The Legal 500

‘The leading aviation law firm in Portugal’, ABBC – Azevedo Neves, Benjamim Mendes, Carvalho & Associados – Sociedade de Advogados has experience across litigation, regulatory and tax matters. Star individual António Moura Portugal has ‘comprehensive and in-depth knowledge’, and ‘covers all the angles’, and advises all the major airlines active in Portugal, including Lufthansa and Air France. It recently represented a Portuguese airline in a tax arbitration, and acted for KLM in the defence of a claim by the Travel Agents Association relating to commission on fees.

Providing ‘a really good service comparable with international standards’, Albuquerque & Associados has significant shipping experience, and advises on litigation, employment, insurance, and the buying and selling of vessels. Alexandre de Albuquerque and João Salvador are ‘particularly good practitioners’ with ‘very good knowledge of the shipping industry’ and ‘an acute professional sense’. The team is advising a Portuguese port and maritime operator on its expansion in Colombia, and a member of the winning consortium of a tender for the river transportation of timber in Uruguay.

The practice at maritime law boutique Andrade Dias e Associados spans litigation, arbitration, employment, criminal and insurance. Teresa Andrade Dias, Maria Andrade Dias, Mateus Andrade Dias and Pedro Andrade Dias are recommended.

Ana Cristina Pimentel and Armando Henriques are recommended at shipping boutique Armando Henriques, Ana Cristina Pimentel & Associados – Sociedade de Advogados.

‘Responsive and commercially aware’, Morais Leitão, Galvão Teles, Soares da Silva & Associados provides ‘an excellent service’. On the shipping side, manager of the Madeira office Francisco de Sousa da Câmara, Manuel Freitas Pita, and senior associate Cátia Henriques Fernandes advise shipping companies and banks. Aviation matters are handled by Lisbon-based Luís Miguel Monteiro; Segismundo Pinto Basto, who ‘understands clients’ needs’; the ‘very attentive and trustworthy’ Tomás Vaz Pinto; and João Serra. TAP and Omni are clients.

SRS Advogados is noted for its ‘exceptional technical skills and industry knowledge’. ‘Top-level practitioner’ Maria José Santana recently advised CEPSA Portugal on the successful seizure of a Spanish cargo vessel, and counts Grupo Sousa, Galp and Empresa de Navegação Madeirense among his other clients. José Luis Moreira da Silva is advising the Madeira regional government on the negotiation of the €50m concession contract for Funchal and Porto Santo airports.

Claudia Santos Cruz’s team at AVM Advogados has notable experience in Lusophone Africa, and it is currently advising a client in litigation before the Maritime Court of Angola. It also advised BNP Paribas on a loan facility to part-finance the acquisition of a Maltese-flagged bulk carrier vessel. Other clients include Cornèr Banca and ANL Singapore Property.

Abreu Advogados has a good reputation for shipping and aviation litigation. Guilherme Santos Silva recently advised a Portuguese shipyard in a dispute over two shipbuilding contracts.

Alves Pereira & Teixeira de Sousa, RL’s aviation practice is noted for its ‘high-quality service’ and ‘punctual and efficient performance’. João Marques de Almeida is representing Império Bonança in an administrative proceeding relating to a collision involving a private aircraft at Faro International Airport. José Alves Pereira is also recommended.

Ricardo Rodrigues Lopes’ team at Caiado Guerreiro includes João Caiado Guerreiro, who advised Qatar Airways on incorporating its Portuguese subsidiary; and Ricardo Costa Macedo, who is assisting JSC Aeroflot in Portugal and Cape Verde.

Cuatrecasas, Gonçalves Pereira’s ‘excellent’ team is led by Luís Soares de Sousa, who is noted for his ‘proficiency and expertise’ in aviation matters. Sousa regularly advises on registrations and deregistrations of aircraft with the National Aircraft Registry. NetJets Europe remains a key client.

PLMJ Law Firm’s aviation team features Manuel Santos Vitor and the ‘very analytical’ Nuno da Cunha Barnabé, with senior associate Nuno Luís Sapateiro also being recommended. Clients include Macquarie AirFinance, Credit Suisse, and Willis Lease Finance Corporation.

At Raposo Bernardo, Sofia Ferreira Enriquez is ‘a lawyer of the highest standard and quality in shipping, insurance and transportation’. The team has particular experience advising cruise companies, and also represents insurer Tranquilidade in disputes. Euro Atlantic Airways and South African Airways are also clients.

Barrocas Advogados’ experience spans aviation, shipping and road haulage, and it is active in insurance claims and other litigation. Carlos Costa e Silva is the key contact.

António Labisa at Labisa Advogados is recommended for his longstanding shipping experience.

At Medeiros Cosme / Graça Sardinha Advogados, José Medeiros Cosme is highly rated for his shipping practice.

Miranda Correia Amendoeira & Associados advises on shipping and railway matters. Luís Oliveira is the key contact.

Rosana Rodrigues at Teixeira de Freitas, Rodrigues e Associados – Sociedade de Advogados RL assisted a Swedish ship operator on the re-flagging of its Madeira-registered fleet to Malta.

At Uría Menéndez – Proença de Carvalho, João Anacoreta Correia, advises Barclays Marine Finance on ship arrests, mortgages and acquisition finance.