Arent Fox Selects Cristina Carvalho as Managing Partner

“Cristina is an exceptional attorney and has been a key leader at Arent Fox for a number of years,” said Mr. Clark. “Her selection is a natural progression. From her own great service for clients, particularly those in the food and beverage industries, to leading our highly-regarded Intellectual Property practice and serving on the Executive Committee, Cristina has continually demonstrated remarkable talent and vision, while fostering a collaborative approach, which will make her an excellent Managing Partner.”
 
As Managing Partner, Ms. Carvalho will serve a three-year term that begins January 1, 2016. In her new role, Ms. Carvalho will help drive Arent Fox’s continued growth and dedication to exceptional legal work, promote an inclusive environment where diverse talents can succeed, and ensure the firm remains a leader in the private bar’s public service efforts.
 
A native of Brazil, where she practiced law for seven years before coming to the United States, Ms. Carvalho began her career at Arent Fox in 1997. She has held a number of leadership positions at the firm, including serving on the firm’s Executive Committee, as head of the nationally recognized Trademark practice, and on the firm’s Compensation Committee, Associate Evaluation Committee, and Diversity & Inclusion Committee. She has built an international practice that encompasses commercial transactions, intellectual property, licensing, and technology for leading US and foreign companies.
 
During Mr. Clark’s five years as Managing Partner, Arent Fox added more than 50 lawyers and overall revenue increased by nearly 25 percent. The firm enjoyed strong growth across many of its disciplines, including the Bankruptcy & Financial Restructuring, Complex Litigation, Corporate & Securities, Health Care, Intellectual Property, and Real Estate practices, moved the flagship office in Washington, DC to a new LEED Platinum certified building in 2013, and later that year successfully opened a fourth office in San Francisco that now has more than 20 lawyers.
 
“It has been an honor to work closely with Matt the last few years,” said Chairman Mark M. Katz. “His hard work, vision, and business acumen helped set the course for Arent Fox’s record run during one of the most challenging economies in recent history. I look forward to continuing to work with him as a leader at the firm, a key voice on the Executive Committee, and as one of the top international trade lawyers in the country.”
 
In her practice, Ms. Carvalho counsels one of the largest food companies in the world, manages the intellectual property portfolios of international celebrities and consumer product manufacturers, and serves as a go-to attorney in the US for major Latin American corporations. Throughout her career, she has used her knowledge and experience in the United States and Brazil to counsel clients on strategies for navigating different legal systems and cultures to realize opportunities in both mature and emerging markets.
 
Ms. Carvalho is fluent in Portuguese and Spanish, and is admitted to practice law in Washington, DC, New York, and Brazil. She is a graduate of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro National School of Law, and earned a Master’s of Intellectual Property (MIP) degree from the University of New Hampshire Franklin Pierce Law Center.