Ana Spinola

My name is Ana Paula Spinola, I'm Brazilian, a wife, a mother, and a lawyer in Brazil.

My career in the legal field began in 2002 when I was still in my second year of university.

I worked as an internship during the day and worked at night. I stayed with that company for 10 years. I started as an internship and left the company with the position of labor relations specialist.

In 2011, I left my first job to work as a generalist lawyer. I loved working in that company. Every day brought different subjects, challenges, and learning experiences.

In 2015, I started a new career in contracts and commercial law, and in 2016, I left the company to move to England.

My dream was to study abroad, experience another culture, and explore new horizons.

In 2017, I unexpectedly became pregnant with my daughter and decided to pause my career for a while to dedicate myself to her.

In 2020, when she was old enough to attend nursery, I started law school. I graduated with first-class honors.

Now I am looking opportunity to continue my career.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE IN ENGLAND.

▪ Legal Support Ambassador – Volunteer ( Jun 2023 -now)

• Support Immigration Lawyers in providing support and legal advice to survivors of human trafficking and gender-based violence in immigration (asylum and refugee) law, housing law and family law.

▪ Student Feedback Panel Member (Jun 2022 – Jun 2023)

• Work with other students to discuss and give ideas to improve the student’s life on campus.
• Fill out forms and participate in meetings to discuss grants, boundaries, student accommodation, peer monitoring, etc.

▪ Advice Centre (Jan 2022 – Jun 2022)

• Worked as a student advisor, helping people with different matters
• Interview the client, find the relevant law and prepare the advice letter to send to the client.
• Worked in translating the interviews (Portuguese-English)

▪ CPS Work Placement (Sept 2021- Sept 2021)

• Participating in an exciting one-week placement with various CPS areas and understanding how they work and the procedures they follow to prosecute.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE IN BRAZIL

▪ Capgemini (Jan 2015 - Sept 2016)

Senior Lawyer (Contract)

• Responsible for drafting corporate documents.
• Drafting/revision of agreements.
• Participation in critical business meetings.
• Negotiation of contracts with clients.
• Revision of RFPs.
• Responsible for legal advice in ISO 14001 certification.
• Part of the Social Responsibility Team.

Key Achievements

Led the negotiation of a contract that represented the Company's biggest sale of the year.

▪ Becton Dickinson (April 2011-March 2014)

General Attorney

• Responsible for litigation and consultation on employment law.
• Legal advice relating to Environmental, Criminal, Regulatory, employment and Tax Law.
• Draft/revision of agreements and legal documents.
• Participation in bids. Formulation of general administrative defences, especially Revenue Tax, Brazilian Health Regulatory Agency and Ministry of Labour.
• Responsible for drafting corporate documents.
• Drafting/revision of agreements.
• Participation in the business meetings
• Negotiation of contracts with clients.

Key Achievements In March 2013, during the absence of the legal Director, I managed the Legal department. Having overcome this challenge, I was indicated by two areas of the Company to receive an award in recognition of the work done, thus consolidating a vast experience, especially in employment law, public law, and corporate and contract law

▪ Xerox (April 2002-April 2011)

Employment Relations Specialist

• Responsible for litigation and consulting on employment law, also attending hearings and meetings with Unions, roundtables and arbitration.

Key Achievements

As part of the team responsible for developing a labour complaint prevention program, along with the team, we achieved a 60% reduction in the company’s liability.

Responsible for the negotiation of settlements on ongoing suits, which achieved the reduction of $3 million that the Company would spend.

EDUCATION

▪ Bachelor of Law – LLB (09/2020 – 05/2023)

University of Bolton

Bolton, UK

Grade: first class

▪ Employment Law (2011)

Escola Paulista of Law- EPD

Sao Paulo, Brazil

▪ Bachelor of Law – (01/1999 – 12/2004)

Universidades Metropolitanas Unidas - FMU

Sao Paulo, Brazil