The Legal 500

‘A very highly rated real estate player’, PLMJ Law Firm provides clients with ‘personalised attention’ and ‘quick feedback’. Pedro Sáragga Leal leads the four-partner team, and in 2011 advised SILVIP on several transactions, including the €1.4m sale of an industrial unit, the renegotiation of a lease agreement with Nokia Siemens Networks Portugal, and its public tender bid to manage the Municipality of Lisbon’s closed-end property investment fund. Sofia Gomes da Costa is advising Commerz Real on lease contracts and turnkey agreements. The ‘extremely dedicated’ Tiago Mendonça de Castro acts for IKEA, Primark Portugal and Banco Fomento Angola.

Real estate remains one of Uría Menéndez – Proença de Carvalho’s main practices in Portugal, and the group is ‘timely and professional’. Duarte Garin and senior associate João Torroaes Valente have ‘deep knowledge of the Portuguese market and real estate issues’, and adopt ‘a client-oriented approach’. Garin is advising Zurich on the sale and leaseback of its Portuguese real estate portfolio, and Valente is advising BBVA Portugal on the bid sale and leaseback of its Lisbon headquarters. The team is advising Immochan Portugal on the sale of two shopping centres.

Garrigues’ ‘objective and very competent’ group is divided into planning, zoning and real estate transactional teams working collaboratively. It provides ‘consistent and solid’ advice to several insurers, and is advising both Groupama Seguros de Vida and Axa Portugal on property sales. ‘Good communicator’ Miguel Marques dos Santos is ‘sharp in negotiations’, and has an ‘in-depth understanding of real estate issues’. Associate Pedro Pereira Coutinho is ‘methodical’ and has ‘broad knowledge’.

Linklaters LLP has ‘profound knowledge of the market’ and is ‘always able to deliver work on time’. The group advises on M&A, investment and financing, and has notable cross-border experience. Jorge Gonçalves is ‘a calm and resilient negotiator’, and ‘one of the top real estate lawyers in Portugal’. Gonçalves advised a syndicate of banks regarding the financing of a shopping centre in Luanda, Angola, and also advised ECS – Sociedade de Capital de Risco on a distressed sale. The group is advising CostaTerra on its €535m resort development on the Alentejo coast. Associate Tânia de Almeida Ferreira joined Cuatrecasas, Gonçalves Pereira in 2011.

Morais Leitão, Galvão Teles, Soares da Silva & Associados has expertise spanning financing, planning and litigation, and it provides ‘very high-quality service’. Filipa Arantes Pedroso continues to advise Abertis on matters relating to its investments in Portugal, and Lusoponte on maintenance issues regarding the 25 de Abril bridge in Lisbon. João Pereira Reis advises on zoning, planning, environmental and contentious matters, including assisting SAIP in the planning and construction of a tourism and leisure complex in the Alentejo region.

Vieira de Almeida & Associados’ ‘excellent, motivated and client-focused lawyers’ represent clients in the energy, leisure, tourism, and financial sectors. Clients include Inspira Group, Imopólis and Leoni Wiring Systems. Pedro Ferreirinha assists Energopark with real estate negotiations, and is ‘able to present several solutions for the same problem’, Sofia Galvão is ‘a real expert in all issues of public law and real estate’, and has ‘outstanding knowledge and technical capabilities’. Associate Hugo Nunes is a ‘rising star’.

Oporto-based Rui Peixoto Duarte and Lisbon-based Duarte de Athayde lead the team at Abreu Advogados, for which highlights included advising Staples on real estate development and licensing, representing Angolan company BESAACTIF on mortgage-backed loans as part of real estate projects, and advising BPN Imofundos on its real estate investment funds. José Eduardo Martins and Armando Martins Ferreira are ‘very good’.

CMS Rui Pena & Arnaut’s

‘very skilled lawyers’ provide ‘extremely professional, efficient and high-quality advice’. Luís Abreu Coutinho leads the team, which acts for Ikea, REN and Swedwood. Coutinho is advising Galp Gás Natural on a real estate registration project. Associate Salvador Pires Marques is ‘an outstanding professional’ and provides ‘rigorous and swift service’.

Cuatrecasas, Gonçalves Pereira advises corporate clients on real estate transactions, and has experience in leisure industry projects. Frederico Pereira Coutinho and Nuno Sá Carvalho are ‘always prepared to go the extra mile’, and act for HN Group, Robinson Hotels, Bata, Orizon and Faisal Private Bank. Carvalho is also advising Millennium BCP’s Mozambique branch on the sale of its existing headquarters, and the purchase and construction of new headquarters. Associate Tânia de Almeida Ferreira joined from Linklaters LLP in 2011.

pbbr (Pedro Pinto, Bessa Monteiro, Reis, Branco, Alexandre Jardim & Associados – Sociedade de Advogados, R.L) has ‘very good’ capability. The group acts for ING Real Estate Development on its joint venture with Chamartín Imobiliária to build a shopping centre, and continues to advise Bouygues Immobilier. Teresa Freire advised Portuguese fashion group Sacoor Brothers on two hotel developments, and assisted in the negotiation of lease contracts for two duty-free shops. Pedro Pinto and associate Tânia Ferreira Osorio are also recommended.

Raposo Bernardo’s ‘experienced team’ provides ‘strong attention to detail and clients’ needs’. Manuel Esteves de Albuquerque is ‘a great real estate practitioner’, and advised Sirona Health Club and Spa on the negotiation and construction of its planned €3.5m health club. Other clients include Colt Resources, ERA Real Estate and Global Fenix.

The team at SRS Advogados displays ‘total commitment’ and produces ‘prompt and accurate responses’. Practice head Maria José Santana is advising the Spanish branch of Rabobank Nederland on the incorporation of two special purpose vehicles to acquire its Portuguese real estate assets. Managing associate and head of the Madeira office Gonçalo Maia Camelo is ‘an expert in tourism, construction, urban planning and public law issues’, and is ‘very persuasive and trustworthy’.

ABBC – Azevedo Neves, Benjamim Mendes, Carvalho & Associados – Sociedade de Advogados is ‘focused on understanding and adhering to clients’ needs’. It advises EDP on development and acquisitions, and also represents FundBox, Caixa Geral de Depósitos, Mobiser and Incity. ‘Quick and assertive’ associate João Pedro Varandas advises several real estate investment funds, and has ‘great business skills’. The ‘very learned’ Luís Filipe Carvalho is a ‘top lawyer’ and is advising Barclays on structuring the sales of mortgaged real estate assets.

‘Extremely well-prepared’ senior associate Margarida Lima leads the ‘very experienced’ group at Baião, Castro & Associados, R.L., which advises financial institutions on real estate portfolio transactions. Lima displays ‘ethical and professional excellence’ and ‘unconditional dedication to clients’. The team is advising Millennium BCP on real estate divestments, and representing a Spanish investor as landowner and promoter of a hotel rehabilitation project.

CCA Advogados’ ‘excellent’ team is ‘great value and always on time’. Practice head Pedro Franca Pinto advised Imocom on the €4.6m sale of a Lisbon building. Domingos Cruz’s clients include Primosfera. Senior associate Madalena Azeredo Perdigão advised C&A and Phone House on renting units in shopping centres.

At Carlos Aguiar, Ferreira de Lima & Associados – Sociedade de Advogados, R.L., Maria Sottomayor and Maria Roquette Valdez provide ‘straightforward answers’ on investments, financing, construction and development. Sottomayor advised Smith & Nephew on terminating a commercial lease and transferring its headquarters, and Valdez advised construction company Engiarte on construction agreements and related disputes.

Esquivel Advogados’ José Luís Esquivel is advising Tranquilidade Group on negotiations and planning issues relating to the construction of a new hotel in Lisbon, and is assisting Somague and Viveiros do Falcão on the construction of an autodrome in the Algarve.

Miguel Castelo Branco heads FCB&A – F Castelo Branco & Associados’ ‘proactive and accurate’ team, which also features Miguel Lorena Brito and associate João Robles. The team advises Londimo on its tourism projects in Portugal, and also acts for construction companies Siccal and Opway on matters in Angola. Brito is advising EAV on zoning requirements for a hotel, golf course and resort, and is also advising REpower on turnkey contracts for supply and construction of several wind farms.

Franco Caiado Guerreiro & Associados advises on investments, acquisitions, sales and litigation. It is advising Aeroflot on a hotel complex in Africa, and acting for FundBox on acquisitions. Senior associate Tânia Pinheiro is the main contact, and Ricardo Rodrigues Lopes is recommended.

Helga Lopes Ribeiro at MGRA & Associados advises on acquisitions, sales, and construction, including advising Grupo Hera on the construction and exploitation of a landfill site, and is handling construction issues for Portuguese subsidiaries of Ferrobéria. Leisure sector clients include the Hilton Group and Hoteles Turisticos Unidos.

Macedo Vitorino & Associados represents several developers, including Spanish company Bogaris Retail. Susana Vieira is advising Parkridge Holdings on the construction and tenanting of a retail park in Oporto.

RSA – Raposo Subtil e Associados – Sociedade de Advogados, RL joins the ranking due to its ‘profound industry knowledge’ and ‘strong negotiating skills and experience’ in real estate matters, including investment, tax and leasing. It provides ‘commitment and dedication to clients’.

‘A really good firm’, Serra Lopes, Cortes Martins & Associados handles acquisitions, sales, leasing contracts and construction matters. Miguel Pena Machete is the main contact.

Sérvulo & Associados is developing a strong practice assisting corporate clients with planning and licensing matters relating to real estate transactions. Practice head Nuno Moura Roldão advised RTP on regulations pertaining to its real estate assets.

Teixeira de Freitas, Rodrigues e Associados – Sociedade de Advogados RL has experience in Angola and São Tomé e Príncipe. Carlos Manuel da Silva Gomes and Ana Sofia Catarino advise on construction, acquisition and planning.