Carlos Saba (LLM '19 | Brazil)
Carlos Eduardo Carneiro Saba (LL.M. ’19), an International Commercial Law LL.M. alumnus from São Paulo, Brazil, has built an international legal career shaped by advanced education and global experience. With a background that includes a law degree from Universidade Presbiteriana Mackenzie and multiple specialized programs in Brazil, he now serves as Chief Legal Officer and Institutional Affairs Director for North Latin America at Louis Dreyfus Company. His decision to pursue an LL.M. at UC Davis School of Law grew from the need to navigate complex cross-border legal environments and strengthen the connection between legal expertise and business strategy.
“The LL.M. was a tool to expedite this knowledge through classes, international colleagues' experiences, and networking. The LL.M. at UC Davis met my expectations and was very important for my career, either in private practice or at Louis Dreyfus Company.”
Carlos initially learned about the LL.M. program at UC Davis School of Law through his employer, Louis Dreyfus Company: “Because of the quality of the programs offered by UC Davis, the company used to send many lawyers to take it, including me,” he explained.
He fondly recalls the supportive community: “UC Davis is not only a very complete university but a whole community of friends. I keep in contact with my colleagues and university staff, even after many years.”
One particularly special moment was attending the LLM program with his wife while she was expecting their first daughter. “This was very special to us!” he shared. The program’s rigorous nature and Socratic method of teaching were challenging, especially balancing it with work and enjoying life in California. However, Carlos noted, “All the effort more than paid off.”
Carlos valued the networking opportunities at UC Davis. “The school provides many opportunities to network.” His advice for future students underscores the importance of balance: “It is important to have some fun at the same time. The amount of reading is huge, but to take more benefit from the experiences, having fun is as important as studying hard.”