which perhaps would not have happened if he was hired on as a lawyer at Demarest.
Leandro was building a solid career thanks to his hard work, honesty and undeniable results, while I continued in charge of the criminal law department at Demarest, which was considered one of the best in the country from 2007 to 2012. I was also acknowledged as one of the most admired criminal lawyers in the same period by Análise Editorial. What I am most proud of in receiving these awards was not being acknowledged, but the colleagues with whom I was included. There were all my idols from my early career. In 2012, I was elected one of the best in the criminal area by the respected Chambers and also by Latin Lawyer.
