What were you doing before the MCL?
Before joining the MCL, I was working full time as an associate in a boutique law firm in São Paulo, Brazil, specializing in corporate governance. I started as a trainee in 2018 and was promoted to associate after completing that process. I mainly worked on corporate law and wealth management matters. Prior to that, I received my law degree at the University of São Paulo in 2020 and, in 2022, concluded my double degree qualification in law at the University Lumiére Lyon.
What were your impressions of the MCL?
The MCL was everything I needed, from personal and professional standpoints. The course offers a remarkable balance between practical and theoretical knowledge. The modules and full year courses are seamlessly interwoven, offering a diverse and multidisciplinary approach to corporate law. From corporate litigation to corporate governance, international merger control and shareholder activism, at the end I felt more capable and prepared to deal with complex issues relating to transnational transactions. The modules and courses were also a unique opportunity to get closer to fields of corporate law that were not on my radar before, broadening my horizons on both academic and professional careers.
On top of that, MCL course offerings are designed to offer foreign students the necessary background in English law to follow the curriculum. I felt prepared for the discussions and was supported fully by the incredible academic staff. The fact that MCL cohort is small is definitely a highlight. In the Deals course and in our modules we had interactive discussions with professors and fellow students. The participative method of teaching was equally challenging and rewarding, since it pushed us to be prepared to participate but also gave us the opportunity to get instant feedback on our thinking.
Finally, the college structure of the University of Cambridge is an experience I will never forget. It gave us the possibility to be around to the most brilliant scholars, in every field, on a daily basis. I had the chance to make friends with students from other areas and nationalities, which definitely improved my experience.
What are your post-MCL plans and have they changed due to taking the MCL?
The MCL confirmed by desire to pursue a career in academia. In particular the course reinforced my passion for corporate law and sparked a desire to apply for a PhD, which I will do by the end of the year. With regards to practicing, the MCL also made an important contribution. I did not have much experience on deals before coming to Cambridge and the course inspired me to orientate my career to work closely with M&A transactions, which I plan to do in case I am admitted to a part time PhD program.
