Dan Kraft, Brazil
LLM in Banking and Finance Law
"In December 1989, I was concluding my graduation at the Law Faculty of the Minas Gerais Federal University, Brazil, whilst already working in the banking sector. It was only after I concluded an MA in International Business Transactions in Brazil, while “living” the banking market, that I decided to go for an LLM in International Banking and Finance Law at the famous Centre for Commercial Law Studies (founded by the fathers of the modern Lex Mercatoria), at Queen Mary, University of London. I was awarded a Chevening Scholarship, by the British Council.
At the time I arrived at Queen Mary, I was focused and my choice of subjects fitted exactly to my needs and fields of interest. The team of professors was great, the library an invitation for research, and the universality of my class mates made that time extremely challenging and enjoyable. It was hard to study technical English, the volume of reading materials immense, however I was very well coached by the Queen Mary team who were committed to my success. I even had the chance of being invited to start doctoral studies immediately after conclusion of my LLM, however I had to go back to Brazil for personal and professional reasons. Spending one year for my LLM studies has meant five years of intellectual growth. I had the chance to study legal and market phenomena that were very close to my experience, but much more sophisticated. Practice and theory were, then, moving together, with highly qualified professors from all over the world, openly discussing very complex issues.
Back in the Brazil, I received several invitations to join banks and law firms, and I decided for the second. At the same time, I started lecturing for law and business students in different academic institutions. I also started publishing on law, regulation, regional convergence, etc. I even have translated into Portuguese and published the book of my essay supervisor, Professor Rosa Lastra, on Central Bank Regulation. Now I am preparing to start doctoral studies within two or three years. I have partners in my own law firm that strongly support my academic ambitions. When I meet students and professionals interested in expanding their horizons, I definitely suggest Queen Mary. It was a great experience, and it really opened my mind to many legal and economic issues, people, cultures and ideas. At Queen Mary I found knowledge, kindness and support to real studies, and I will be forever grateful."