Claudia Santos Cruz joined the firm as a Consultant in 2015 assisting clients on the international and cross border aspects of their investments in Portugal, Angola and Mozambique. She is head of a banking and finance team.

Claudia has close ties to both Africa and England. She was born in Mozambique; grew up in South Africa and holds dual Portuguese and Mozambican nationality.

She trained and practiced as an English solicitor from 1994 to 2005 at DLA Piper and Watson Farley & Williams in the City of London. From 2005 to date Claudia has been based in Lisbon and is registered with the Portuguese Bar Association. Before joining Morais Leitão she was a partner at two Lisbon based law firms with offices in Mozambique and Angola. In 2018 Claudia registered with the Mozambique Bar Association (Resolution 02/CN/2014).

Claudia has written articles for international publications as well as participating as a speaker at international conferences in the areas of investment in emerging markets; oil & gas, corporate, banking & finance and shipping related matters.
Winner of the first “40 under Forty Award” organised by Iberian Lawyer which distinguished the best 40 lawyers under the age of 40 in Iberia. Ranked as a leading lawyer by the most prestigious international legal Directories such as Chambers & Partners and IFLR.

Specialist in areas such as Energy and Natural Resources (Oil & Gas / Mining), international aspects of foreign investment into Angola and Mozambique, Corporate and Shipping.

Regular speaker at IBA Africa Regional Forum conferences.