Mostacatto
Advisory
Governance  ·  Compliance  ·  Ethics

Structures that work.
Built for how your organization actually operates.

I support companies operating across Europe in building, strengthening, and transforming compliance and governance structures — designed to function in reality, not only on paper. Senior, hands-on advisory combining legal, governance, and operational perspectives for organizations navigating growth, regulatory complexity, or cross-border operations.

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What I Do

Compliance that works in practice

Compliance and governance challenges usually emerge at moments of growth, change, or increased regulatory exposure: entering new markets, scaling across jurisdictions, responding to investor or regulatory expectations, or recognizing that existing structures no longer function effectively in practice.

My work focuses on building governance and compliance structures that are proportionate, operationally workable, and aligned with how the business actually functions. Effective compliance is not only about rules — it also depends on whether people understand why those rules exist and how to apply sound judgment when the rules do not yet cover the situation.

Where matters require jurisdiction-specific legal advice or representation, I collaborate with qualified legal counsel as needed.

“Most compliance programs are rules-based by design. Rules define what is prohibited. Ethics define how people act when the rules do not yet cover the situation — which is exactly the moment that matters most.”
Services

Areas of Advisory

My work covers the full arc: assessing existing structures, identifying key risks and priorities, designing practical governance frameworks, and supporting implementation until structures are genuinely embedded in how the organization operates.

01
Compliance & Governance Frameworks

Design, implementation, and enhancement of compliance and governance frameworks aligned with the organization’s size, risk profile, industry, and international footprint.

  • Compliance program assessments and gap analysis
  • Compliance programs in key areas: anti-corruption, competition law, AML, whistleblower, and human & labor rights in the supply chain
  • Governance structures, roles, and reporting lines
  • Program architecture and implementation roadmaps
  • Monitoring structures and continuous improvement processes
02
Ethics, Culture & Compliance Transformation

Supporting organizations in strengthening ethical decision-making alongside formal compliance structures — particularly during periods of growth, organizational change, leadership transition, or increased regulatory scrutiny.

  • Ethics and values framework development
  • Culture and governance assessments
  • Leadership discussions and ethics workshops
  • Compliance transformation initiatives
  • Post-incident remediation support
  • Integration of ethics initiatives into broader compliance structures
03
Policies & Governance Documents

Development and refinement of governance and compliance documentation designed to support practical implementation and operational clarity.

  • Codes of conduct and core governance documents
  • Anti-corruption, competition law, AML, whistleblower, and related compliance policies
  • Employee-facing guidance and manager support materials
  • Practical decision-making tools and implementation support
  • Policy coherence and governance alignment across frameworks
04
Process Design & Simplification

Simplifying and redesigning governance and compliance processes so they remain effective while being practical for day-to-day operations.

  • Third-party due diligence processes
  • Approval and escalation workflows
  • Sponsorships, donations, and event processes
  • Cross-functional governance coordination
  • Risk-based process redesign and simplification
05
Whistleblower & Investigation Frameworks

Design and implementation of speak-up channels and case management structures that function effectively in practice and align with organizational realities.

  • Speak-up channel architecture and governance structures
  • Reporting and escalation procedures
  • Roles, responsibilities, and investigation workflows
  • Investigation playbooks and documentation frameworks
  • Employee communication and receiving-function guidance
  • Oversight, reporting, and remediation structures

I also support organizations in managing internal investigations, including planning, structure, documentation, findings, and remediation processes.

Where legal representation or jurisdiction-specific legal advice is required, I work alongside qualified local counsel.

06
Training, Communication & Strategic Sparring

Targeted training and leadership support to help teams apply governance and compliance frameworks in practice.

  • Training strategy and program design
  • Leadership and small-group workshops
  • Scenario-based guidance for key functions
  • Practical decision-making frameworks
  • Ongoing strategic sparring on governance and compliance challenges
Who I Work With

Typical client contexts

I work with organizations facing increasing governance and compliance expectations across different stages of growth, internationalization, and organizational development.

This includes:

  • Companies in Germany and across Europe facing growing compliance obligations without yet having a fully established internal compliance function
  • International organizations entering or expanding within the European market and seeking to meet evolving regulatory expectations
  • Organizations undergoing growth, restructuring, or regulatory change that need to formalize or upgrade governance and compliance structures
  • Leadership teams seeking to move from rules-based compliance models toward more ethics- and culture-based approaches

I work in Germany and across the EU and collaborate with selected partners — including Innovatta Advisory and qualified law firms — on mandates requiring combined expertise in governance, compliance, organizational transformation, and legal advisory.

International companies operating across jurisdictions

I work with international companies navigating cross-border governance and compliance challenges, drawing on experience across European, Brazilian, and international business environments.

Organizations strengthening or formalizing governance structures

I support organizations seeking to formalize, strengthen, or redesign governance and compliance structures in ways that remain practical and proportionate to the business.

Leadership teams navigating transformation and change

I support leadership teams in embedding governance and compliance into decision-making and organizational culture in ways that are practical and sustainable.

International Perspective

Compliance that travels

Governance and compliance advice is only as effective as the advisor’s understanding of the environments in which it must operate. Frameworks designed for one legal system, regulatory culture, or business environment often fail when applied across jurisdictions without adaptation. My perspective has been built deliberately over many years at the intersection of different legal systems, business cultures, and international operating environments.

Legal Formation — Three Jurisdictions

I began my legal career in Brazil, qualifying as a lawyer and practicing corporate law and M&A at leading Brazilian firms — advising international corporations and investors on transactions, governance, and regulatory matters.

I later pursued postgraduate studies across multiple legal traditions: an LL.M. in Corporate Law at New York University; a European Master in Law and Economics at Universität Hamburg and Università di Bologna; and doctoral research at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München as a Max Planck Institute scholar, focusing on international corporate governance and legal compliance. This background shaped a governance and compliance perspective that combines legal analysis with operational and business realities.

In-House Experience — International Environments

I later built and led compliance functions within international organizations in Munich — most recently at NIO, where I helped design and implement the company’s European compliance framework across multiple jurisdictions. This work required not only understanding European regulatory expectations, but also translating them into structures and processes that could realistically function within fast-scaling, cross-cultural business environments.

Having lived and worked internationally for many years, I bring a practical cross-cultural perspective to governance and compliance work across Europe, Brazil, the United States, China, and other markets. I work in English and Portuguese, and operate in German-speaking business environments.

How It Works

Typical Engagements

Most engagements begin with a clearly scoped project — such as a compliance assessment, governance review, policy and process redesign, whistleblower implementation, or broader governance and compliance transformation initiative. Ongoing advisory support is available on a retainer basis. Engagements are structured transparently, with fixed-fee arrangements where appropriate and project-based flexibility where scope or complexity requires it. I work primarily remotely, with on-site availability across Germany and Europe and travel to other jurisdictions as client needs require.

Compliance Health Check
Fixed fee · Typical starting point

A structured assessment of existing governance and compliance structures — including policies, processes, controls, responsibilities, and implementation effectiveness — followed by a prioritized action plan.

Cross-Border Compliance Foundation
Project-based

For organizations entering new jurisdictions or operating across multiple regulatory environments. Covers governance mapping, framework design, implementation planning, and operational integration.

Policy & Governance Package
Fixed fee

Development or refinement of governance and compliance documentation, together with practical implementation guidance, operational support materials, and coherence review across frameworks.

Whistleblower & Speak-Up Implementation
Fixed fee

Design and implementation of operational whistleblower structures, reporting channels, governance processes, documentation frameworks, and internal communication approaches aligned with EU expectations.

Training & Leadership Support
Project-based

Targeted leadership discussions, small-group workshops, training concepts, and practical guidance designed around the organization’s operational reality and governance priorities.

Ongoing Advisory Retainer
Monthly

A flexible senior advisory model for organizations requiring ongoing governance and compliance support without establishing a full internal function.

Fractional & Interim Compliance Leadership
Monthly / project-based

For organizations requiring temporary senior-level governance and compliance support during periods of growth, transformation, restructuring, or regulatory change — or while building internal capabilities. Provides experienced compliance leadership on a flexible basis without committing to a permanent structure.

Background

Dr. Bianca Mostacatto,
LL.M. (NYU)

Dr. Bianca Mostacatto, Governance and Compliance Advisory

Over twenty years of international experience across law firm practice, doctoral research, and senior in-house compliance leadership in Europe — supporting multinational businesses in navigating complex regulatory environments.

I advise organizations on governance structures, compliance program development, ethics and culture initiatives, and cross-border regulatory readiness. My work is senior-led, practical, and implementation-focused — designed to create structures that function in reality, not only on paper.

Professional Experience
Head of European Legal Compliance
NIO GmbH — Munich
2022 – 2025
Group Compliance Officer & Senior Legal Counsel
OSRAM Continental GmbH — Munich
2018 – 2022
Legal Consultant — Corporate & Compliance
Independent legal and compliance advisory — project basis
2010 – 2018  ·  In parallel to doctoral research
Senior Associate — Corporate / M&A & Governance
BM&A – Barbosa, Müssnich & Aragão — Rio de Janeiro
2007 – 2009
EnglishFull Professional
PortuguêsNative
DeutschFluent
Academic Formation
Doctor of Laws
Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München / Max Planck Institute
2020 · International Corporate Governance & Compliance
LL.M. in Corporate Law
New York University School of Law
2010
European Master in Law and Economics
Universität Hamburg · Università di Bologna
2011
Master in International Law
UERJ — Rio de Janeiro
2006
Memberships
Berufsverband der Compliance Manager
Deutsches Institut für Rechtsabteilungen und Unternehmensjuristen (diruj)
Chief Compliance Officer Leadership Circle (diruj)
Brazilian Bar Association (OAB, since 2003)
Contact

Ready to talk?

Whether you are building a governance and compliance framework for a new market, strengthening an existing structure, or assessing where to begin — the right first step is usually a conversation. No commitment, no process.

Munich, Germany
+49 89 500 01586  Tel / WhatsApp
www.mostacatto.com  ·  LinkedIn
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English · Português · Deutsch

For selected international mandates combining governance, compliance, and organizational transformation, I collaborate with trusted external partners — including Innovatta Advisory and qualified law firms — across Europe and the Americas.