Maria serves as a senior investigator supporting attorneys on a range of white collar, internal investigation, and high-stakes litigation matters, with an emphasis on cross-border issues involving Latin America. She works closely with the firm’s Latin America Practice Group, leveraging her fluency in Portuguese and legal experience in Brazil to assist with interviews, fact-gathering, forensic analysis, and coordination across jurisdictions. 

Before joining Barnes & Thornburg, Maria spent nearly a decade at Moraes Pitombo Advogados, one of Brazil’s top firms for criminal law and white collar defense, where she advised corporate clients on government investigations, enforcement actions and compliance protocols. Her investigative work is grounded in a deep understanding of legal systems and procedural dynamics in both the U.S. and Latin America, making her a trusted resource in cross-border litigation and regulatory risk matters.