Walter Pellecchia completed his Banking and Finance Law LLM in 2019 and is currently working as a Senior Associate Lawyer at Machado, Meyers, Sendacz e Opice Advogados in Brazil and also writes as an International Columnist for Capital Alberto. Here is his thank you message for CCLS Professor Rosa Lastra.
Walter wrote: “I was very lucky to have classes and being supervised by Professor Lastra during my LLM at CCLS/QMUL in 2018/2019. Her courses were fundamental to me, as a non-EU lawyer, for understanding the structure and legal framework of the EU Laws and Regulations, and of the EU/UK financial markets. The knowledge transmitted by you, Professor Lastra, helped me a lot when I was working at the Structured Finance team of Reed Smith LLP as a Foreign Senior Associate and still helps me in cross-border transactions between Brazil and UK/EU counterparts. Other than that, your kindness on helping foreign students to expand their networking by introducing people at high positions in many multilateral and relevant UK, EU and worldwide institutions was fabulous. You gave the opportunity to meet and connect people that I would never think I would, including, for example, the general counsels of the EBA, the Bank of England and the Central Bank of China.
Now speaking about my dissertation, I have no words to express my gratitude to the great advice and instructions you gave me as my supervisor. Thank you for always being available to help me with my (many) queries, and for providing articles that were of the utmost importance for concluding my dissertation with excellence – I am always very proud to remark to everyone that I got a high mark and that my dissertation was approved with distinction.
Finally, in the aftermath of the LLM, your constant presence in person or via internet – by giving good advice, articles to read or just good talks, or introducing me to people that work with securitisation transactions (my area of work) is so much appreciated! You are, without any doubt, the "star" of CCLS! Thank you, Professor Lastra, from the bottom of my heart for the friendship and for being an angel in my life”.