Speakers
Ricardo Henriques, partner, Abreu Advogados
Ricardo Henriques is a Partner and Co-Head of IP and TMT, with 21 years of experience working primarily on matters related to intellectual property, information technology, personal data protection, media and advertising and telco.
He is also an official Industrial Property Agent and Arbitrator at ARBITRARE (Arbitration Centre for Industrial Property, Domain Names, Trade Names and Corporate Names) as well as arbitrator in several arbitration proceedings.
His experience focuses particularly on technology, on matters such as software licensing, compliance projects regarding emerging technologies and issues related to e-commerce. He has been working on several General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) implementation projects.
Ricardo advises start-ups to the largest market leading companies – regarding the protection and growth of brands patents and other industrial property rights, on an ongoing basis, providing support on advertising activities, including contests and games.
He frequently works with clients on preventing and/or resolving Intellectual Property and Information Technology litigation, focusing on copyrights and technology litigation, intellectual property and technology licensing, data protection and other regulatory issues.
He is an expert at advising wide-ranging national and multinational companies in industries such as automotive, pharmaceutical, services, healthcare, financial, consumer goods manufacturers, hardware and software developers, retail and online retail regarding matters related to intellectual property, compliance, information technology and data privacy and safety.
Lara Reis, head of internal control and regulatory affairs department, Novo Banco
Lara is a senior executive with 20 years of experience in the financial sector, specialising in corporate governance, risk management, compliance, regulation, and ESG. After a distinguished career as a financial law expert in top-tier law firms, she transitioned to investment banking as General Counsel and Legal/Compliance Director, leveraging her expertise in leadership and strategy. She excels in navigating complex strategic challenges with an innovative and solution-driven mindset, balancing stakeholder perspectives while integrating legal and regulatory considerations into business decision-making. A dynamic and engaging leader, she combines technical excellence with the ability to anticipate risks and develop clear, actionable solutions.
Mafalda Mascarenhas Garcia, cybersecurity lead counsel, EMEA, IBM
Mafalda Mascarenhas Garcia has more than 25 years PQE and has been working in IBM for over 12 years. Currently in IBM, is the Cybersecurity Lead Counsel in EMEA. In such role, Mafalda advises on cybersecurity legal, regulatory, and policy issues that affect the company across multiple business areas, with a focus on relevant European and international laws. Working closely with other Legal functions and the Business Units on cyber incidents, legal and regulatory developments and education. Supports CSIRT and the CISO office managing cyber incidents and investigations.
Pedro Correia, head of legal, Lusíadas Saúde
Pedro Correia is Head of Legal & Compliance at Lusíadas Saúde, formerly part of UnitedHealth Group and now under Vivalto Santé. A law graduate from the University of Coimbra (1989), he joined the Bar in 1991 and holds advanced qualifications in legal leadership and executive management from institutions including Porto Business School and Nova SBE. He spent two decades at Vieira de Almeida & Associados, where he specialized in life sciences and pharmaceutical law, advising on corporate restructuring, M&A, and regulatory matters. He later joined José de Mello Saúde (now CUF), overseeing legal and contract management for Vila Franca de Xira Hospital under a public-private partnership. Pedro has also taught corporate and health law at the Autonomous University of Lisbon and led executive training sessions on medicinal products and medical devices.
Catarina Tinoco de Faria, head of legal analysis networks, E-REDES, EDP
Graduated as a lawyer at the University of Lisbon School of Law. Master of Law & Business Administration (MSc degree) at Catolica Lisbon and Executive degree in Advanced Energy Management at AESE.
Solid experience in legal advice and legal management of projects in different areas of the energy sector.
Strong knowledge of sectorial regulations and laws, with focus on distribution networks, generation, among other topics in the electricity value chain. Responsible for the Legal Analysis team of E-REDES, providing and monitoring support focusing on the implementation of legal and regulatory changes.
Developed a strategic view of the business to ensure legal compliance and a solid experience in reporting to senior management.
Experience in managing teams and providing training sessions on topics related to the legal framework of energy.
Mónica Moreira, managing partner, Deloitte Legal
Mónica is the Managing Partner at Deloitte Legal in Portugal and also coordinates the Mergers and Acquisitions area.
With 25 years of professional experience, she works mainly in the areas of Mergers and Acquisitions, Corporate and Business Law, and Competition Law.
Mónica has coordinated and actively participated in several acquisitions and/or sales of shareholdings, corporate restructuring, mergers and concentrations of companies, both domestic and cross-border, in various sectors of economic activity. Her practice in this area has included, among other aspects, the definition of reorganisation models, the performance of due diligence, the drafting, negotiation and formalisation of contractual instruments, and legal advice on obtaining regulatory authorisations and on the business integration process.
She also participated in several privatisation processes, particularly in the area of infrastructure and transport, and in the renegotiation of public-private partnerships.
Rosemary Martin, senior advisor, Deloitte Legal
Rosemary Martin is a Senior Advisor to Deloitte Legal where she contributes to a variety of areas across its global business, while sharing insights and experiences with clients and providing counsel to Deloitte.
Rosemary was Vodafone’s Group General Counsel where she was a member of the group executive and had functional responsibilities for legal services, risk and compliance. As Company Secretary to the Vodafone Group, Rosemary provided advice and administrative services to the Vodafone Group Board, ensuring compliance with all statutory and regulatory requirements for a public company.
She previously served as CEO of the Practical Law Group, having spent 11 years with Reuters Group Plc, with the last five years as Group General Counsel and Company Secretary. Before joining Reuters, Rosemary was a partner with Rowe & Maw (now Mayer Brown). She was a Non-Executive Director of HSBC Bank Plc (the European arm of HSBC Group) until April 2016 and a Non-Executive Director of EY until August 2018.
Rosemary was admitted as a Solicitor of the Supreme Court in 1985.
Rita Aleixo Gregório, partner, PLMJ
Rita is a partner in the European Competition practice at PLMJ. With over 20 years of experience, she has focused on advising clients on matters of Portuguese and European competition law, including state aid, cartels, merger control and damages actions.
With extensive experience in investigations, internal audits, training and compliance programmes, Rita has particular expertise in the civil aviation, distribution, energy, finance and waste management sectors, representing clients before the Competition Authority, the European Commission and national and European courts.
In the digital era, she stands out for advising on competition challenges related to artificial intelligence and data analysis, helping companies to innovate in compliance with competition rules. Before joining PLMJ, she was a managing associate at VdA and was part of the restrictive practices department of the Competition Authority.
Rui Braga, director, data science & AI, artificial intelligence center of excellence, Banco BPI
Rui holds a degree in Economics from ISEG, having previously studied at Stockholm University, and a Master’s degree in Management and Information Technology from Aston Business School, UK. He has 20 years of experience in the financial services industry, 6 of which in international projects in Europe, America and Asia, having performed various functions in technical and business domains, always linked to the analytical area. Previously, he participated in the creation and development of the Data Science area of a leading financial institution in Portugal. Since 2022, he has been part of the AI Center of Excellence at Banco BPI, where he leads the Data Science and Data Engineering teams. In recent years, he has undertaken successive executive and hands-on training in the areas of AI and Data Science, with emphasis on MIT’s “Algorithmic Business Thinking” and the Lisbon Data Science Academy.
Melissa Carvalho, legal director, Defined.ai
Specialized in ethical AI and compliance, Melissa Carvalho is the Legal Director at Defined.ai. With more than eight years of experience in the corporate, banking, and technology sectors, she holds a law degree and a master’s in law from the University of Lisbon, as well as a specialization in Compliance from IEB in Madrid and training in Artificial Intelligence Governance provided by the International Association of Privacy Professionals.
Throughout her career, she has developed expertise in data protection, intellectual property, and corporate law, having worked in Portugal, Spain, and the Netherlands.
Américo de Oliveira Fragoso, partner, co-head of labour practice, VdA – Vieira de Almeida
Américo Oliveira Fragoso joined VdA in 2013. Partner co-Head of the Labour practice. In such capacity he has been assisting clients in various areas of Labour Law and Social Security Law, including both individual and collective employment relations.
Américo also representes domestic and foreign clients in numerous corporate restructuring procedures, with regard to the acquisition and sale of companies or undertakings, conducting dismissal proceedings and he is regularly involved in the planning and execution of corporate pension schemes and benefits.
The legal assistance provided also includes the structuring and implementation of pension and benefit plans in companies, as well as advice on the issues marking the future of labour law, related to digitalisation, AI and Labour Tech.
He also represents clients regarding employment litigation.
Susana Almeida Lopes, managing partner, SHL Portugal
Susana is a psychologist with a PhD in organizational psychology. As a professor and researcher at ISEG, she has authored books and numerous papers on talent management, gender equality, and AI applications in HR. Previously, she served as the Talent Director at VdA and is currently the Managing Partner of SHL Portugal. She leads projects on AI, the Future of Work, Analytics, Skills Development, and Gender Equality. Her innovative work has earned her a spot on the Financial Times list of the top 10 most innovative individuals in Europe.
Manuel Cavaleiro Brandão, partner, labour practice area, VdA – Vieira de Almeida
Manuel Cavaleiro Brandão is a Partner of VdA’s Labour practice. He is a leading Labour lawyer in Portugal, boasting over 40 years of experience. Manuel couples his vast experience in Labor Law with a no less significant experience in national and international arbitration, having acted as both counsel and arbitrator in commercial and corporate law, construction and public works, contracts and labor law related arbitration proceedings. Among other roles, he was a member of the Court of Arbitration of ICC – International Chamber of Commerce (Paris) (2002-2005).
Teresa Vicente, head of people, Portugal, Minsait
Guilherme Dray, partner, Macedo Vitorino
Guilherme Dray is a Partner and Head of the Employment Group. Guilherme has over 20 years of experience in the public and private sectors, working primarily on matters related to labour (employment), civil rights, constitutional, corporate governance, administrative modernization and government policy.
Guilherme has a strong academic background. Among other things Guilherme is a Professor at the Faculty of Law of the Lisbon University, where he lectures since 1993, and was a Visiting Professor at Georgetown University, Washington D.C., United States of America, in 2017.
He has performed academic functions, advisory to government members and consulting and management in private companies and contributed to the Administrative Modernization areas in Portugal and in other Lusophone countries such as Brazil, Angola and East Timor.
Guilherme works regularly with the Portuguese Government in mediation roles in labour disputes and collective bargaining as well as in the drafting of new regulations. He contributed to Portugal’s Covid-19 relief measures and co-authored the Green Book on the Future of Work. He coordinated the Portuguese Labor Code reform (2009), and served on the 2003 Labor Code drafting commission. He was Scientific Coordinator of the Green Book on Employment Market (2016-2017) and is a member of the Labour and Employment Law Portuguese Association (since 2016) and the University of Lisbon’s School of Law Internationalization Commission (since 2020).
Cláudia Fernandes Martins, partner, Macedo Vitorino
Cláudia Martins is a Partner and Head of the Compliance Group at MACEDO VITORINO. Cláudia joined Macedo Vitorino in 2003, where she now coordinates the “MVCompliance” project, leveraging over 17 years of experience advising national and international companies. She has relevant expertise in compliance (including privacy and data protection), competition and EU law, consumer law, information technology, e-commerce, litigation, and arbitration. Cláudia is graduated with a Law Degree from the University of Lisbon in 2003, completed a Postgraduate Diploma in Tax Law – State Aid and Taxation in 2005, and earned a Master’s Degree in European Competition Law (pre-Bologna) in 2010.
She is a Certified Information Privacy Professional/Europe (CIPP/E) by the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP) since 2018. Cláudia, an esteemed GDPR compliance expert, has supported numerous organizations in implementation projects since 2018, serving as a Data Protection Officer (DPO) and legal advisor to DPOs. Since October 2022, she has been the DPO and Compliance Officer for the Municipality of Sintra and SMAS de Sintra. Cláudia frequently speaks at seminars and delivers training on compliance-related topics.
Currently, she is a Ph.D. candidate in Law and a Guest Lecturer at the Faculty of Law, University of Lisbon.
José Leitão, partner, MdME
José is a partner and head of the Compliance & Regulatory practice. He has extensive experience in public law and is widely recognised in the construction and financial services sectors.
He advises domestic and multinational clients on complex compliance matters, focusing on cross-border data privacy, anti-money laundering, anti-corruption, and consumer protection. He often leads multijurisdictional reviews of customer-facing documentation and internal policies.
José also heads the Construction & Infrastructure practice, specialising in administrative tender law and construction disputes. He has represented infrastructure companies and consortia in large-scale public and private projects, including injunctive proceedings. He also advises on urban planning and legislative drafting.
In financial services, José represents banks, exchanges, payment providers, and wealth managers in licensing and regulatory matters, including market entry and localisation of financial products and ISDA agreements.
He currently serves as head of the Lisbon Office.
Francisco Castro, research editor, Legal 500
Francisco joined Legal 500 in August 2022, where he is part of the GC Powerlist series editorial team. His work focuses on researching, editing, and interviewing some of the most prominent and exceptional in-house counsel from the world’s largest companies. Francisco’s role also includes hosting a variety of in-person events, such as conferences, publication launches, roundtables, and one-on-one interviews, across multiple regions, all tailored specifically for the in-house legal community. He has also contributed to the Legal 500 webinar series, which delivers market-leading expertise through an engaging digital platform.
Beyond his work with Legal 500, Francisco has extensive research experience in Public Policy, Higher Education, and International Law. His additional academic interests include International Relations, Geopolitics, and International Humanitarian Law. Francisco is fluent in English, Portuguese, and Spanish.
Afonso Cardoso de Menezes, executive director, head of compliance, Haitong Bank
Afonso Cardoso de Menezes currently serves as Head of Compliance and Data Protection Officer at Haitong Bank, a leading investment bank headquartered in Portugal with operations across Spain, the UK, Poland, France, Brazil, and Macao. He is also a non-executive board member of Haitong Global Asset Management, a wholly owned subsidiary of Haitong Bank focused on asset management and private equity.
Prior to joining the Haitong Bank Group, Afonso held the position of Head of Legal and Company Secretary at another Portuguese investment bank. Earlier in his career, he worked in top-tier multinational law firms in both Europe and Asia, specializing in banking and finance. He also served as Corporate Counsel at one of Portugal’s leading insurance companies.
With nearly 20 years of experience, Afonso is a seasoned banking and finance lawyer, with additional expertise in blockchain and cybersecurity.