Maria João Dias specialises in mergers and acquisitions, due diligence, contract negotiation, and corporate group restructurings. With over 20 years of experience, she held the role of Head of Legal, Corporate and M&A at Sonae Capital, one of Portugal's largest and most prominent business groups. At Durham Agrellos, she brings her corporate and M&A expertise to the firm's private wealth and tax practice, advising clients on complex transactions and corporate structuring. She regularly writes articles on corporate law and participates in seminars and conferences in this area. She was recognised by Best Lawyers as Mergers and Acquisitions Law Lawyer of the Year for Porto in 2025 and Corporate Governance and Compliance Law Lawyer of the Year for Porto in 2024. She holds a Law Degree from the Universidade do Porto and a Master's Degree in Law from the Universidade Católica Portuguesa, a Postgraduate Degree in Corporate Law from the Universidade de Coimbra, and a Postgraduate Degree in Transport Law from the Universidade de Lisboa. She is currently completing her PhD at the Universidade de Coimbra, focusing on Family Businesses.