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The Faculty of Law, Economics and Finance (FDEF) at the University of Luxembourg is pleased to announce that Dr Frederico Oliveira-Silva has been awarded first place in the doctoral thesis in law category of the 2025 FIBE (Fórum de Integração Brasil Europa) Award (Prémio FIBE).
FIBE is a nonprofit association that promotes dialogue and research on the cultural, economic, and legal ties between Brazil and Europe. Its network comprises more than 300 members, including judges, academics, lawyers, and public figures from Brazil, Portugal, and Spain. The annual FIBE prize recognises outstanding dissertations and theses that strengthen these connections, with particular attention to Portugal and other Portuguese-speaking countries. Specifically, Dr Oliveira-Silva’s research won first place in the law thesis category, representing the University of Luxembourg and the Federal University of Goiás (Brazil).
Dr Oliveira-Silva’s thesis, “The Scope of Application of Alternative Dispute Resolution Mechanisms for Financial Consumers: Insights from the EU and Brazil”, examines how consumers of financial services gain access to justice through alternative dispute resolution (ADR). The study analyses Directive 2013/11/EU, case law of the Court of Justice of the European Union, and national frameworks across nine EU Member States. It compares these findings with the Brazilian approach to consumer ADR. It also highlights Brazil’s constitutional foundations for consumer protection and its extensive use of online dispute resolution. The thesis proposes a purposive and coherent interpretation of the Directive to better support consumers in both regions.
Dr Oliveira-Silva’s thesis was defended on 27 June 2025 at the University of Luxembourg, within the Doctoral Training Unit Enforcement in Multi-Level Regulatory Systems II (REMS II), supported by the Luxembourg National Research Fund (FNR).
Reflecting on the award, Dr Oliveira-Silva said:
‟ It is an honour to receive the 2025 FIBE award for best doctoral thesis in law, and to have my research validated by esteemed professionals and civil society representatives from both Europe and Brazil. My thesis analysed nine EU Member-States, as well as Brazil, and I am therefore particularly delighted by this confirmation of its potential to transcend the walls of academia on both continents.”
Law professor and an administrative director
He expressed his gratitude to the FIBE jury, his supervisors Professors Dr Elise Poillot and Dr Saulo Coelho, the members of his defence committee, and the institutions where he carried out his research: the University of Luxembourg and the Federal University of Goiás in Brazil. He also thanked DTU REMS II and the FNR for their support, and congratulated the other award recipients.
Dr Oliveira-Silva currently works as a law professor and administrative director in Brazil’s education sector, while continuing his professional activity as a contract lawyer, specialising in business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-consumer (B2C) contracts.
The Faculty congratulates Dr Oliveira-Silva on this achievement and welcomes this international recognition of his research.