Inês Espírito Santo
Head of Legal & Investment Associate
“At Harbor Partners, we aim to redefine excellence in investment advisory by offering our clients strategic insights and innovative solutions that drive long-term success and growth.”
Email:
Address:
Avenida da Liberdade 129, 6C, 1250-140 Lisbon
About Inês
Inês built her career in Corporate Law and Mergers & Acquisitions, joining the Corporate and M&A team at Morais Leitão, Galvão Teles, Soares da Silva & Associados in 2021, one of Portugal’s most respected law firms.
As part of her professional trajectory, she completed a secondment in the legal department of Novo Banco, gaining relevant experience in banking and regulatory matters, complemented by prior experience at Morais Leitão and EDP – Energias de Portugal.
She later joined Harbor Partners, where she serves as Head of Legal and Investment Associate, overseeing legal frameworks, ensuring regulatory compliance, and supporting strategic investment decisions. Her work focuses on portfolio optimization, risk mitigation, and sustainable value creation, combining legal excellence with a strong business-oriented approach.
Work Experience
Jan 2026 – Present
Sep 2021 – Oct 2025
Nov 2020 – Sep 2021
Head of Legal & Investment Associate at Harbor Partners
Advises Harbor Partners and its clients on M&A, corporate, and investment matters, with a focus on mergers and acquisitions, commercial real estate transactions, corporate restructurings, and investment strategy. She is actively involved in all stages of deals, including due diligence, drafting and negotiation of agreements, and post-closing implementation. Her role spans multiple sectors, ensuring legal compliance and strategic guidance across Harbor’s investment portfolio.
Associate Lawyer at Morais Leitão
Advised domestic and international clients on corporate law and mergers and acquisitions, with a focus on share and asset deals, corporate restructurings, and general corporate matters. Actively involved in all stages of transactions, including due diligence, drafting and negotiation of transactional documentation, and post-closing implementation, across a wide range of sectors.
Secondment at the Legal Department at Novo Banco
Provided in-house legal support within the legal department of Novo Banco, advising on banking, corporate, and regulatory matters. Worked closely with multidisciplinary teams on contractual, compliance, and governance issues, gaining hands-on experience in a regulated financial institution environment.