The two-partner team at this award-winning Portuguese player provides counsel on all aspects of banking and finance. The group is especially active on acquisition finance, international lending, restructuring and real estate finance mandates for a client base including domestic and international banks and companies. It recently advised a syndicate of Portuguese banks on a corporate credit facility and security agreement entered into with Sport TV Portugal.
General Business Law: Porto
2011
THE FIRM The Porto office of this long-established firm offers a full service across a number of disciplines. The group is renowned for transactional work, particularly in capital markets and M&A. Clients include large domestic companies in the north of Portugal, as well as international corporations based in the region. The team stands out for its cross-border mandates and recently advised BA Vidros on its acquisition of a stake in a major Spanish industrial company.
Sources say: "The quality of the advice is exceptional and, despite being one of the largest firms in the country, it offers a very personalised service."
Transportation: Shipping
2011
This renowned Portuguese firm leads the market in many corporate, commercial and contentious areas, laying the foundations for its robust maritime practice. It provides high-quality advice on a wide range of shipping matters both domestically and internationally. The group recently worked with Ince & Co. on various maritime files.
This large domestic firm has a multidisciplinary TMT practice, with practitioners from the administrative, regulation, competition, corporate/M&A and litigation groups all contributing where appropriate. The team aims to give full-service, specialised advice on all aspects of transactional and regulatory work. A key client is Sonaecom Group, which regularly instructs the firm on a broad range of mandates and which lawyers recently assisted with legal action against the Portuguese state regarding administrative rules of the new model for regulatory fees. Media and technology highlights include advising SIC on the digital dividend derived from the transition from analogue to digital TV, as well as assisting Media Zoom with the acquisition of Infoportugal.
This market-leading firm is highly regarded in the tax arena for its innovative solutions. The large practice is divided between the firm's Lisbon, Funchal and Porto offices. It is particularly strong in national and international tax planning, but offers a wide range of tax services, including arbitration and litigation.
Restructuring / Insolvency: Portugal
2011
This domestic firm houses a multidisciplinary group of five partners and eight lawyers, providing expertise on all aspects of restructuring and insolvency. The team is primarily focused on creditor counselling and recovery of outstanding accounts, and also advises insolvent companies on restructuring agreements. The bulk of the team's clients are domestic companies, mainly from the finance and industry sectors.
Sources say: "It is without a doubt one of the leading firms in the country."
This team focuses on corporate real estate, tourism and urban planning, and its areas of expertise include finance, planning and litigation. The group has a multidisciplinary team of nine practitioners, each of whom offers different skills; however, clients invariably report commercial awareness and a practical approach to be common to all the firm's lawyers. Sources say: "Part of the Portuguese magic circle.
The ten-strong public law department at this renowned domestic player draws on the firm's multidisciplinary resources and vast experience, enabling it to represent both government bodies and private companies in public law issues across the board. Its client portfolio includes the Ministry of Economy, the national tourism company (ENATUR), the public company in charge of the new Lisbon airport (NAER), and companies from various regulated industries, such as Abbott, Sanofi Pasteur, Sonaecom, EDP, and Somincor.
Sources say: "Very active and undoubtedly excellent."
The project finance team at this Portuguese powerhouse is part of the wider corporate department and stands out for its exceptional full-service offering. The team particularly focuses on the renewable energy sector, notably wind farms and photovoltaic projects. The group also regularly handles PPP projects for road concessions and hospitals. Large banks and financial institutions are the bulk of the team's clientele, and it recently advised Banco Espírito Santo on the financing of the construction, installation and operation of a wind farm located in Cinfães.
Sources say: "The team is proactive and has a deep bench of talents in all areas. Definitely one of the best project groups in Portugal."
The private equity desk at this domestic major straddles the firm's banking and finance division and its corporate M&A and securities market department. It strength lies in the fact that the group is a market leader for corporate finance, and the private equity team is best recognised for its M&A work. It also provides regulatory and consultancy advice while two recent work highlights have come in fund formation. The team assisted the ECS in establishing the FCR II (Fundo Recuperação II, the second in the recovery funds series), and advised Group EVP Finance (Ridge Solutions) on setting up the Emerging Angola Fund, a platform for investment in Angola.
The planning practice at this Portuguese giant is drawn from the firm's public law and real estate teams, with three partners and five associates active in the area. The group advises on various sectors such as tourism, logistics and construction, and its clients include domestic players such as Sonae Sierra, Abertis Logística and Depomor
Intellectual Property
2011
The IP department of this prestigious firm handles contentious and non-contentious mandates and advises on trade marks, patents, copyrights and image rights. Apart from its heavy workload in the pharmaceutical sector, the group is also strong in media and entertainment. The team can draw upon the firm's selection of high profile lawyers. In 2010, disputes partner António Pinto Leite acted as sole arbitrator for the first national arbitration at ARBITRARE, the Arbitration Centre for Industrial Property.
Energy & Natural Resources
2011
This large Portuguese firm remains a number-one choice for energy work. The strong group comprises eight fee earners working from within the corporate department, combining commercial expertise and regulatory advice. In addition, the firm has an autonomous environmental team housed within the public law practice. The firm strikes a good balance between national and international clients, with major energy companies at the core of its clientele. In a recent highlight, the team advised EDP - Energias de Portugal and Hidroeléctrica del Cantábrico on the acquisition of Ente Vasco de Energia's 29.3% share in Naturgas. The practice handles a large number of international cases and cross-border transactions and is key to the global expansion of its clients.
Sources say: "It is a hard-working, knowledgeable team with excellent links to different law firms around the globe. It can comfortably handle multi-jurisdictional transactions."
This firm has a well-established, top-tier employment practice, which features a highly recommended labour litigation team. The team is divided between the firm's Lisbon and Porto offices, and provides assistance with matters across the sector. Thanks to the excellent reputation that it has established, the group continues to attract new clients.
This domestic powerhouse is acclaimed by its clients as “the best firm for dispute resolution matters in Portugal.” The litigation and arbitration practice is not only one of the largest in the market, but is also part of a group broad enough to include specialists in corporate and commercial litigation, IP, corporate crime, labour law and national and international arbitration, amongst other areas. The team handles complex dispute resolution, and has been involved in major litigation and arbitration cases.
Competition/European Law
2011
The powerful competition department at this major Portuguese player remains solidly at the top end of the rankings. It is an autonomous practice that works closely with the firm's corporate, litigation and public law teams, and is divided between the Lisbon and Porto offices. The group covers all areas of the discipline – European law, merger control, antitrust and state aid – and its impressive geographical reach makes it a first choice for private clients and public entities. The group is representing the Portuguese state before the ECJ in several proceedings, and also advised Abbott Laboratories on alleged cartel accusations concerning tender procedures before hospitals.
Sources say: "The quality of the team is unquestionable at every level. From trainees to senior partners, the service is attentive and you know that you are in good hands."
This Portuguese heavyweight is undoubtedly one of the top-choice destinations for capital markets advice. The 12-strong group is active on debt and equity capital markets mandates, and also advises on securitisation. The bulk of the team's clientele is made up of major Portuguese banks and listed companies. Lawyers recently assisted EDP - Energias de Portugal with the issue of EUR1 billion 3.25% notes, and represented Redes Energéticas Nacionais in the start-up of its MTB programme.
Sources say: "Has in-depth knowledge of IPOs and finds creative and innovative solutions."
This Portuguese powerhouse has an impressive team of 48 lawyers fully dedicated to corporate advice and M&A transactions. Despite the recent market downturn the team continues to be involved on high-profile mandates such as the takeover bid of Cimpor by the Brazilian corporation CSN - Companhia Siderúrgica Nacional. The group advises international and national clients from all sectors, but is particularly strong in the energy arena. The firm's Porto office also handles M&A transactions.
Sources say: "Its technical capability is outstanding and it excels thanks to its excellent client support and international connections."