Meet the A&Z Team | An Interview with Our Senior Consultant

As you may already know, A&Z is a leading Chinese law firm, which employs over 50 experts composed of a team of professionals comprising attorneys, legal assistants, and business specialists across 5 offices in 11 legal practices. Having been active in Shanghai since 2004, A&Z’s presence has expanded through the establishment of offices in Beijing, Dalian, Wuhan, and Tokyo.

In this series of articles, we would like you to meet some of A&Z’s team members. Devoted to bringing the highest standard of legal services to our clients, they all have a story to tell regarding their professional and personal path.

Today, we have interviewed Ms. Mireia Paulo, newly appointed as Senior Consultant at A&Z Law Firm.

Ms. Paulo is originally from Spain, and she first arrived to China in 2007. She started working at A&Z in 2015. An accomplished multicultural business leader with over 15 years of experience. Her experience ranges from non-governmental organizations, to international organizations (UNHCR, European Commission), private sector and academia. She specializes in project management, market research, international corporate development, as well as government relations and business negotiations between China and Europe & America. She is fluent in 5 languages (Spanish, English, Chinese, French, Catalan), and has gained international expertise by working in 8 countries around the world, and living in China for over 10 years.

How did you start working at A&Z?

Unlike attorneys, I never thought that I would work in a law firm. I come from a business and academic background and was offered the opportunity to join A&Z Law Firm since they were looking for someone with my skillset. I took a career gamble by entering this fascinating industry, and it paid off! There were challenges, of course, I was, at the time, the only European foreigner, and working in Chinese language.

It is always intimidating to start over in a completely new industry, but I knew by the first year in the legal field that it was the right path for me. It is a demanding job, so it is important to be passionate about the journey. I was also lucky with friends and colleagues, who have supported me along the way. We are a family here. I have also had the recognition of many people, believing in my capabilities through my professional career, and encouraging me to follow my instincts.

How did your role evolve since you joined A&Z?

I started as a BD and Marketing Manager in 2015. At that time, the firm was already established in Asia, however the European-American Desk was at its inception stage. We have evolved together, in that sense. We grew the department and team, generated many clients, leveraged numerous partnerships, increased annual profit every year, and developed our personal growth. The rapid expansion of the market allowed me to become the Director of the European-American Market and Overseas Investment Projects in 2017, and more recently, move up to the role of a Senior Consultant in 2020.

How did this happen? My previous work experiences allowed me to develop a diverse skillset to approach work holistically, and this helped the endeavour. For instance, understanding cross-cultural teams, stepping up to propose creative ideas for business expansion and solutions to overcome challenges, supporting enterprises in designing a suitable business, brand and marketing strategies, as well as negotiating with counterparts to close operations and agreements in different industries. My aim is always to turn a vision into reality in the most accomplished manner, achieving results beyond expectations. Above all, I am passionate about my job at A&Z.

Is there a motto that drives your life?

I would refer to a quote of a great playwright, Bernard Shaw: “Don’t’ wait for the right opportunity: create it”. Nothing comes easy. In fact, nothing comes on its own, you must look for it. Yet, if you do not see it, just create it.

As a professional, what are your strengths and weaknesses?

When you are doing your job, you are constantly tested. All positions and fields that I have worked in – legal, corporate, academia, and humanitarian field – require you to wear a hat at work and leave your worries at home, so you are trained to deal with a high level of pressure and stress, facing complex situations, while finding solutions, and inspiring others. However, it is important to make sure that taken to the extreme your strengths do not become your weaknesses, for example the things we think are strengths such as hard-worker mindset, detail-oriented multi-tasker, etc., when taken to the extreme can become weaknesses by making your thinking too perfectionistic or demanding.

What makes a good leader?

Enthusiasm and motivation. These qualities help to create a positive atmosphere with teams, partners and clients. By empowering and collaborating with people, it is possible to connect all the moving parts to continuously maximize outcomes. I have worked with and developed teams of collaborative and high-performing professionals, who deliver an outstanding performance. At A&Z, we help, as a multidisciplinary and multicultural team, both foreign and Chinese companies that are undertaking major transactions or developing their business expansion strategy. On an investment project, for instance, we strive to provide support, integrate insightful business and legal expertise into advice for our client. I am very proud of my colleagues at A&Z.

What have you learned about yourself in the ten years you have spent in China?

It has been a very enriching experience, but I would highlight re-learning to be ‘human’. It is important to remember to ask how everyone is doing at work, how their families are, and cheering up your colleagues, if needed. In stressful and busy work environments, we tend to forget, that behind numbers, documents, and emails, there are people. The corporate world and Shanghai’s fast pace can ‘dehumanize’ a work environment, so it is crucial to re-connect and build healthy and respectful relationships.

You have already reached several academic milestones, and you keep learning. Can you tell us more about it?

Passion is the secret to a meaningful life, including in one’s professional career. Some people already know their career path since they are 6 years old. I did not. I wanted to be a fireman or a film director. When I came back from high school in the U.S., I studied business, all the while training, volunteering and later working in the humanitarian field. I continued this path, while studying another degree about international relations and conflict resolution. By the time, I began my third bachelor’s degree on East Asian Studies, something had changed. I was immediately in love with Chinese history, culture and philosophy. So, I decided that had to come to China, learn the language, then live and work with Chinese people. I was awarded with a fellowship of the Institute of Official Credit from Spain and went to Peking University for two years. A year later, I obtained another scholarship of the Spanish Foreign Ministry to study a master’s at the College of Europe, Belgium. An honor that secured me with an award for the best thesis on EU-China Relations by InBev-Baillet Latour Chair of European Union-China Relations. I came some years later to Shanghai with a fellowship from the Ministry of Education of the PRC entitled "EU Windows' Programs" at Fudan University. I believe in education, not necessarily in certificates from well-known institutions, but knowledge and self-cultivation, as described in Confucianism texts, such as xueji 学记.

Recently, you have transitioned into a new role at A&Z, as a Senior Consultant, while also working as researcher at Ruhr-University Bochum, Germany. Tell us more about this choice.

Academia and business are complementary roles. They trigger instances of growth, which complement each other. Becoming A&Z’s Senior Consultant grants me the advantage to select, or to be selected for working on specific investment projects and negotiation cases, while conducting research and lecturing. Being based in Germany allows me to bring my knowledge about Chinese market, regulation and culture to the core of Europe.

I am currently focusing my research on EU’s and China’s role on 5G standardization at Ruhr-University Bochum, Germany. A topic that is also related to my work with A&Z. Also, I love mentoring and teaching. I like to exchange ideas and share my expertise with others, and if it inspires someone, even better. Academia also brings the opportunity to research in fascinating topics, for instance, I currently serve as a research fellow in a European-Asian Research Network on Strategies for Promoting Europe-Asia Connectivity, led by a Korean University.

What do you expect to achieve in life?

I am truly grateful for the things that I have experienced until now. I am always compelled to move forward to explore new ideas, projects, and goals. Life is a journey, along the path you will encounter barriers, climb mountains, win and lose, take decisions, etc., it is the learning process of that journey that excites me. The journey is the challenge, and the achievement itself.

You have lived in different countries, would you describe yourself as a globetrotter?

Yes, definitely. I have lived in several European countries, the U.S., Venezuelan, Panama, India, China… Living abroad has its difficulties, but it also helps to develop personal and professional skills, such as flexibility, thinking out of the box, adaptability, proactivity, negotiation skills and empathy when talking to people. The beauty is to acknowledge and embrace those changes, so they turn out to be your personal asset and unique traits.

With all the work and research, how do you stay mentally and physically fit?

Everyone needs a “silent moment” during the day. I have different habits, which help me focus on those. I practice yoga for 15-20 minutes every morning, taking time for myself, and recognizing what my priority is for the day. I do rock-climbing regularly with my Chinese husband and friends. This helps me to maintain a good physical condition and even more importantly, to empty my mind, while enjoying nature. I am a strong believer in the saying: “mens sana in corpore sano”. I also love to spend time with family and friends, simply reading or watching a good movie.