Helena Correia Mendonça
Helena Correia Mendonça
Helena Correia Mendonça joined VdA in 2007. She is Principal Consultant integrated in the Information, Communication & Technology practice area.
She has also extensive experience in the Aviation, Space & Defence sector, notably in the aerospace area, where she has drafted space policies and strategies especially for African countries, drafted space laws and advised on related matters, assisted with the drafting and submission of tenders within H2020 and ESA, and advised on satellite contracts (including of construction and lease capacity) and installation of ground stations, as well as on partnership agreements in the sector. She further advises on cybersecurity in the space sector. She also actively works with drones, providing advice on this matter and commenting proposed regulations in this area.
She has also been involved in major operations in the ICT field, including in outsourcing projects for major banks, cooperation and technology transfer projects, set-up of media services and online platforms, as well as on the drafting of laws on electronic commerce, digital signatures, protection of software and cybercrime, especially in Africa and Timor-Leste.
She further works with emerging technologies, including distributed ledgers/blockchain, robotics and AI.
She also provides advice on matters relating to software licensing and support, outsourcing, protection of intellectual property, know-how and trade secret, as well as on cloud computing and videogames. She further advises in matters relating to copyright and neighbouring rights in several sectors, including in matters relating to broadcasting, VOD, P2P, time and space-shifting, interactive TV, streaming of broadcasting signals and OTT. In the media sector, she provides advice especially in relation to the Internet and TV, as well as on entertainment, content aggregation, blogs, social networks and new media.
She also advises in matters relating to implementation of e-commerce platforms and websites.
She has also experience in Fintech, advising on mobile payments, payment services and e-money, and has been involved in setting-up payment providers and in the analysis of legal issues relating with virtual currency.
She works on mobility as well, especially on autonomous and driverless vehicles and urban air mobility, and has advised on the setup of a legal framework for autonomous and connected vehicles.
She also has experience in Animal Law, having worked in the development of bills and proposals for municipal regulations in this area, and has detailed knowledge especially on legal matters relating with farming, trade and animal welfare issues.
Law Degree, University of Lisbon, Faculty of Law (2004).
Postgraduate Degree in Communication Law, University of Coimbra, Faculty of Law (2007).
Master Degree in Intellectual Property, University of Lisbon, Faculty of Law (2010).
Master Degree in Animal Law and Society, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Faculty of Law (2017).
Other courses and training:
Course in Law and Space Policy by the European Centre for Space Law (ECSL) / European Space Agency (ESA) (2013).
Strategic Space Law Program, Institute of Air and Space Law, McGill University (2014).
Compact MBA for Law Firm Leaders, Porto Business School and VdAcademia (2014).
Course in National Defence Law, University of Lisbon, Faculty of Law (2015).
Course in Animal Law, University of Lisbon, Faculty of Law (2015).
Course in Status of Animals in Science, Ethics and Law, University of Lisbon, Faculty of Law (2017).
Lecturer at I Postgraduate Course in Animal Law, session: animal farming and sustainable development, University of Lisbon, Faculty of Law (2018).
Lecturer at I AAFDL Congress on Technology Law, University of Lisbon, Faculty of Law (2018).
Lecturer at the Summer Course on Aviation Law, ELSA (European Law Students’ Association) of Lisbon Católica University and VdAcademia (2017).
Lecturer at the Summer Course on Space Law, ELSA (European Law Students’ Association) of Lisbon Católica University and VdAcademia (2016).
Lecturer at Course on Space Law, ELSA (European Law Students’ Association) of Lisbon Católica University and VdAcademia (2015)
Lecturer of “Intellectual Property and Technology Transfer” in the Foresight, Strategy and Innovation Post-Graduate Course, at ISEG – Lisbon School of Economics and Management (2015 ongoing).
Lecturer at the course Marketing Laws of the Marketing Academy (2014).
Author or co-author of several works and articles published in national and international specialized publications, including:
- GDPR for Satellite Operators: What You Need to Know, Via Satellite Digital (2018)
- The Financial Technology Law Review – Edition 1, Portugal Chapter (2018)
- With Angosat-1, a New African Country Reaches Space, Via Satellite Digital (2018)
- The role of national space strategies in addressing global societal challenges through outer space, International Astronautical Federation, Australia (2017)
- Blockchaining Space and Spacing Blockchain – New Trends, New Disruptions, Via Satellite Digital (2017)
- Cyberspace in Outer Space: New Challenges, New Responses, Via Satellite Digital (2017)
- The Institutionalised Use of Farm Animals in a Developing Country, Master Degree Thesis, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Faculty of Law (2017) (not publicly available)
- Recognising Sentience in the Portuguese Civil Code, in “Derecho Animal”, Animal Law Journal of the Autonomous University of Barcelona, ISSN 2462-7518 (2017)
- Autonomous Cars – The Legal Challenges, Iberian Lawyer (2016)
- Lisbon welcomes Fintech, SAPO 24 (2016) (in Portuguese only)
- The Continental Approach to Space Activities: The African Space Policy and Strategy, Via Satellite Digital (2016)
- Addressing the International Legal Framework for Cyber-Security Threats in Space Missions, International Astronautical Federation, Mexico (2016)
- International Laws Regulating Satellite Communications and their Intentional Disruption in Times of Peace and Conflict, Annals of Air and Space Law | Institute of Air and Space | McGill University (2016)
- Laws running after outer space: legal changes lie ahead, Space Innovation Congress website (2016)
- Chambers Global Practice Guides TMT Portugal (2016)
- The importance of space for industry and of industry for space, Casa da América Latina (2014) (in Portuguese only)
- The New Forms of Making Creative Content Available, in Particular the Case of Video on Demand, Master Degree Thesis, University of Lisbon –Faculty of Law Library (2010) (in Portuguese only)
- Electronic Communication and Reproduction Right, Master Degree Paper, University of Lisbon – Faculty of Law Library (2008) (in Portuguese only)
- The Right of Broadcasters, Master Degree Paper, University of Lisbon – Faculty of Law Library (2008) (in Portuguese only)
- Exhaustion of Trademarks and Patents, Master Degree Paper, University of Lisbon – Faculty of Law Library (2008) (in Portuguese only)
- Open Source Software under Analysis, APDC (Portuguese Association for the Development of Communications) Magazine (2008) (in Portuguese only)
Helena was featured speaker and/or moderator at several events, such as:
- Outer Space for Development, Policy, Business and Regulatory Summit, European Centre for Space Law (ECSL), Faculty of Law of Nova University of Lisbon, Vieira de Almeida, Lisbon (2018)
- IoT Expo, London (2018)
- International Astronautical Congress, Australia (2017)
- Conference on New Money, Fintech Portugal, ECO (2017)
- Blockchain Expo, London (2017)
- International Astronautical Congress, Mexico (2016)
- Space Innovation Congress, London (2016)
- iDrone Experience – Portugal (2016)
- The Other Side of the Coin: M-wallets, E-money & Bitcoins, Portugal (2015)
- Conference on Videogames, Portugal (2011)
Admitted to the Portuguese Bar Association.
Member of APDC - Portuguese Association for the Development of Communications.
English.