KARLA MORAIS

[email protected] • +351 914 112 458 • Lisbon, Portugal
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/karla-morais-40407184

PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY

Results-driven lawyer with over 10 years of international expertise in Corporate, Immigration, and Financial Services Law across Portugal and Brazil. Adept at leading legal and operations teams, I have successfully advised startups and fintech companies on corporate governance, regulatory compliance, and company formation, driving a 30% reduction in contract cycle times through automation of NDAs, MSAs, and Terms & Conditions. Skilled in implementing Legal Operations workflows and Quality Assurance processes, I enhance efficiency and accuracy, ensuring robust compliance and risk mitigation for dynamic, fast-paced environments.

WORK EXPERIENCE

Team Lead – Legal
09/2024 - Present
Rauva , Lisbon, Portugal
• Lead a Legal & Ops team of 3, later expanding responsibilities by supporting the Onboarding team (total 5 team members) involved in the full client journey—from lead acquisition and product delivery to app and banking account onboarding.
• Managed the full contract lifecycle using SaaS/CLM tools (Ironclad, DocuSign, PandaDoc), driving automation and compliance
• Drafted and negotiated commercial, technology, vendor, contractor and AI/SaaS outsourcing agreements across jurisdictions
• Developed contract templates and negotiation playbooks, reducing review time by 60%
• Built a Legal Ops analytics tool (Dust) to monitor KPIs and improve workflow performance
• Implemented an automated Legal QA program, lowering document errors from 11% to 2%
• Co-developed legal, compliance, regulatory and AI governance policies, ensuring scalable and aligned processes
• Ensured compliance with EU and Portuguese regulations, including AML, KYC/KYB and fintech operational standards
• Optimized legal and operational workflows using HubSpot, Asana, Superset, Google Workspace and Notion
Senior Legal Counsel
01/2024 - 09/2024
Rauva , Lisbon, Portugal
• Co-founded the Legal – Company Creation Department, building workflows, compliance standards, and operational KPIs from zero.
• Advised on corporate structuring, restructuring, dissolution, liquidation, and supported M&A-related matters, balancing legal rigor with operational efficiency.
• Implemented CLM workflows and e-signature solutions (PandaDoc, DocuSign, DigitalSign), achieving 100% digital adoption and reducing signature turnaround from 5 days to 48 hours.
• Partnered with cross-functional teams (Product, Sales, Operations, Compliance) to design scalable, multi-jurisdictional processes, improving alignment between legal, operational, and commercial goals.
• Participated in LegalTech and automation projects to meet regulatory deadlines, streamline documentation, and reduce procedural bottlenecks.
• Developed strategies to simplify company formation while ensuring regulatory compliance and enhancing customer experience.
Senior Lawyer – Immigration, Global Mobility, Real Estate, Corporate
05/2022 - 02/2024
Lexidy Law Boutique , Lisbon, Portugal
• Managed 200+ relocation and global mobility cases, securing visas, residencies, and work permits for international clients.
• Acted as primary advisor throughout the client journey, guiding legal requirements, documentation, and settlement logistics with a high client-satisfaction rate.
• Handled complex visa categories (D2, D7, D8, Golden Visa), liaising with consulates, VFS centers, and Portuguese authorities to ensure timely and compliant submissions.
• Achieved strong results in high-complexity approvals, including cases with the Pakistan and India consulates.
• Led appeals before AIMA with an 85% success rate, strengthening client retention and case recovery.
• Ensured full documentation compliance, overseeing RCBE filings, residency submissions, and corporate updates for startups and individual clients.
• Collaborated with Finance, Legal, HR, and Operations teams to streamline workflows, reducing case-handling time and improving cross-team coordination.
• Managed external vendors (consultants, real estate agents, relocation partners) to support client transitions and maintain operational consistency.
• Conducted real estate due diligence, reviewing CPCVs, lease agreements, and final deeds to ensure legal and financial security for clients.
Associate Lawyer – Immigration & Corporate Law
01/2021 - 05/2022
Ei! Acessoria Migratória , Lisbon, Portugal
• Advised families and individuals on relocation to Portugal; specialised in Immigration and Nationality Law
• Managed visa processes (D7, D2, D3, Student, Expression of Interest) and residence permits (including Blue Card and long-term residence)
• Assisted clients with NIFs, bank accounts and social security registration; provided guidance on NHR and company formation
Associate Lawyer – Real Estate, Immigration, International Law
07/2019 - 12/2020
Edge International Lawyers , Lisbon, Portugal
• Specialised in the Golden Visa programme (property, funds, job creation)
• Managed the full application cycle: property search, due diligence, SEF appointments and documentation
• Drafted real estate contracts, corporate by-laws and governance documents; supported cross-border projects and citizenship requests
Legal & KYC Analyst
07/2018 - 07/2018
Bank of America , São Paulo, Brazil
• Reviewed contracts and corporate documents (LLCs, corporations)
• Drafted legal opinions and internal regulatory assessments
• Handled KYC analysis, account opening, and ongoing client monitoring
• Supported legal compliance with Central Bank regulations
• Coordinated with compliance and operational teams
Legal Analyst – Corporate & Finance, Banking Law
09/2014 - 09/2014
Itaú BBA , São Paulo, Brazil
• Analysed corporate structures, powers of attorney and M&A documentation
• Managed client data in banking systems and contributed to internal compliance projects using agile methodologies
Trainee Lawyer – Tax Law
07/2012 - 07/2012
Moutinho Tranchesi Advogados , São Paulo, Brazil
• Assisted in tax litigation and advisory
• Conducted legal research, due diligence, drafted petitions and participated in enforcement actions

EDUCATION

Master in International Law & International Relations
Universidade de Lisboa
Postgraduate in Civil and Corporate Law
Faculdade de Direito Damásio de Jesus, São Paulo , São Paulo
MBA in People Management
Faculdade Anhanguera, São Paulo , São Paulo
LL.B.
Universidade Presbiteriana Mackenzie, São Paulo , São Paulo
Specialization in Immigration, Asylum & Nationality
Nova Law School, Lisbon , Lisbon
Course on Migrants, AIMA & Human Rights
Ordem dos Advogados Portugueses

SKILLS

Technical Skills: Contract Law, Contract Management, NDAs, MSAs, SLAs, Terms and Conditions, Vendor Agreements, Client Agreements, Due Diligence, Legal Operations, CLM Workflows, Process Improvement, Quality Assurance, Risk Mitigation, Performance Metrics, Internal Audit Alignment, Dashboards
Soft Skills: Team Leadership, Stakeholder Collaboration, Cross-functional Communication, Problem Solving, Adaptability, Get Stuff Done, User Centric
Tools: DocuSign, DigitalSign, Dust Platform Automation, Hubspot, Superset, Ironhak
Other: Portuguese (Native), English (Advanced), Spanish (Intermediate)

PROJECTS

Quality Assurance
Technologies: Dust, Data Analysis Tools, Training Management Systems
• Led the implementation of the first comprehensive Quality Assurance project in the department, mapping and analyzing each stage of the user journey to identify communication flows and critical interaction points
• Utilized data-driven analysis to pinpoint communication bottlenecks and highlight high-impact areas, enabling targeted improvements that enhanced user experience and operational efficiency
• Developed and delivered specialized training programs for the team focusing on the most sensitive communication topics and technical challenges, resulting in measurable improvements in team performance and customer satisfaction
Journey Front Line
Technologies: Data Analysis, KYC Compliance Frameworks, Sales Training Methodologies, CRM Tools, Cross-functional Collaboration Platforms
• Led the Front Line team initiative to enhance lead quality by implementing data-driven analysis to identify the most profitable products and optimize sales strategies
• Developed and delivered targeted training sessions for the sales team on effective questioning techniques and KYC (Know Your Customer) protocols to accurately qualify leads and mitigate potential risks
• Collaborated cross-functionally to accelerate sales growth, resulting in improved lead conversion rates and streamlined identification of high-value opportunities

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