Business or commercial law

1. ↑ commercial law. Commercial law is a branch of private law that governs business activities and economic interactions. It regulates entrepreneurs, business entities, contracts and commercial transactions in various fields, including partnerships, companies and intellectual property. Originating from Roman law and medieval mercantile customs, commercial law evolved through codification in the 19th century, particularly in countries such as France and Portugal. The field covers legal frameworks for business organisations, contractual obligations, negotiable instruments and dispute resolution mechanisms. Key aspects include defining commercial acts, differentiating them from civil transactions and adapting to changing business environments. Commercial law provides legal certainty by establishing rules for economic activities, incorporating international standards, EU directives and national legislation. Its scope continues to expand, reflecting the complexity of modern business practices and the need for comprehensive legal frameworks that support economic interactions.

2. ↑ private law. The distinction between public and private law originates in Roman legal traditions, initially differentiating between state interests and individual utility. This classification is fundamental to legal education and reflects the separation between the public and private spheres. Modern legal scholarship challenges clear demarcation, highlighting the complexity of legal relationships and the emergence of hybrid legal domains. The evolution of constitutional thinking has significantly impacted this distinction, introducing concepts of fundamental rights and judicial review. The 20th century witnessed a transformation in private law through publicisation and constitutionalisation, emphasising human dignity over property rights. This shift represents a movement to place the human person at the centre of legal interpretation, challenging traditional hierarchical legal structures and recognising the interconnectedness of public and private legal domains.

3. ↑ civil law. Civil law is a comprehensive legal system that governs private relations in various jurisdictions. Originating from Roman law (Ius Civile), it encompasses principles of ethics, sociability and operability. The system influences multiple legal traditions, including Brazilian civil law, which has undergone significant transformations through historical codifications. The Brazilian Civil Code, established in 2002 (Law No. 10.406), replaced previous legal structures and introduced progressive changes such as reducing the age of civil majority to 18, allowing parental emancipation from the age of 16 and guaranteeing equal rights for artificial and natural children. Its structure includes a General Part, a Special Part and a Complementary Part, addressing various legal domains. The code reflects evolving social norms by promoting gender equality and adapting legal definitions to contemporary social contexts, demonstrating the dynamic nature of civil law in regulating citizens' interactions and rights.

4. ↑ regulations. Regulations are normative acts issued by the executive branch, characterised by abstraction, generality and imperativeness. They serve to detail higher normative acts and are mainly limited by constitutional and legal frameworks. Classifications include regulatory, delegated, autonomous and independent types, ranging in scope from internal administrative effects to external general effects. They can be spontaneous or provoked, and cover various levels of governmental competence, including federal, state, municipal and territorial. Autonomous regulations directly explain the Constitution and constitute primary normative acts, while independent regulations also interpret constitutional provisions. The principle of legality prevails in contemporary constitutional systems, ensuring that regulations operate within defined legal limits. Academic work by authors such as Francisco, Leal and Velloso has contributed to understanding the complex nature and function of regulatory mechanisms.

5. ↑ globalisation. Globalisation represents a complex historical process of increasing interconnection across economic, cultural and communication domains. Emerging from the first trade routes such as the Silk Road, it accelerated through technological advances in transport and communication. The post-World War II period saw significant expansion through international institutions, economic blocs and multinational corporations. The main impacts include the global exchange of information through internet technologies, facilitation of cross-border trade and cultural hybridisation. While enabling unprecedented connectivity and economic opportunities, globalisation simultaneously raises critical challenges around cultural homogenisation, environmental sustainability and economic inequality. The phenomenon has transformed the way goods, services, ideas and people move across national borders, creating both integrative possibilities and potential social tensions. Its multifaceted nature continues to provoke academic and political debates about its long-term societal implications.

6. ↑ customs. Customs are social rules stemming from repeated practices in a specific cultural context, characterised by objective (corpus consuetudo) and subjective (animus) elements. They reflect the psychological conviction of behavioural obligations in different societies. These practices cover various domains, including legal, social and anthropological perspectives. Examples range from traditional behaviours to potential criminal activities, such as curandeirismo and capoeira. Legally, customs distinguish between habitual and typical offences, focusing on the social perception of the practices. Sociologically, they represent essential values and transmit cultural norms that define acceptable behaviour. Customs are intrinsically linked to broader concepts such as habitus, customary law and legal anthropology, demonstrating how social practices evolve and become normalised within specific cultural frameworks. They serve as a lens through which societies understand and categorise human behaviour.

7. ↑ law. Law is a complex system of rules that regulate human behaviour through rights and duties, shaped by various social and cultural influences. Rooted in Latin and Sanskrit origins, it encompasses various legal families such as civil law and common law. The field largely distinguishes between public and private law, addressing corporate and individual interests respectively. Its foundations date back to archaic societies, with early codifications such as the Code of Ur-Namu and the Code of Hammurabi. Roman law significantly advanced legal systems, separating law from religion and morality, and developing sophisticated legal concepts. Modern law comes from multiple sources, including state legislation, international treaties and individual contracts. Courts and tribunals apply legal norms through interpretation guided by doctrine, custom and judicial precedent, reflecting the dynamic and adaptive nature of law.