Maria João Ribeiro da Cunha

Education

• Degree in law from the Faculty of Law of Universidade Lusíada of Lisbon.
  
• Specialization in criminal law, criminal procedure and criminology, Faculty of Law of the University of Lisbon (within the scope of the legal research for the Master of Law Degree).
  
• Participation in Courses and Seminars:
  
• Seminars and conferences presented as a speaker on the topic of the general Data Protection Regulation- Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 April 2016.
  
• Speaker on a Seminar under the topic of procedural issues and administrative litigation (in particular administrative challenges).
  
• Participation in seminars and conferences on procedural law topics and administrative litigation (in particular, changes brought by the several reforms in the Portuguese administrative law).
  
• Attendance of several seminars and conferences on "the new EU public procurement Directives"- Directives 2014/23/EU, 2014/24/EU and 2014/25/EU, regarding the main innovations brought by the referred EU Directives.
  
• Attendance of several seminars and conferences concerning the Public Procurement Code (major changes brought by the legal reform).
  
• Participation in the national industrial property days, organized by the INPI –Institute Nacional da Propriedade Industrial.
  
• Participation in the course concerning the reform of the Portuguese Companies Code in tribute to Professor Raul Ventura, organized by the Faculty of Law of the University of Lisbon.
  
• Training course on the "Audits of Quality Systems" – ISO 9001 Lead Auditor – TÜV Rheinland.
  
• Vocational training course for trainers – obtaining CAP – Certificate of Professional Aptitude – NHK/IEFP.
  
• Course on the "Implementation of quality Management Systems" ISO 9001 Lead Implementer – ISQ – Instituto de Soldadura [Welding] e Qualidade.
  
• Conflicts and Opportunities Specialist, Equal Agent Certification Course for Labour Harassment - Igualia | Grupo SGP, Sistemas Globales de Prevención, Igualdad y Diversidad.
  

Experience

• Integrates Ferreira, Mercês, Carvalho & Associates since 2019.
  
• Dedicated mainly to the areas of commercial and corporate law, public procurement, data protection, intellectual property, criminal law and litigation.

Professional Backround

• 1999-2019: law practice in an independent law firm, focused mainly on the areas of civil, commercial, corporate, criminal and regulatory law as well as litigation;
  
• Collaboration with other law offices, namely with law firm Manuel Cortes Rosa and Raul Soares da Veiga, under judicial mandate, in the area of criminal law and criminal procedure.
  
• Coordination and management of a law firm.
  
• Since 2019: Equal Opportunity Agent and Specialist in Labour Conflicts for Harassment.
  
• Since 2016: In the specific area of Data Protection and in a transversal perspective, from on-demand advice to diagnosis, implementation and monitoring projects, as well as auditing and training.
  
• Data Protection Officer (DPO).
  
• Since 2012: Collaboration with several consultancy and professional training companies of national and international repute, as a senior consultant and certified trainer, in the framework of the Portuguese and the PALOP countries’ (African Portuguese speaking countries) legal systems in areas such as: public procurement, data protection, commercial and corporate law, international trade agreements, oil & gas and labour and benefits law.
  
• 2006 – 2011: Director of the Legal Department, Human Resources and Quality management in an SME operating in the electronic security sector, health (medical devices) and renewable energies.
  
• 1998 – 2000: Coordination of the administrative and financial services of the CCD of the municipality of Oeiras (metropolitan Lisbon).
  
• Coordination of the administrative and financial services’ audit division of this association.
  
• 1998: Legal counsel in a banking institution – professional legal internship in the Legal Affairs Department of Banco Nacional Ultramarino, under a protocol concluded between the Portuguese Bar Association and said bank.

Memberships

• Admitted to the Portuguese Bar Association since 1999.
  
• Founding Member and Chairman of the General Assembly of National Association of Data Protection Officers and Other Privacy Professionals.
  
• Member of the Portuguese Association of Women Lawyers.

Languages

English, French, Spanish.