The Legal 500

Diogo Perestrelo’s team at Cuatrecasas, Gonçalves Pereira is currently providing advice to the lenders on the renegotiation of contracts concerning a photovoltaic project in Madeira. Maria João Ricou is acting for Vialivre as operator of the toll collection system in Portugal in negotiations with the Portuguese state. Senior associates Ana Graça Remondes and Margarida Leal de Oliveira are recommended.

‘The best of the best’, Linklaters LLP demonstrates ‘a proactive approach’ and ‘good understanding of clients’ needs’. The ‘professional and devoted’ team fields Pedro Siza Vieira, who has ‘deep knowledge’, and ‘free-thinker and problem-solver’ Francisco Ferraz de Carvalho, who shows ‘an incredible work ethic and attention to detail’ and ‘unwavering support and dedication to clients’. ‘Excelling in African infrastructure power projects’, the team advised the African Development Bank and the European Investment Bank on the financing of four onshore wind farms in Cape Verde, a €60m project. It also acted for a syndicate of banks, including Banco de Desenvolvimento de Angola, on the $100m financing of a shopping centre in Luanda, Angola. Among managing associates, Marta Almeida Afonso is praised for her ‘fantastic response times and availability’, and Rita Ferreira dos Santos has ‘very good experience’.

‘One of the best firms for project finance work’, Morais Leitão, Galvão Teles, Soares da Silva & Associados has particular experience in renewable projects in Portugal and Portuguese-speaking Africa. The team is also involved in the restructuring of credit facilities for a shopping centre development. Clients include Banco Santander Investment, the European Investment Bank, and Group Espírito Santo. Luís Branco is ‘very good’, and Filipe Lowndes Marques and senior associate Pedro Gorjão Henriques are recommended.

Uría Menéndez – Proença de Carvalho’s expertise stems from the firm’s excellent banking and finance and public law practices. The team fields Bernardo Diniz de Ayala and Pedro Ferreira Malaquias, who provides ‘trustworthy advice’. It continues to advise several banks, including BBVA and Banco Santander Totta, on financing matters related to the Transmontana motorway subconcession, and Euroscut and Banco BPI remain key clients. Antonio Villacampa Serrano is recommended.

Vieira de Almeida & Associados’ ‘very effective team’ has experience across infrastructure and energy projects in Portugal and Africa. Manuel Protásio advised Chile-based copper mining group Antofagasta on acquiring mining interests in Portugal. Vanda Cascão continues to advise Caixa Banco de Investimento and Caixa Geral de Depósitos on a chemical production plant in Sines. Paulo de Barros Baptista is recommended, and managing associates Frederico Quintela and Matilde Horta e Costa have PPP experience in the health and water sectors, respectively.

Project finance is a core practice for the ‘very professional and highly specialised’ Campos Ferreira, Sá Carneiro & Associados, and the team provides ‘a personalised and client-oriented service’. Maria Castelos is ‘one of the best Portuguese lawyers for project finance’. Duarte Brito de Goes assisted a client in a refinancing matter for the construction of a port terminal.

Miranda Correia Amendoeira & Associados advises sponsors and lenders on PPPs and other transactions in Portugal and Africa. The team has experience in oil and gas, and advised Noble Energy on an offshore oil well in Equatorial Guinea. Alberto Galhardo Simões receives praise for his experience, particularly in matters related to Angola and São Tomé and Principe.

PLMJ Law Firm’s projects and infrastructure practice is led by Pedro Melo, who is advising Yguazú on negotiations related to the supply of equipment to implement a cement plant in Paraguay, together with a Chinese company. Senior associate Inês Pinto da Costa has renewables experience, and counts Cimpor and Nova Cimangola as clients.

Sérvulo & Associados’ project finance experience is matched with the firm’s superb public law capabilities to provide a full service to clients. Lino Torgal is praised for his ‘excellent response times and attentiveness to clients’ needs’, and is advising TERTIR on the concession contract for a port in Peru. Other clients include the Standard Bank of South Africa, Parpública, and the Portuguese Ministry of Defence. Mark Kirkby is recommended, together with associates Ana Luísa Guimarães and Francisca Mendes da Costa.

Highlights for ABBC – Azevedo Neves, Benjamim Mendes, Carvalho & Associados – Sociedade de Advogados included advising Bancoinvest and other private equity investors on prospective acquisitions of renewable energy projects, and assisting EDP in a real estate project to build a new headquarters. Nuno Azevedo Neves, Bruno Azevedo Rodrigues, and associate João Pedro Varandas are recommended.

Esquível Advogados combines solid public law experience with financing experience to advise on PPPs and other projects. José Luís Esquível is the key contact.

Raposo Bernardo’s projects experience spans both Portugal and Lusophone Africa. Singled out for his ‘unique and pragmatic approach to any legal issues’, Nelson Raposo Bernardo instils ‘bullet-proof confidence’. The team is assisting Self-Energy on the implementation of a solar project in Poland, and is advising Soares da Costa Group on project finance mandates in Angola, Mozambique, Guinea-Bissau, and São Tomé and Principe.

SRS Advogados combines public law experience with finance knowledge through partners José Luis Moreira da Silva and Alexandra Maia de Loureiro, respectively. Recent mandates include advising a consortium of banks on the management of the Baixo Alentejo motorway subconcession, and representing the subsidiary company of Renault, CACIA, on the construction of a new batteries factory in Portugal in a joint procurement with Nissan.

At AAA advogados, Vítor Pereira das Neves is advising the European Investment Bank on the JESSICA project. Together with Gabriela Rodrigues Martins, Neves also assisted Amorim Energia with financing the acquisition of 5% of Galp’s registered share capital. Dulce Franco is recommended.

Abreu Advogados fields Sofia Santos Machado, who is experienced in finance-linked swaps and derivative transactions in the project finance arena. Miguel Castro Pereira is recommended and acts for Câmara Municipal do Porto.

Albuquerque & Associados is known for transport-related project finance work, and advises on port and logistics concessions, as well as shipping acquisitions. Alexandre de Albuquerque’s team is advising Companhia do Porto da Castanheira on the financing and construction of an inland waterway port project.

At FCB&A – F Castelo Branco & Associados, public law practitioner Miguel Lorena Brito is rated for his ‘deep understanding’ and ability to ‘draw objective conclusions’. Brito is advising Portucel Soporcel on matters related to its portfolio of properties in Portugal. Clients include REpower Systems and Angolan construction group Siccal.