Maria Araújo

Maria Araújo

Maria Araújo joined VdA in 2015. She is a Principal Conultant in the Environment & Climate Change practice.

With over 20 years of legal experience, Maria is dedicated to addressing complex legal challenges in the areas of Environment, Climate Change, and ESG. Her expertise spans the interconnected fields of energy law, oil & gas, renewable energy, infrastructure, and complex - often cross-border - M&A transactions. This breadth of knowledge enables her to deliver nuanced and innovative solutions to clients worldwide.

Throughout her career, Maria has advised leading international clients on transformative projects and high-stakes legal matters, from energy sector issues to major M&A transactions across diverse industries. Her practice is distinguished by a commitment to multidisciplinary development. For approximately five years, Maria focused on Litigation & Arbitration, where she honed advanced skills in risk assessment, management, and mitigation - skills that continue to inform her strategic counsel today. Staying ahead of critical legal developments is a cornerstone of her approach, and her deep familiarity with various international legal frameworks has established her as a trusted advisor for navigating complex, cross-border legal environments.

Maria’s hands-on experience covers a wide range of sectors and jurisdictions, including Portugal (EU), Angola, Equatorial Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique, São Tomé and Príncipe, several French-speaking African countries (such as Chad, Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Ivory Coast, and Senegal), and Timor-Leste (Asia). Her understanding of the cultural, financial, and political nuances in these regions allows her to deliver tailored, high-value legal solutions grounded in practical know-how. Maria’s multidisciplinary expertise and insight into the rationale behind diverse legal frameworks have enabled her to contribute to ambitious and varied projects. Whether advising under Portuguese and EU law or working with other jurisdictions, she excels at developing pragmatic, sophisticated legal strategies informed by decades of experience with sociocultural, financial, and political complexities.

Since joining the firm, Maria has leveraged her multidisciplinary and multijurisdictional expertise to support a wide range of projects. Maria served as a Managing Associate in the Oil&Gas and M&A practice areas and also led the Client Value department, focusing on client engagement and acquisition.

Maria’s work has been recognized by leading legal directories: Chambers & Partners has consistently ranked her as an “Associate to Watch,” and The Legal 500 has named her a “Key Lawyer,” reflecting her unwavering commitment to excellence and client success on a global scale.