The Legal 500

ABBC – Azevedo Neves, Benjamim Mendes, Carvalho & Associados – Sociedade de Advogados’ ‘indispensable’ and ‘very professional and knowledgeable’ team acts for a range of major Portuguese corporates. Practice head Benjamin Mendes has ‘deep knowledge’, and the team also includes the ‘very good’ João Guedes, and associates Vitor Madeiras Rodrigues and Catarina Santos Ferreira. Key mandates included advising a European airport handling services company on labour matters associated with the acquisition of a Portuguese company, and assisting a Portuguese hotel chain on an employee transfer. The team also handles collective dismissals. Recent clients on the contentious side include a pilots’ union.

Morais Leitão, Galvão Teles, Soares da Silva & Associados’ practice is led by the very experienced Luís Miguel Monteiro, and acts for clients in the pharmaceuticals, telecoms, publishing, financial services, and aviation sectors. António Emílio de Vasconcelos is noted for his expertise. Helena Tapp Barroso continues to represent Impresa Group in areas including social security and litigation. Senior associates Maria João da Luz and Pedro Pardal Goulão, associate Joana Almeida and Oporto-based consultant Paula Ponces Camanho are also recommended.

PLMJ Law Firm advises on collective bargaining, litigation, social security, disciplinary and dismissal procedures, and employment benefits. ‘One of the most reputable lawyers in Portugal’, Abel Mesquita heads the team. Tiago Cortes demonstrates ‘accuracy, competence and care’, is ‘attentive to details’, and is currently advising Estoril Sol on collective redundancies and on a collective dismissal procedure of a Portuguese casino. Nuno Guedes Vaz advises on collective employment agreements. Luís Sobral acts for EDP. Senior associate Cláudia Varela ‘deeply understands all the issues’.

SRS Advogados’ ‘highly dynamic’ team is led by the ‘very assertive’ César Sá Esteves, who ‘thinks outside the box’ and does ‘exceptionally good work’. The team ‘helps to bridge the gap between legal jargon and clients’ needs’, and is praised for its ‘adaptability’. It advised a bank on employment issues related to a restructuring, and also represented Galp/Petrogal in collective disputes, including more than 80 judicial claims following a strike by employees at two oil refineries. Other clients include Estée Lauder, Renault, Danone and GlaxoSmithKline. Managing associates Mariana Caldeira de Sarávia and Ana Luísa Beirão are also recommended, along with senior associate Maria de Lancastre Valente.

‘Operating at the top level’, Uría Menéndez – Proença de Carvalho has superb employment experience, across collective dismissals, restructurings and employee transfers, and acts for clients including Crown Packaging, Nokia Portugal and Barclays Wealth. The ‘very committed’ Filipe Fraústo da Silva has ‘deep knowledge’ and ‘long experience in the field’.

Abreu Advogados advises on dismissals, employee transfers, restructurings and employment litigation. Practice head Carmo Sousa Machado is ‘very good’, and recently advised an IT solutions company on a collective dismissal. Senior associate Patrícia Perestrelo is recommended. Clients include Iberdrola, Marriott International and Levi Strauss Espanha.

Albuquerque & Associados has been active advising on restructurings, lay-offs, employment litigation, and collective bargaining agreements. João Salvador continues to advise Comboios de Portugal, and is assisting General Motors Portugal in labour issues related to its ongoing restructuring. Gonçalo Pinto Ferreira is advising ABB Stotz on a collective dismissal following the closure of its factory in Portugal. Other clients include Tecnifar, Google, and Wolters Kluwer.

CMS fields ‘one of the best employment teams in Portugal’, with ‘high technical quality’. Noted for her ‘excellent communication skills’, the ‘outstanding’ Susana Afonso Costa has ‘theoretical and practical expertise’, and ‘never loses sight of the final objective’. Recent mandates include advising Laboratórios Delta on a collective dismissal due to a price reduction in the pharmaceuticals market, and advising Banif on collective dismissal procedures leading to the termination of 400 jobs. Associate Sofia Mateus is also recommended.

Cuatrecasas, Gonçalves Pereira’s team is led by Maria da Glória Leitão and also features Diogo Leote Nobre. It advises Banco Popular Português, H&M Group, DHL, Orizonia Group and Netjets, on matters including social security, employment contracts, remuneration and disciplinary actions. Noted for his ‘extremely good capabilities in labour law and related disputes’, Nobre recently advised Marionnaud Parfumeries Portugal and Comphania Portuguesa Consumer Health on personnel restructuring cases, and is assisting Automóvel Club de Portugal in employment litigation. Associate Sandra Lima da Silveira is also recommended.

Gonçalo da Cunha oversees a ‘very good’ employment team at FCB&A – F Castelo Branco & Associados. Pedro Guimarães advises on employment transfers, personnel restructurings and workforce reductions, and is acting for Foot Locker in disciplinary proceedings and terminations of employment contracts. ‘Quick and concise’ associate Alexandra Almeida Mota leads the advisory side of the practice, and acts for Chronopost, Media Capital (PRISA Group), and Bayer. The team demonstrates ‘huge commitment’, and delivers a ‘personal service’.

Garrigues’ ‘highly professional’ team advised the winding-up board of insolvent bank Banco Privado Português in relation to a collective dismissal and labour credits claimed by employees. João Paulo Teixeira de Matos advised Sapa Perfis II on the closure of its plant in Cacém, and also advised Panrico regarding proceedings filed by 40 self-employed workers. Associates Rui Valente, Sofia Silva e Sousa, Rita Nogueira Neto and Tiago Lopes Fernandez are also recommended.

pbbr (Pedro Pinto, Bessa Monteiro, Reis, Branco, Alexandre Jardim & Associados – Sociedade de Advogados, R.L)’s experience spans social security, collective dismissals, HR restructurings, and disciplinary proceedings. The team provides ‘very timely responses’, and acts for Virgin Active, Motorola, Hays, and Mercer. ‘Fantastic lawyer’ Inês Reis is ‘pragmatic and experienced’, and is praised for her ‘awareness of the multinational environment’ and ‘technical skills’. Bruno Soeiro Barbosa and associate Inês Oom de Sacadura are also recommended.

Saraiva e Sousa, Gomes de Almeida & Associados is an employment law boutique. It is highly regarded for its work for companies and individuals, particularly regarding collective bargaining agreements. João Saraiva e Sousa is praised for his longstanding expertise.

Sérvulo & Associados’ team is led by senior partner Pedro Furtado Martins, who has a strong academic reputation. The firm handles collective dismissals, employment litigation, personnel restructurings, social security issues and employee contract termination, and represents clients from the pharmaceuticals, transport, insurance, construction, media and electronics sectors. Associates Nuno Pais Gomes, Dora Joana and Andreia Ferreira Dias are also recommended.

The team at Vieira de Almeida & Associados has ‘thorough knowledge’, and is experienced in collective dismissals, particularly representing clients in the pharmaceuticals and automotive sectors. Managing associate Tiago Piló has ‘prudence and wisdom’, and recently advised Bristol-Myers Squibb, Lilly Farma and Roche Diagnósticos on collective dismissal procedures. Managing associate Inês Coelho Simões and senior associate Benedita Fernandes Gonçalves are also recommended.

Employment is a key area for Caiado Guerreiro. The ‘technically impeccable’ team has ‘outstanding depth’ and provides ‘a high-quality service’ across collective dismissals, employment restructurings, and social security issues. It has recently been acting for Auto-Estradas Norte Litoral, and Coface. The ‘firm and thorough’ João Caiado Guerreiro is praised for his ‘wide knowledge of the market and legislation’. Ricardo Rodrigues Lopes assists Cortefiel Group in all employment matters.

Linklaters LLP’s team is led by managing associate Marta Afonso Pereira, and includes Nuno Ferreira Lousa, who advised Aviapartner on its bid for a controlling stake in Groundforce and on related collective bargaining agreements. Pereira counts Bosch Group and Citigroup (Portugal branch) among her clients.

The ‘very knowledgeable’ Leonor Francisco at AAA advogados has broad sector experience, and handles advisory and contentious employment mandates.

AVM Advogados’ José Alves do Carmo is advising Jurinfor on its restructuring, and is also assisting Celsis Farmacêutica. Antonio Vicente Marques is also recommended.

Alves Pereira & Teixeira de Sousa, RL’s João Alves Pereira acts for the Allen System Group and MediaBrands.

The ‘excellent’ António Garcia Pereira at António Garcia Pereira & Associados is highly recommended for his work advising employees.

CCA Advogados has experience advising clients in the construction, retail, manufacturing and advertising sectors. José Maria Castelo Branco is recommended.

Carlos Aguiar, Ferreira de Lima & Associados – Sociedade de Advogados, R.L. has ‘extremely analytical’ associate Rui Mendes Clara and Maria Roquette Valdez. Smith & Nephew and Xerox Portugal are key clients.

Luís Almeida Carneiro at Espanha & Associados is experienced in corporate restructurings and collective dismissals.

Jardim, Sampaio, Magalhães e Silva e Associados – Sociedade de Advogados, RL has wide-ranging employment experience, including in contentious cases involving accidents at work.

Macedo Vitorino & Associados continues to advise Apple Portugal, Cabovisão, Onitelecom and Gamesa. Sónia Lopes Ribeiro is recommended.

João Santos is the key contact at Miranda Correia Amendoeira & Associados.

The team at Raposo Bernardo acts for Banco Espírito Santo Cabo Verde, Soberhouse and Interpass Group, and includes Ana Cláudia Rangel.

Serra Lopes, Cortes Martins & Associados’ team is led by Inês Pinheiro, and acts for Swatch Group Europa and Controlinveste Media.

Carlos Manuel da Silva Gomes and Ana Sofia Catarino are recommended at Teixeira de Freitas, Rodrigues e Associados – Sociedade de Advogados RL.