Team size: four

What would you say are the unique qualities required to be successful as an in-house lawyer in your industry?

To excel as an in-house lawyer in the casino and hotel industries, you need (i) legal expertise — understand gaming, hospitality, and regulatory laws; (ii) adaptability — stay up to date with changing regulations and industry dynamics; (iii) risk management— identify and mitigate legal risks effectively; (iv) business acumen — align legal strategies with company goals; (v) communication skills — clearly convey legal concepts to non-legal stakeholders; (vi) ethical integrity — uphold ethical standards and promote compliance; (vii) problem-solving ability — find innovative solutions to legal challenges; and (viii) collaboration — work closely with internal teams, external counsel, and regulators.

With these qualities, I think you can navigate the complexities of the industry and contribute to your organisation’s success.

How have you fostered a closer collaboration between the legal department and your business counterparts?

To foster closer collaboration between the legal department and business counterparts, we need to: maintain regular communication, be proactive in involvement, organise educational sessions, encourage cross-functional teams, streamline processes, conduct regular reviews and feedback sessions, and align legal goals with business objectives.

These efforts have helped build a culture of collaboration and mutual respect, enhancing overall effectiveness and compliance.

Do you have a cause, business-related or otherwise, that you are passionate about?

I have a profound passion for supporting family businesses and entrepreneurial families, a subject I have extensively studied and even contributed to through a publication in a corporate law journal. The opportunity to work within one of Portugal’s foremost family groups, while continuing to deepen my understanding, is both a unique challenge and an incredible privilege. Implementing legal frameworks designed for family enterprises is rewarding and allows me to make meaningful contributions to the success and longevity of Grupo Violas while advancing family business law.

Recognising the significant role that family businesses play in the Portuguese economy underscores the importance of our efforts. The unique contributions of these businesses demand a legal framework that stimulates the creation of new family enterprises while providing strength and certainty to existing ones. This framework must preserve the individuality and autonomy of each entrepreneurial family.

Although scholarly efforts have borne fruit, yielding tools to regulate matters crucial to family businesses, urgent legislative intervention is needed to acknowledge this reality. Family businesses have been pivotal in driving the national economy forward, and it is imperative that the legislature recognises and supports their unique needs and contributions.