Mike Saffideen
@mikesaffideen
New York-qualified attorney specializing in compliance and cross-border regulatory advice.
PortugalWhat I'm looking for
I am a New York-qualified attorney based in Porto with international experience in compliance, regulatory advisory, and cross-border legal research. I combine rigorous legal analysis with practical risk-focused guidance drawn from roles across Europe, Africa, and the United States.
At Natixis I investigate AML/CTF alerts in French and English, collaborate with compliance and front office teams, and maintain up-to-date knowledge of evolving AML standards. My work at the International Criminal Court involved producing legal opinions on complex cross-border issues and founding the first Intern Committee to engage with leadership on policy.
I have academic and teaching experience as an Adjunct Faculty instructor in business law and ethics, and I earned an LL.M. from UCLA with the highest GPA of my cohort. My clinical and pro bono work includes research and policy drafting on human rights, environmental law, and criminal justice interventions.
I bring strong drafting and research skills (Westlaw, LexisNexis), multilingual capability in English and French, and a proven ability to lead initiatives and communicate actionable recommendations to diverse stakeholders.
Experience
Work history, roles, and key accomplishments
Adjunct Faculty, Business
University of the People
Jun 2025 - Present (4 months)
Guide and mentor students on business ethics, corporate responsibility, and legal frameworks; prepare course content and assess assignments to foster critical thinking and academic development.
NAFinancial Crime Consultant
Natixis
Dec 2024 - Present (10 months)
Investigate AML/CTF alerts in French and English, escalate high-risk activity and collaborate with compliance and front office to resolve alerts and mitigate risk.
ICLegal Intern, Office of the Prosecutor
International Criminal Court
Jan 2024 - Jun 2024 (5 months)
Produced legal opinions on cross-border matters including extradition, labor law, IP, and digital evidence; founded and led the first Intern Committee to engage court leadership on policy issues.
Volunteer Researcher
eGirl Power
Aug 2023 - Oct 2023 (2 months)
Led research on gender-based violence in universities and produced findings used for policy advocacy to support organizational campaigns.
Student Researcher
UCLA Legal Clinics
Sep 2022 - Dec 2022 (3 months)
Conducted research on modern slavery, early-stage intervention programs, and carbon markets; drafted briefs and policy recommendations for NGOs and legislative stakeholders.
Student Legal Adviser
King's Legal Clinic
Sep 2019 - Sep 2021 (2 years)
Advised clients on GDPR, IP, and immigration matters; drafted tailored legal memoranda and conducted client interviews to support case resolution.
Legal Intern, IP & Litigation
Bowmans Kenya (Coulson Harney LLP)
Jun 2019 - Jul 2019 (1 month)
Drafted contracts and conducted cross-sector legal research to support client advisory and litigation preparation.
Education
Degrees, certifications, and relevant coursework
UAUniversity of California, Los Angeles
Master of Laws, International & Comparative Law and Human Rights
Grade: 4.0 (Pro Bono High Distinction)
LL.M. in International & Comparative Law and Human Rights with a 4.0 GPA and Pro Bono High Distinction; achieved highest GPA of the cohort.
KLKing's College London
Bachelor of Laws, Law
Grade: First Class Honours
Activities and societies: President, King's Women in Law; Student Ambassador (KCL & Deloitte Legal)
LL.B. (First Class Honours); served as President of King's Women in Law and as a student ambassador.
Tech stack
Software and tools used professionally
Availability
Location
PortugalAuthorized to work in
Job categories
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