Maria Helena Brito

Maria Helena Brito is a Full Professor at the NOVA School of Law. She was born in Vila do Conde, Portugal, in 1948.

She has a degree in Law from Coimbra University Law School (1970). She began her academic career at Lisbon University Faculty of Law (school year 1978-1979), where she obtained her Master’s Degree (1985) and her PhD (1998). Since 1999 she has been a Professor at the NOVA School of Law. She obtained her law degree in Private Law, with specialization in International Private Law at the NOVA University, Lisbon (2016).

At NOVA School of Law she was Coordinator of the Second Cycle of Studies (2007 to 2014). She was a member of the Faculty Council (elected by the Scientific Council in 2009 and in 2013, until September 2018), member of the Pedagogical Council (elected by the Scientific Council in 2013, until September 2018), member of the Commission of Quality in Education (from 2011 until October 2014), member of the Self-Assessment Commission (from 2013 until October 2014).

She was a Judge of the Constitutional Court between March 1998 and April 2007.

She carried out technical functions at the Public Administration, in the Ministries of Justice (Office of European Law), and Foreign Affairs (Directorate General of the European Communities).

She was a legal advisor at Banco de Portugal, in the Legal Services Department (between January 1989 and April 2008, a position suspended during her term as a judge at the Constitutional Court), with management functions at the Banking Supervision Department, between April 2008 and December 2010, and at the Investigation and Sanction Action Department, between January 2011 and September 30, 2013 (the date on which she retired from the Banco de Portugal).