The Legal 500

Linklaters LLP’s team is renowned for its ‘professionalism and knowledge’, and offers ‘rapid answers and good solutions’ regarding EU and competition matters. In addition to M&A-related competition issues, the group’s broad experience includes advising aircraft manufacturer Embraer on negotiations with the government and the European Commission concerning €169m investment agreements for two industrial plants in Portugal. It has been advising Auchan and Makro on implementing a €200m supply joint venture, and on associated antitrust issues. Johnson & Johnson, Pfizer and Infineon are also clients. Practice head Carlos Pinto Correia is an ‘excellent negotiator’, and is noted for his ‘very good skills and scientific preparation’. Associate Maria Tavares de Pina is also recommended.

The ‘outstanding’ Marques Mendes & Associados is a competition boutique with an excellent reputation born of its expertise and longstanding experience. The highly recommended Mário Marques Mendes, who is supported by the very able Pedro Vilarinho Pires, advises public bodies and institutions on regulatory and antitrust matters, as well as litigation before European and national courts. The firm recently assisted Grupo Copo in a merger control case, and also represents Procter & Gamble, Siemens and Actavis.

Morais Leitão, Galvão Teles, Soares da Silva & Associados’ EU and competition practice recently represented the Portuguese government in two infringement proceedings before the European Court of Justice concerning the government’s golden shares in Galp and EDP. It also represented Abbott regarding its alleged participation in a cartel, succeeding in reducing the client’s €7m fine to €3m. The group also assists the litigation, IP and corporate practices with related advice. The ‘fantastic and efficient’ Carlos Botelho Moniz heads the practice, while Oporto-based Joaquim Vieira Peres is also recommended, along with senior lawyer Margarida Rosado da Fonseca, who is singled out for her growing state aid and competition compliance practice.

The ‘highly proficient’ José Luís da Cruz Vilaça leads the competition practice at PLMJ Law Firm, which has an impressive roster of multinational clients including Microsoft and Unilever. In addition to providing crucial support for the firm’s corporate practice, the ‘very established’ competition and EU law team advises on antitrust proceedings. It regularly advises ZON and Galp.

SRS Advogados is ‘excellent’ for competition and EU matters, delivering ‘extremely strong advice’. Its experience includes merger control, state aid cases and antitrust matters. The team has an ‘unusually solid knowledge of the industry and deep legal insight’, and represents clients including the Portuguese government, IMS Health, Galp, and several European multinationals. Highlights from 2010 include advising the Ministry of Finance on an EC investigation regarding state guarantees on a loan made to a Portuguese bank. Practice head Gonçalo Anastácio is ‘calm and intelligent’, and recommended for his ‘quick and focussed approach’ and ‘remarkable knowledge of EU law’.

‘One of the best firms for EU and competition law,’ Vieira de Almeida & Associados recently advised key client PT in two appeals before the Portuguese Competition Authority (PCA) concerning abuse of a dominant position. The firm’s leading expertise in the pharmaceutical sector extends to competition matters, and it is advising AstraZeneca and Novartis on new distribution models. It also assists Apifarma in competition matters. Uniself, Brisa and Camargo Corrêa are also clients. The knowledgeable Nuno Ruiz is recommended. In 2010, Oporto-based Isabel Gião de Andrade joined the team from Cuatrecasas, Gonçalves Pereira.

At Cuatrecasas, Gonçalves Pereira, Frederico Pereira Coutinho handles competition and antitrust matters, while António Vitorino is particularly strong on EU law. This small team recently defended DalphiMetal Portugal against claims of a breach of competition law, and assisted Cabovisão in filing a claim made against ZON Multimédia. It also provided competition advice to book publisher Bertelsmann, and advised Cephalon during a merger control case. The firm lost Isabel Gião de Andrade to Vieira de Almeida & Associados in 2010.

Garrigues Portugal’s established practice has experience of merger control and competition compliance matters. Recent highlights include advising Companhia Siderúrgica Nacional on antitrust and merger control issues relating to its high-profile hostile bid for Cimpor. It also assisted Samsung Electronics Iberia on a compliance programme. Practice head João Paulo Teixeira de Matos is recommended.

Uría Menéndez – Proença de Carvalho’s ‘very good’ competition and EU team advises on merger control filings, competition compliance programmes, and antitrust and cartel investigations. The team has been representing Uniarme in an antitrust investigation and Socitrel in an appeal relating to an alleged steel cartel, and also advises Apifarma on EU and competition-related issues. Joaquim Caimoto Duarte is recommended.

António Moura Portugal at ABBC – Azevedo Neves, Benjamim Mendes, Carvalho & Associados – Sociedade de Advogados leads a team that advised Lufthansa on a claim before the ECJ and also on the implementation of competition rules of self-restraint.

Abreu Advogados impresses clients with its responsiveness and quality of work. The team advised Scandinavian Tobacco before the PCA, and is assisting Mota Engil Ambiente e Serviços on competition issues concerning public tenders. The ‘outstanding’ Armando Martins Ferreira co-heads the group with Miguel Mendes Pereira.

Raposo Bernardo is advising Menarini as one of five pharmaceutical companies in a high-profile alleged competition restriction case brought before the PCA. This ‘excellent’ team regularly advises on competition matters to clients including T-Systems – Deutsche Telecom Group, Opway and EuroAtlantic Airways. Practice head Sofia Ferreira Enriquez is ‘deeply dedicated’.

Miguel Pena Machete is the driving force of the practice at Serra Lopes, Cortes Martins & Associados. He advised Sport TV Portugal on competition obligations following a merger, and is advising real estate group Gremio on competition law issues.

The ‘excellent’ Miguel Gorjão-Henriques at Sérvulo & Associados receives superb praise. The young team is gaining experience on the contentious side, and represents clients before the PCA. It also assists the government in cases before the EC. Rádio e Televisão de Portugal (RTP) is a key client.

Albuquerque & Associados fields a small but ‘responsive, client-oriented and hands-on’ team which advised Procter & Gamble on filings for its merger with the air freshener business of Sara Lee. António Mendonça Raimundo is praised for his ‘technical and negotiating skills’.

Associate Pedro Alves da Silva heads the practice at FCB&A – F Castelo Branco & Associados with support from key partner Gonçalo da Cunha. The team recently advised Sodexo’s Portuguese subsidiary on a regulatory case brought by the PCA.

Macedo Vitorino & Associados is rated for its ‘responsiveness, flexibility and good technical approach’. The team represents Lafarge in all competition matters in Portugal, and also counts an international bank as a key client, which it advised on matters relating to the use of the government’s golden share in Portugal Telecom.