Introduction

In order to be enforced in Brazil, a foreign judgment or award needs to be previously rec- ognized by the Brazilian Judicial Branch. The competence for recognition of awards is not attributed to the courts in general, but concentrated in a specific court. The Brazilian Constitution requires, through Article 105, I, "i," the recognition of foreign judgments by the Superior Court of Justice ( Superior Tribunal de Justiça - STJ). The Federal Supreme Court originally held this competence. Constitutional Amendment 45/2004 changed this system. The current constitutional ...