Could you share a little bit of your background?
I was fortunate to be accepted as an intern at one of the most prestigious litigation firms in São Paulo, where I spent the last two and a half years of college and a few months after graduation, where I worked on my first reorganization case. Shortly after graduating, I was again fortunate to be invited by a former colleague to join a top-tier bankruptcy team. From that point on, I became increasingly interested in the field and eventually realized that I wanted to become an expert in it, just like the colleagues I came to admire over the years.
Can you share an example of professional achievement or success that you are particularly proud of, and how did your gender play a role, if at all, in that accomplishment?
I am particularly proud of having become a partner at such an early age. Although that milestone is not an achievement in itself, but rather the result of several smaller accomplishments, it made me exceptionally proud of myself and confident that the work I deliver to my clients is being recognized and appreciated. To work on relevant and complex cases and lead several initiatives that contributed to this achievement, I had to overcome various gender-related challenges—fortunately, none of them came from within my own firm.
In Brazil, women make up more than 50% of law graduates - yet remain underrepresented in leadership. Why do you think that gap persists?
Brazilian society remains quite conservative, and the legal market is even more so. In general, the belief that motherhood is a woman’s primary priority—combined with the perception that childcare is mainly a woman’s responsibility—still plays a major role in perpetuating this gap. Beyond that, although society has made significant progress in recognizing women’s rights and advancing gender equality, the notion that women are less capable than men seem to continue to influence decision-making processes, particularly when it comes to promoting and recognizing associates’ qualities in most firms.
You participating in the ‘Why Elevating Women in Law Makes $ense’ panel in Legalink General Meeting in Athens – why was this debate important and what topics were most important for you to bring forward there?
I was honored to be invited to speak on this highly relevant topic—namely, that what truly matters is performance, not gender, when it comes to revenue. This debate is crucial to demystify the underlying reasons behind the gender gap in law firms. Preconceived ideas are extremely difficult to change, which is why I believe it is essential to openly discuss and demonstrate that providing women with equal opportunities may not only avoid harming financial performance, but in fact help increase revenue.
What role do networks like Legalink play in advancing women in the profession?
Networks like Legalink are essential to advancing women’s careers, especially because many women must seek external sources of inspiration and guidance when they lack close female role models. These networks provide opportunities to connect with colleagues from around the world, gain insight into how different structures operate, and, hopefully, help build a brighter future for the next generation of women lawyers.
