In recent years, the web of regulations governing international commerce has tightened considerably, leaving companies with overseas operations under increasing scrutiny. As economic partnerships between the United States and Latin America expand, so too have the challenges of navigating regulatory environments that vary not only by country but often by region within those countries. The stakes are high: enforcement actions tied to cross-border misconduct have resulted in multi-million dollar penalties, lengthy investigations, and restrictions on market access. While many corporations have implemented basic compliance measures, the complexity of modern trade, spanning multiple jurisdictions, languages, and legal systems, demands more specialized expertise than ever before.
It is within this context that Ethos Partners Consulting will begin operations, aiming to close a gap that continues to expose U.S. businesses to preventable risk. The firm will focus on industries where cross-border vulnerabilities are most acute, including logistics, healthcare, and technology, sectors where operational pressures, supply chain dependencies, and third-party relationships frequently intersect with regulatory exposure. For companies entering or expanding in Latin American markets, the absence of tailored compliance oversight can create blind spots in contract terms, procurement practices, and partner selection processes. These oversights can lead to disputes, fines, or even criminal proceedings under U.S. statutes like the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act as well as local anti-bribery laws.
The urgency for specialized intervention is reflected in recent enforcement trends. According to U.S. government data, Latin America has accounted for a significant portion of cross-border compliance cases in the last five years, with penalties in some individual matters exceeding $500 million. Such cases often involve complex webs of subsidiaries, agents, and intermediaries, making detection and prevention difficult without local regulatory insight. In parallel, surveys from compliance associations suggest that while nearly four in five companies have introduced some form of compliance framework, only a minority have implemented comprehensive, jurisdiction-specific programs, leaving significant room for improvement.
Ethos Partners Consulting will approach this challenge by embedding preventative strategies into the operational planning of its clients. This will involve not only identifying and mitigating existing weaknesses but also anticipating new risks as companies expand their networks of suppliers, distributors, and joint venture partners. The aim will be to ensure that compliance is not treated as a periodic review but as an ongoing process integrated into daily decision-making. In doing so, the firm will help businesses reduce the probability of entering into relationships with high-risk partners, a factor that has been central to many enforcement cases in recent years.
The leadership of Ethos Partners Consulting rests with Jose Antonio Pereira, a veteran legal professional whose career in Brazil’s public prosecution service spanned more than four decades. His tenure as Procurador de Justiça in Rio de Janeiro involved overseeing sensitive legal matters at the highest levels of the judiciary, issuing legal opinions in appellate proceedings, and engaging in public forums to address community concerns about justice and governance. Earlier roles in Espírito Santo honed his expertise in managing complex investigations and interpreting multifaceted legal issues. His command of multiple languages, including English, Portuguese, German, French, and Latin, adds to his ability to navigate the cross-cultural dynamics inherent in U.S.–Latin America business relationships.
“Our objective will be to help companies make better choices before problems occur,” Pereira explains. “This means translating complicated legal environments into clear, actionable steps that align with a client’s business goals without compromising on integrity.” His perspective reflects a belief that effective compliance work is not only about adhering to rules but also about reinforcing corporate values and strengthening stakeholder trust.
The anticipated ripple effects of Ethos Partners Consulting’s work extend beyond its direct clients. By reducing incidents of misconduct in high-risk markets, the firm will contribute to broader goals of improving trade integrity and reducing the enforcement burden on government agencies. Fewer violations mean fewer costly investigations, freeing resources for regulators to focus on emerging threats. Moreover, by supporting small and mid-sized enterprises, often the most vulnerable to compliance failures due to limited resources, Ethos Partners Consulting will help level the playing field for U.S. companies seeking to compete abroad on ethical terms.
One challenge the firm will address is the shortage of specialized compliance professionals in the United States. The combination of an aging workforce, immigration restrictions affecting high-skill labor, and an ever-expanding set of regulatory requirements has made it difficult for many companies to recruit qualified staff. This shortage has led to a reliance on overextended teams or underqualified hires, both of which increase the likelihood of compliance lapses. Ethos Partners Consulting plans to counter this by offering mentorship programs, producing legal briefings on evolving standards, and creating bilingual educational resources that bridge knowledge gaps for both U.S. and Latin American contexts.
By positioning itself at the intersection of legal expertise, cultural fluency, and operational strategy, Ethos Partners Consulting will aim to become a trusted advisor for businesses seeking to avoid the legal, financial, and reputational damage that has derailed many cross-border ventures. Its launch comes at a moment when the demands of compliance are expanding faster than many organizations can adapt, underscoring the need for precisely the kind of specialized, region-specific guidance the firm intends to provide.
