Hamilton Prisco ParaIso (1922-2005)

After earning a law degree from the Federal University at Bahia in 1944, Hamilton Prisco Paraiso lectured at the Rio de Janeiro Catholic University (PUC-RJ) Law School, Guanabara State University (now UERJ) and the Getúlio Vargas Foundation School of Public Administration (EBAP).

For several years, he was also Odebrecht’s legal counsel and took part in decisive moments in the Group’s development in the 1970s, when the company began establishing a presence in the southeastern part of Brazil to build specialized technology projects such as the Angra dos Reis Nuclear Power Plant, Rio de Janeiro International Airport and the Petrobras Building. He also accompanied the first steps of the Group’s internationalization and business diversification, taken at the end of that decade, as well as playing a part in the acquisition of CBPO – Companhia Brasileira de Obras in São Paulo and BPC – Bento Pedroso Construções in Portugal.

In 1981, Hamilton joined the Board of Directors of Odebrecht S.A., where he acted as legal advisor and played an active role in the Group’s legal and corporate restructuring until 1998.

In the public sector, he was Chief of Staff for the Ministry of Education and Health in 1944, Secretary to the President of the Bank of Brazil in 1955, and Chief of Staff and Interim Minister for the Treasury Ministry in 1961. He also played an outstanding role in several other areas, as Executive Vice President of Banco da Bahia S.A., Vice President and General Consultant of Petroquímica da Bahia S.A., Legal Consultant to Companhia Vale do Rio Doce (CVRD), a Member of Brazilian Bar Association’s Federal Council, and a Member of the Board of BNDES, Brazil’s national economic and social development bank, as well as the boards of Pronor S.A., Nitrocarbono S.A., Isocianatos S.A and Unipar S.A.

Hamilton Prisco Paraiso passed away on July 7 at the age of 82 in Rio de Janeiro. Up until his death, he represented the Prisco Paraiso Advogados law firm in Rio de Janeiro. He is survived by his widow, Maria Annita, and three children, Celina Maria, Francisco and Hamilton.