Morais Leitão, Galvão Teles, Soares da Silva & Associados provides "swift replies and reliable legal opinions" during maritime and aviation matters. Madeira-based senior associate Cátia Fernandes advises shipping clients on the island’s special tax regime, and has handled the registration of several Mediterranean Shipping Company fleet vessels. Segismundo Pinto Basto is the key name for aviation.
Morais Leitão, Galvão Teles, Soares da Silva & Associados handles tax structuring and compliance matters, as well as disputes. Oporto-based António Lobo Xavier and "tax expert" Francisco de Sousa da Câmara, who is based in Lisbon, jointly head the practice, which also includes Bruno Santiago. Former Secretary of State for Fiscal Affairs Paulo Núncio joined as of counsel in 2016.
At Morais Leitão, Galvão Teles, Soares da Silva & Associados, the team "does everything to protect a client from any future liability". It advised flagship client Nos Comunicações on the renewal of the rights of use for frequencies allocated to GSM and UMTS systems. "Excellent negotiator" João Alfredo Afonso, who is an IT and e-commerce expert, advised bet365 on regulatory conditions pertaining to entering Portugal’s online gambling market. Nuno Peres Alves and Helena Tapp Barroso are also noted.
Real Estate and Construction
2017
Morais Leitão, Galvão Teles, Soares da Silva & Associados is increasingly advising private equity funds on real estate transactions. In a particular work highlight, the team acted for Oaktree European Principal Fund III in purchasing land and buildings for residential use. Filipa Arantes Pedroso and Rita Ferreira Vicente often work together with the firm’s planning and environment teams.
Morais Leitão, Galvão Teles, Soares da Silva & Associados, which frequently handles public procurement matters, has seen an increase in work in the pharmaceutical and defence sectors, and has longstanding expertise in energy and infrastructure. Margarida Olazabal Cabral and Miguel Nogueira de Brito advised Ren – Redes Energéticas Nacionais on the procurement for the public services concession of the national electricity transmission grid. Fernanda Matoso, Nuno Peres Alves and Pedro Costa Gonçalves are also recommended.
Projects and Project Finance
2017
At Morais Leitão, Galvão Teles, Soares da Silva & Associados, Filipe Lowndes Marques and managing associate Cláudia Castanheira dos Santos advised Santander Totta, Novo Banco and Haitong Bank on the financing of the overpowering of Iberwind III-Produção. On the borrower side, Luís Branco and Ana Monjardino assisted NorScut with the renegotiation of a road concession due to the implementation of a toll collection system. Managing associate Filipa Morais Alçada is another name to note.
Morais Leitão, Galvão Teles, Soares da Silva & Associados combines its planning practice with its public law and environment departments, and frequently advises on tourism projects. João Pereira Reis and senior associate Rui Ribeiro Lima advised Sonae Capital on land use plans and the licensing of urban operations.
Oporto: Leading Commercial Firms
2017
Morais Leitão, Galvão Teles, Soares da Silva & Associados has a large tax practice, which is led by António Lobo Xavier. Bernardo Lobo Xavier, who is the Oporto office managing partner, advised Sonae on the potential acquisition of textile manufacturer Irmãos Vila Nova. Carlos Osório de Castro, Eduardo Verde Pinho and Luís Gagliardini Graça are recommended for corporate and commercial matters.
Intellectual Property
2017
Morais Leitão, Galvão Teles, Soares da Silva & Associados provides "efficient, sound and prompt advice at reasonable costs", and is recommended for handling patent disputes in the pharmaceutical sector. Elsewhere, Carlos Osório de Castro is advising Cristiano Ronaldo on image rights. At senior associate level, Vasco Stilwell d’Andrade is "extremely versatile and comprehensive", providing "thoughtful and well-reasoned" advice on trade mark matters, and Ricardo do Nascimento Ferreira is also recommended.
Insolvency and Restructuring
2017
Morais Leitão, Galvão Teles, Soares da Silva & Associados advises banks on credit recovery, and assisted Impresa Publishing with recovering credit from the insolvent Goldenpar. In another matter, the team advised Hagen Engenharia on filing a request for its revitalisation process. Carlos Osório de Castro is recommended.
Fraud and White-Collar Crime
2017
Morais Leitão, Galvão Teles, Soares da Silva & Associados frequently handles high-level, often international, criminal cases. The team advised Raul Schmidt Felipe Junior, a Brazilian and Portuguese citizen, on an extradition request by the Brazilian state pertaining to alleged corruption, money laundering and criminal associations concerning the car wash scandal. Rui Patrício, Tiago Félix da Costa and recently promoted partner Filipa Marques Júnior, who is "very assertive in court", are recommended.
Energy and Natural Resources
2017
Morais Leitão, Galvão Teles, Soares da Silva & Associados has an excellent track record advising on regulatory matters and renewable energy projects. Newly promoted partner Catarina Brito Ferreira advised EDP on the structuring and implementation of an offshore wind farm project, using floating platform technology WindFloat. Tomás Vaz Pinto and Ricardo Andrade Amaro are the key names, while managing partner Nuno Galvão Teles remains actively involved in the space.
Pedro Pardal Goulão’s team at Morais Leitão, Galvão Teles, Soares da Silva & Associados advises clients including AccorHotels, Galp, Pernod Ricard and Santander Totta on a range of labour and employment matters. On the contentious side, it is representing the Portuguese football association FPF in a case against former employees. Helena Tapp Barroso and Luís Miguel Monteiro are also recommended.
Morais Leitão, Galvão Teles, Soares da Silva & Associados provides "an excellent service". Carlos Botelho Moniz acted for EDP in a state aid investigation and Joaquim Vieira Peres defended NOS Comunicações in a private antitrust enforcement claim brought by Cogeco. Managing associates Inês Gouveia and Pedro de Gouveia e Melo, and newly promoted partner Eduardo Maia Cadete are also recommended.
Morais Leitão, Galvão Teles, Soares da Silva & Associados represented TST – Transportes Sul do Tejo in litigation against the Portuguese state concerning financial compensations for private transportation companies providing services in the Lisbon metropolitan area. Francisco Cortez defended Apple Sales International in several cases, including one filed by Interlog – Informática concerning the alleged abuse of economic dependency. Miguel de Almada, Filipe Vaz Pinto and Tiago Félix da Costa jointly head the practice. Also recommended are António Pinto Leite, who has "a bright legal mind", and recently promoted partners Filipa Marques Júnior and Magda Fernandes.
Commercial, Corporate and M&A
2017
At Morais Leitão, Galvão Teles, Soares da Silva & Associados, highlights included advising Ascendi Group, Mota-Engil and Gnb Concessões on the sale of stakes totalling €653m in highway concessions in Portugal and Spain to Ardian; Eduardo Paulino led the advice. Segismundo Pinto Basto is highly rated for venture capital work. Practice head João Soares da Silva, Carlos Osório de Castro and Nuno Galvão Teles are the other names to note.
Morais Leitão, Galvão Teles, Soares da Silva & Associados’ team has "strong technical and negotiation skills". Practice head João Soares da Silva led advice to Banco Comercial Português on its capital increase by means of an exchange public offer for the acquisition of several hybrid and subordinated debt securities against the issuance of its shares. Carlos Osório de Castro and Eduardo Paulino are also recommended.
Luís Branco heads the banking and finance department at Morais Leitão, Galvão Teles, Soares da Silva & Associados, which has excellent project finance expertise. The group advised ING Bank on a €39.2m financing granted to the Alegro Setúbal shopping centre. Filipe Lowndes Marques, Pedro Gorjão Henriques and managing associate Filipa Morais Alçada stand out for their "business-oriented approach".