Alexandre Sion (LL.M. '12 | Brazil)
When Alexandre Oheb Sion, at the time a Brazilian legal counselor, arrived at UC Davis School of Law in 2011 to pursue his LL.M. in International Commercial Law, he brought experience working with major corporations and handling legal matters in an increasingly international context. Recognized for his work across the environmental, energy, mining, and infrastructure sectors, Alexandre knew that broadening his perspective beyond the Brazilian legal system was essential to taking his career to the next level.
Today, as Founding Partner of Sion Advogados, Alexandre can add top national honors to his list of accomplishments. In addition to leading Sion Advogados to a No. 1 national ranking in Environmental Law in Brazil, he was named The Latin American Lawyer’s Environmental Lawyer of the Year in both 2025 and 2026 and has personally held a No. 1 individual ranking in Environmental Law for nine consecutive years.
Below, Alexandre reflects on how his education at UC Davis School of Law gave him the foundation to think and operate in various legal systems and led to lifelong friendships.
1) What do you currently do for work?
I am very proud to serve as the Founding Partner of Sion Advogados, a Brazilian law firm headquartered in Belo Horizonte, with offices in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. It is a role I value deeply, not only because of the firm’s growth over the years, but also because of the opportunity to work closely with our clients, contribute to the development of our team, and help shape the next generation of professionals.
My practice focuses primarily on complex and strategic legal matters involving Environmental Law, Mining, Energy, Infrastructure, and business issues related to regulated industries. Throughout my career, I have had the privilege of advising Brazilian and international companies on projects, operations, disputes, and decision-making processes involving not only legal matters, but also significant regulatory, economic, and institutional considerations.
When I founded Sion Advogados, my goal was to bring together the experience I had gained both within major corporations and in private practice to build a firm that would remain close to its clients and deeply connected to the challenges faced by the industries in which we operate. I am very proud of what we have built together and especially grateful for the trust of our clients and the dedication of our team.
2) What is one (or more) accomplishments you've achieved in your career since graduation?
One of the accomplishments I am most proud of is founding Sion Advogados and contributing to its growth and consolidation over the years. Building a law firm around my own vision of legal practice, seeing it grow, develop professionals, and earn the trust of major companies has undoubtedly been one of the most rewarding aspects of my career.
Over the years, my work in Environmental Law, Energy, Mining, and Infrastructure has been recognized by some of the leading national and international legal publications. In both 2025 and 2026, I was named Environmental Lawyer of the Year by The Latin American Lawyer, and for nine consecutive years I have ranked No. 1 nationally in Environmental Law in the Análise Advocacia ranking (broad-based category).I have also achieved No. 1 rankings in the Electric Power, Mining, and Steel sectors in its broad-based category.
It is especially gratifying to see that this recognition extends beyond my individual career. Sion Advogados also ranks No. 1 nationally in Environmental Law among Brazil’s most admired law firms, according to Análise Advocacia. I see this result as a reflection of a collective effort, the quality of our team, and, above all, the trust our clients place in our work.
Beyond these recognitions, I consider it an important accomplishment to contribute to the development of the fields in which I practice through academic and institutional activities. I particularly value the opportunity to share knowledge and contribute to the development of other professionals. In that sense, my experience at UC Davis continues to influence the way I understand legal practice and the role of lawyers in an increasingly complex and global environment.
3) What inspired you to pursue an LLM degree, and why did you choose UC Davis School of Law?
For a long time, I had dreamed of studying in the United States, but earlier in my life I did not have the financial means to make that possible. When the opportunity finally came, it was a particularly meaningful moment for me. I am also very grateful to the company I worked for at the time, which supported me and allowed me to balance my professional responsibilities with my studies.
Beyond fulfilling a personal aspiration, pursuing an LL.M. in International Commercial Law was also very relevant to the stage of my career I was in. My professional practice already involved companies, investments, and legal matters within an increasingly international economic environment, so I was looking for a program that combined academic excellence with a curriculum aligned with my professional practice and the international context in which I was already working.
UC Davis stood out in particular because of its International Commercial Law curriculum, which closely matched the areas of knowledge I wanted to deepen at that stage of my career. In addition, the reputation of the university and King Hall, as well as the quality and experience of its faculty, were decisive factors in my choice.
Looking back on my journey since UC Davis, I consider the LL.M. an important part of shaping my professional perspective. My career has developed in areas that directly address some of today’s major challenges—including economic development, infrastructure, mining, energy, and environmental protection—and that increasingly require a multidisciplinary and international perspective. The LL.M. broadened not only my legal knowledge but also the way I approach and analyze problems.
4) What was your Davis program experience like?
When I think about my time at UC Davis, I remember that period with great affection. It was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life, and I still look back on it with a great sense of nostalgia. It was a time of deep dedication to my studies, but also a time when I built relationships that have stayed with me for life. In many ways, it was a truly unique experience.
My fondest memories are, without a doubt, the friendships I built. I had the opportunity to meet and spend time with people from many different parts of the world, with very diverse cultures, experiences, and professional backgrounds. Studying law in another country, alongside professors and classmates from different backgrounds, naturally broadens the way you view your own education and professional practice.
What makes those friendships especially meaningful is that they have endured long after the LL.M. ended. We are still in touch today and have a group made up of professionals who live and work in different countries. Over the years, we have even held two reunions, one in Brazil and another in Portugal.
So, more than any particular class or moment on campus, what I cherish most about my UC Davis experience are the friendships I formed and the fact that they remain part of my life so many years later. I remember that time with great affection and gratitude, and it remains one of the most meaningful experiences of my personal and professional journey.
5) Looking back, what do you wish you knew then that you know now?
I wish I had understood even earlier the value of the relationships built through an experience like this. When we begin an LL.M., we are naturally very focused on academic learning, coursework, and professional development. Over the years, however, we come to realize that engaging with people from different countries, cultures, and backgrounds is an equally important part of the experience.
The knowledge we acquire stays with us, but the ability to understand different perspectives and build relationships in diverse environments may be one of the most lasting legacies of an international academic experience.