It is with a heavy heart and great sadness that Morais Leitão announces the passing of its former Chief Operations Officer (COO), Engineer Leonor Botto.
Leonor joined the firm in February 2013 as Operational General Director. In 2017, she was appointed Regional Vice Chair for Europe/Middle East/Africa of Lex Mundi COO and Executive Directors Committee, within the Lex Mundi network, the largest global network of independent law firms. In 2020, she became a consultant to the Board of Directors, playing a key role in defining and implementing strategic projects.
Previously, she was Chief Operating Officer of Linklaters LLP, Lisbon (2004 - 2013), and was a member of the Advisory Board of AIESEG from 2012 to 2016. From 1990 to 2002, she was a consultant at Accenture Portugal. Her professional experience also included the vice-presidency of GRACE - Grupo de Reflexão e Apoio à Cidadania Empresarial between 2011 - 2014, where she has been a member of the board since 2007.
Today’s Morais Leitão owes a lot to Leonor, who gave us ten years of plans, projects, and ambitions. We grew up with her, while she discreetly formed a management team and professionalised the professional structure, according to the best international standards.
Much of what we are today as a firm is due to her tenacity and persistence in implementing strategic plans, always with the future in mind.
Leonor Botto had a very full life, both personally and professionally, characterized by a truly unique strength. In this hour of sorrow, we feel very grateful for the serene certainty of knowing that, in her very full life, we were also a priority.
It was a privilege to work alongside her, sharing her dynamism and constantly learning from her attention and analytical spirit.
We extend our deepest condolences to her family and friends.
