What are the most significant cases or transactions that your legal team has recently been involved in?

I facilitated Unbabel’s successful securing of USD$21 m in funding, a critical milestone for our company specialising in Portuguese language operations. This funding round boasted notable investors such as Iberis Capital, GED Ventures Portugal, Point 72, Notion, ScaleVentures Partners, and Caixa Capital. The infusion of capital is earmarked for accelerating Unbabel’s global growth strategy and fortifying its path to profitability. Additionally, I led Unbabel’s acquisitions of EVS Translations, a premier single-source translation supplier, and Bablic, a cutting-edge cloud-based solution catering to all localisation and translation management needs of websites and web applications. These strategic acquisitions empower Unbabel to offer more customised workflows to our clientele, substantially reduce translation costs and time, and seamlessly tailor websites for a global audience with quality-checked, localised content.

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

Success as an in-house lawyer within our industry demands a profound comprehension of technology, particularly AI systems and processes. It is imperative to formulate robust IP strategies to safeguard the company’s AI assets effectively. This necessitates staying abreast of the latest advancements in AI and associated legal matters, and adeptly translating this knowledge into strategic counsel for the organisation.

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

At Unbabel, our legal and compliance department cultivates closer collaboration with our business counterparts by nurturing open lines of communication, empathetically understanding their operational needs, and offering proactive legal guidance. We endeavour to be integral partners in the business journey, contributing substantively rather than merely providing advisory services.

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

Beyond my professional endeavours, I am deeply passionate about various causes. As a saxophone player and a radio personality, I have contributed to the cultural landscape. Moreover, I spearheaded the establishment of Special Olympics in Portugal and dedicated over a decade to serving as a board member of Fundação Liga. These diverse experiences have enriched my perspective and equipped me to bring a multifaceted approach to my role at Unbabel.