The Legal 500

Boasting ‘a long history in the energy arena’, CMS Rui Pena & Arnaut has expertise in energy regulation and renewables, and ‘reacts rapidly to demands in a very serious and creative way’. The ‘very experienced and pragmatic’ Mónica Carneiro Pacheco is ‘intitutive and realistic’, and advises Acciona Eólica Portugal on regulatory and administrative procedures. Rui Pena has ‘a high level of experience and knowledge’, and responds rapidly. Pena is advising REN Group on contracts regarding natural gas transportation infrastructure. Galp and Ventinveste are also clients.

Morais Leitão, Galvão Teles, Soares da Silva & Associados has a superb reputation in this space, particularly for being ‘number one in electricity’. Clients include EDP, REN Group, Sonae Sierra, SAIP, Casa Amiga and Sovena Group. On the energy side, Nuno Galvão Teles has ‘deep experience’, with Fernanda Matoso and João Pereira Reis handling environmental matters. Rui de Oliveira Neves is also recommended.

Manuel de Andrade Neves and José Eduardo Martins head the energy and environment practice at Abreu Advogados. It is active in waste renewables work and environmental matters. It continues to advise Iberdrola on its €1bn plan for four hydropower plants. Other highlights included advising TGE Gas Engineering in a public tender to expand a LNG terminal in Sines, and acting for the Associação Portuguesa de Empresas de Distribuição.

At Garrigues, João Rosado Correia continues to advise the Ministry of Economy, Innovation and Development on energy matters, and the team also has a growing environmental capability. Associates Filipa Alves Botton and Sara Castelo Branco are also recommended.

Linklaters LLP’s ‘extremely helpful and always available’ team provides ‘innovative solutions’, and is particularly notable for renewables and energy financing. The ‘excellent’ Pedro Siza Vieira heads the group, which is also increasingly active in upstream oil and gas interests in Angola and Mozambique. The team advised Banco Itáu and Banco Caixa Geral – Brasil on the R$155m financing of a water treatment plant in Rio de Janeiro. Credit Suisse, Amorim Energia and Iberwind are also clients.

PLMJ Law Firm’s energy and natural resources team is led by Manuel Santos Vitor, who is recommended along with senior associate Ana Oliveira Rocha. The group is advising Elecgas on a combined cycle gas turbine power plant in Portugal; representing clients with oil and gas interests in Angola; and advising Shell, Ocean Rig and Nyrstar in various projects in Cape Verde, Angola and Portugal, respectively.

SRS Advogados’ busy energy practice is noted for its ‘deep knowledge’, and the highly experienced Gonçalo Anastácio’s ‘low-profile approach proves to be the best solution when dealing with complex matters’. Anastácio is advising Martifer on a biofuels project in Mozambique. Other clients include Repsol, Galp, Iberdrola and NRG. Mário Melo Rocha is the key contact for environmental issues, and is advising scrap-recycling company Batista on complying with EU regulations. Pedro Rebelo de Sousa is also recommended.

Uría Menéndez – Proença de Carvalho has a solid energy capability, underpinned by the firm’s strong corporate and public law practices. Bernardo Diniz de Ayala advised Neoen on a public tender relating to photovoltaic power stations. The team is also advising BPI and Caixa Económica de Cabo Verde on financing for the electricity, water and sanitation supply system of Boavista in Cape Verde.

Vieira de Almeida & Associados handles work in the waste management and electricity sectors and, in the environment space, it is advising is advising Sociedade Ponto Verde on managing the Portuguese packaging waste system. It is also advising REN on the €150m upgrade of the electricity system. Other clients of the practice include Euro-Yser, Nintendo Ibérica, Lilly Portugal and Turbogás. Manuel Protásio and Vanda Casção lead on projects, with Pedro Ferreirinha and Sofia Galvão the key contacts on the environmental side. Manuel Gouveia Pereira recently rejoined the firm from a governmental post, but Pedro Amaral e Almeida became a legal adviser to Portugal’s prime minister.

At AAA advogados, the ‘extremely trustworthy’ Gabriela Rodrigues Martins shows ‘a strong commitment to clients’ goals’, and is advising Transgás Armazenagem on expansion plans at an natural gas underground storage concession. Maria José Verde left to found her own firm.

ABBC – Azevedo Neves, Benjamim Mendes, Carvalho & Associados – Sociedade de Advogados has expertise in renewables, with associate Bruno Azevedo Rodrigues recommended for his ‘fast responses’ and ‘very good knowledge of the renewable energy sector’. Key clients include APREN, Banca Comerciala Romana, Generg and Iberwind.

AVM Advogados’ team is led by Claudia Santos Cruz in Portugal and António Vicente Marques in Angola. Clients include Halliburton and Petra Diamonds.

Cuatrecasas, Gonçalves Pereira’s ‘very responsive’ team has solid energy experience, particularly on the financing side. Clients include Iberwind, Enersis and Group EIP. Diogo Perestrelo and José Diogo Horta Osório are recommended.

FCB&A – F Castelo Branco & Associados has renewable energy sector expertise, as well as broader experience. It continues to advise Repower Systems, and is representing AE&E Lentjes on two waste treatment facilities. Miguel Castelo Branco and Miguel Lorena Brito are recommended.

Franco Caiado Guerreiro & Associados’ João Caiado Guerreiro is advising ExxonMobil in Portugal and Angola, and advising Sonangol on an oil refinery in Lobito.

At Gómez-Acebo & Pombo, Fermín Garbayo Renouard and Jorge Santiago Neves handle energy matters for national and international clients, including Suzlon Wind Energy and Acciona Energía.

At pbbr (Pedro Pinto, Bessa Monteiro, Reis, Branco, Alexandre Jardim & Associados – Sociedade de Advogados, R.L), Carla Martins Branco’s energy clients include Vestas Wind Systems.

Raposo Bernardo’s ‘dynamic’ team provides ‘tailored advice’ to clients, including advising Self Energy in implementing a new solar PV project in Poland, and Glintt Energy on a 10MW photovoltaic plant. Nelson Raposo Bernardo has ‘an outstanding ability to find solutions for the most complex problems’.

Lino Torgal heads Sérvulo & Associados’ ‘very good’ team, which is advising the Ministry of Economic Affairs on management contracts for energy efficiency. António Teles and Sofia Carreiro are also recommended.