Maria Helena Brito

Maria Helena Brito is a Full Professor at the NOVA School of Law (Portugal), actively contributing to academia since 1999. She is affiliated with the Centro de Investigação e Desenvolvimento sobre Direito e Sociedade (CEDIS) and specializes in international legal frameworks.

• Education: Law degree (1970) and PhD (1998) from Coimbra University Law School; Specialization in International Private Law (2016) from NOVA University Lisbon.

Her research focuses on International Private Law, International Trade Law, and International Commercial Arbitration, with a strong emphasis on cross-border legal harmonization. Recent works examine the applicability of international conventions, characterization of international contracts, and Portuguese agency law.

Key trends in her publications include comparative analysis of civil law systems, procedural fairness in arbitration, and application of multilateral treaties like the CISG. Sub-fields span from conflict of laws to empirical studies on judicial practices.

• Scientific Awards:
  • 2023: Estudos em Homenagem à Professora Maria Helena Brito
  • 2022: Prémio de Excelência Pedagógica Professor Doutor Diogo Freitas do Amaral

She has participated in numerous academic activities, including jury roles for legal examinations and conference presentations on territorial scope of civil liability insurance and arbitration procedures. Her work bridges academia and public administration through roles in pedagogical councils and quality commissions.

As a researcher, she collaborates with networks like CEDIS and contributes to legal education reforms, maintaining an active profile in both scholarly and institutional leadership contexts.