The Legal 500

The ‘extremely professional’ team at Morais Leitão, Galvão Teles, Soares da Silva & Associados has ‘deep knowledge’, and delivers ‘well-thought-out legal strategies’, with experience across antitrust investigations, merger control, state aid cases and matters before the ECJ. Carlos Botelho Moniz has an ‘outstanding capacity to analyse various legal challenges’, and recently acted for EDP on competition matters related to its privatisation process. ‘Top lawyer’ Joaquim Vieira Peres is advising EDP, Sonae Investimentos and others in claims regarding stamp duty collected in alleged breach of an EU directive. Among the senior associates, Eduardo Maia Cadete ‘easily solves difficult competition problems’, and Gonçalo Machado Borges is also recommended.

Vieira de Almeida & Associados advises on merger control, state aid, abuse of dominance, private enforcement and cartel investigations. ‘Outstanding practitioner’ Nuno Ruiz is ‘one of the most solid competition lawyers in the country’, with ‘excellent experience and legal knowledge’. In 2012, Ruiz successfully achieved an annulment of a 2008 fine by the PCA on behalf of PT Comunicações in relation to an alleged abuse of dominance in the leased lines market. Of counsel Miguel Mendes Pereira provides ‘top-level advice’, and advised Sany Heavy Industry regarding its merger with Putzmeister. Managing associate Ricardo Bordalo Junqueiro is advising Timor Telecom on matters associated with the liberalisation of the telecoms sector in East Timor.

At Cuatrecasas, Gonçalves Pereira, Frederico Pereira Coutinho’s team acts for Banco Privado Português, Explorer Investments, BMW, and Ferrero. It is advising the Ordem dos Técnicos Oficias de Contas in an alleged breach of competition law case, and advised CEMIG on issues related to its bid for shares in the privatisation of EDP. António Vitorino is also recommended.

João Paulo Teixeira de Matos’ team at Garrigues acts on merger filings, state aid matters, abuse of dominance cases, and EU law matters. It advised Mercapital Private Equity and Actividades de Construcción y Servicios on a merger filing before the PCA regarding the acquisition of CLECE. It is also acting for Comércio de Especialidades Farmacêuticas on appeals and procedures opened by Infarmed. Other clients include IBM, Kraft Foods Portugal, and Magnum Capital. Associates Ana Ferreira Neves and Joana Peres Machado are recommended.

Carlos Pinto Correia’s team at Linklaters LLP draws on the strength of the firm’s corporate practice to advise on major mandates. Correia and managing associate Maria Tavares de Pina are advising BP on competition issues related to its joint venture with Repsol and Galp to create a logistics platform in the Oporto area. The duo are also assisting Nestlé on its acquisition of Pfizer Nutrition’s baby food business, and acted for State Grid International Development on merger control issues following its acquisition of 25% of the share capital of REN.

Providing an ‘outstanding service’, Marques Mendes & Associados is ‘one of the best firms in Portugal for EU and competition work’. ‘Ready to discuss any issue’, Mário Marques Mendes is recommended alongside Pedro Vilarinho Pires. The team gives ‘prompt responses’ and ‘always considers the interests of the client’. It is advising RTP on state aid matters, and Barraqueiro on merger control issues related to its acquisition of the controlling interest in Metro Sul do Tejo. It is also advising the European Commission in several appeals brought by Portuguese companies against the pre-stressing steel cases and the animal feed phosphates cases.

‘One of the best in town’, PLMJ Law Firm’s practice is now led by the ‘efficient and pragmatic’ Ricardo Oliveira, following José Luís da Cruz Vilaça’s departure to the ECJ. Oliveira recently advised Lactogal on competition issues related to its re-acquisition of Renoldy. The ‘reliable and well-rounded’ team advises on antitrust investigations, competition compliance, and merger control. It acted for over 80 tomato-processing companies in a pan-European damages action against the European Commission for extra-contractual liability.

SRS Advogados’ practice is led by Gonçalo Anastácio, who continues to advise Galp in a major state aid case. The team’s expertise spans compliance, private enforcement, merger control, cartel investigations and abuse of dominance cases. Highlights included advising Investcorp Bank on filing a notification before the PCA regarding its acquisition of Goromar, and advising the Portuguese state on a cartel in the catering market.

At Uría Menéndez – Proença de Carvalho, Joaquim Caimoto Duarte has a ‘longstanding and successful practice’, and senior associate Tânia Luísa Faria is also recommended. Duarte is advising Camargo Corrêa Group on merger control matters regarding its public takeover bid for Cimpor. The team is also assisting Companhia Previdente and Socitrel in two appeal cases before the General Court of the European Union against a fine decided by the European Commission.

Abreu Advogados’ team is ‘strongly committed to clients’ interests’. The ‘dedicated’ Armando Martins Ferreira is advising Iberdrola on competition issues related to its concession for the construction of three hydroelectric power dams in Portugal. The ‘very proactive and straight-to-the-point’ Inês Sequeira Mendes advised Cofina on competition matters concerning a new television channel in Portugal. Mendes and Rui Peixoto Duarte are also advising RAR Açucar on the importation of raw cane sugar to the EU and common market organisation regulations. Clients praise the team’s ‘capacity to understand complex questions’.

The ‘very professional and committed’ Miguel Gorjão-Henriques at Sérvulo & Associados provides ‘timely and high-quality advice’. The team is advising Fapricela before the ECJ and the European Commission on issues relating to the pre-stressing steel cartel, and acting for Interlog Informática in bringing a private enforcement against Apple Sales International. It also successfully advised RTP in a state aid procedure before the Commission.

ABBC – Azevedo Neves, Benjamim Mendes, Carvalho & Associados – Sociedade de Advogados’ António Moura Portugal advised Arsenal Capital Partners II on merger control matters and notification before the PCA regarding its acquisition of several companies operating in Portugal. Litigator João Costa Quinta is assisting a client in an infringement procedure for collusive behaviour. Other clients include Lufthansa and Yamaha.

Albuquerque & Associados’ team is led by António de Mendonça Raimundo. It recently represented a client before the PCA in a case alleging abuse of dominance in a specific chemical market. Elsewhere, the team advised Noatum Group on merger notifications regarding its €90m acquisition of TERTIR and BidCo.

Caiado Guerreiro’s ‘responsive, well-trained and knowledgeable’ team is advising Novo Nordisk on fair market practices and market control in the pharmaceutical sector in Portugal. The ‘responsible’ Ricardo Rodrigues Lopes and João Caiado Guerreiro are recommended.

FCB&A – F Castelo Branco & Associados provides ‘fast and accurate responses’ to clients including Sodexo, Renault Trucks, Medinfar, and Sugalidal. The ‘very collaborative and knowledgeable’ Pedro Guimarães has a ‘clear understanding of problems’. Gonçalo da Cunha and associate Pedro Alves da Silva are also recommended.

Raposo Bernardo provides ‘a high-quality service’, and the ‘very solid’ Sofia Ferreira Enriquez finds ‘easy solutions to any issue’. The team represented Menarini Diagnostics in a competition dispute in the pharmaceuticals industry alleging restrictive practices including price-fixing, and achieved a €9m reduction of the €11m fine imposed on Menarini.

At Serra Lopes, Cortes Martins & Associados, Miguel Pena Machete advises on merger control, EU law, abuse of dominance cases and state aid. Representative clients include Marktest and Sport TV Portugal.

Senior lawyer Diogo Coutinho de Gouveia at Gómez-Acebo & Pombo has experience in investigations into anti-competitive practices, notifications to the PCA and abuse of dominance cases. Clients include SPWR Energias Renováveis Unipessoal (Sunpower) and the Oman Oil Company.

António de Macedo Vitorino at Macedo Vitorino & Associados advises on merger control, state aid and abuse of dominance cases. Clients include CentraCom, Banco Efisa and Batistas.