The Legal 500

ABBC – Azevedo Neves, Benjamim Mendes, Carvalho & Associados – Sociedade de Advogados has an outstanding aviation practice, and this ‘excellent’ team ‘quickly identifies problems’ and ‘finds smart solutions’. Its ‘very professional and helpful’ lawyers have ‘deep knowledge’, and advise on tax, employment, regulatory and commercial contracts matters, and in disputes. It is Portuguese counsel for Lufthansa, Brazilian airline TAM, and Air France/KLM, among others. ‘The best aviation lawyer in Portugal’, António Moura Portugal has ‘a patient and affable manner’, and is advising Corsair on aircraft slot issues, and also representing air cargo services provider DHL in a slot violation infringement case.

Shipping and transport work is a strong focus for Albuquerque & Associados, and the team handles public procurement, concession agreements and compliance issues for clients including Soflusa, ANA, Portway and ETE Group. The team is advising a Portuguese company as part of the winning consortium for the tender for river transportation of timber. Alexandre de Albuquerque and João Salvador are the key contacts.

Boutique firm Andrade Dias e Associados is ‘very well known’ in the maritime sector. Its team comprises the highly recommended Teresa Andrade Dias, Mateus Andrade Dias, Maria Andrade Dias, and Pedro Andrade Dias. The group has longstanding experience, and assists clients on all maritime issues, including tax, employment, insurance, and litigation and arbitration. Recent experience includes maritime crimes, ship acquisitions and sales, and ship collisions.

Armando Henriques, Ana Cristina Pimentel & Associados – Sociedade de Advogados is a boutique which handles a wide range of shipping cases, and employment and insurance matters. Armando Henriques and Ana Cristina Pimentel are ‘very good lawyers’.

SRS Advogados’ strong shipping and transport practice handles public concessions, acquisitions, regulatory compliance issues and litigation work for clients. José Luís Moreira da Silva is advising Arriva subsidiary ViaPORTO as the new operator of the Metro do Porto, and also advising Sacor Marítima in a €10m arbitrage lawsuit relating to the construction of an oil and gas tanker. Maria José Santana advises shipowner Box Lines on acquisitions.

AVM Advogados joins the ranking this year, with the ‘very experienced’ Claudia Santos Cruz, formerly of Barrocas Advogados, now at the helm. It advises on matters including ship finance, aircraft leasing, and cargo claims, and clients include Cornèr Banca, BNP Paribas, Suzuki Motor Corporation and Natixis. Clients rate the firm’s capabilities in Angola and Mozambique and its ‘quick and appropriate responses’.

Guilherme Santos Silva leads the practice at Abreu Advogados, which advises shipping and aviation clients on a range of matters, particularly on the contentious side. In 2010, the team advised a Portuguese shipyard in a shipbuilding contract dispute.

Alves Pereira & Teixeira de Sousa, RL’s ‘first-class’ team has aviation experience spanning aircraft financing, insurance and disputes. The firm often receives referrals from international law firms, and counts ANA, Zorex Airlines and Império Bonança as clients. The ‘speedy communicator’ José Alves Pereira is ‘effective and very knowledgeable’, and well regarded for his ‘practical and tactical talents’.

Luís Soares de Sousa is key to Cuatrecasas, Gonçalves Pereira’s aviation expertise, and he has ‘very good knowledge of specific areas of law’. Soares de Sousa advises NetJets in all legal matters for Europe, and assists other aviation clients in acquisitions, registrations and leasing agreements.

Franco Caiado Guerreiro & Associados provides ‘accurate, comprehensive, competent and timely advice’ to shipping and aviation clients. The team is advising Qatar Airways, and represents Continental Airlines, Turkish Airlines, and JSC Aeroflot on legal matters in Portugal. João Caiado Guerreiro gives ‘100% dedication and attention’, and Ricardo Rodrigues Lopes is also recommended.

Morais Leitão, Galvão Teles, Soares da Silva & Associados has ‘very good industry knowledge in Portugal and Europe’ for the shipping and aviation industries. Francisco de Sousa da Câmara leads on the shipping side, assisted by ‘competent and proactive’ senior associate Cátia Henriques Fernandes, who is ‘instrumental in ship finance work’. Aviation expert Segismundo Pinto Basto is ‘an assertive leader’, and acts for aviation group Omni.

Paulo de Moura Marques’ team at PLMJ Law Firm has notable aviation experience. Manuel Santos Vitor advised Macquarie AirFinance on several aircraft leasing negotiations, and is assisting Wayfield Trading Internacional with an aircraft lease. Senior associate Nuno Luís Sapateiro is also recommended.

Raposo Bernardo’s cohesive and knowledgeable team is experienced in marine insurance, disputes and contracts work. Sofia Ferreira Enriquez is ‘very hardworking’ and ‘an excellent support in any operation’. Enriquez advises major cruise companies, including Princess Cruises, Star Clipper and Royal Caribbean, and also represents insurer Tranquilidade.

At Barrocas Advogados, Carlos Costa e Silva is experienced in shipping, aviation and road haulage work. The group advises on insurance claims, tax, employment, financing and disputes.

Miranda Correia Amendoeira & Associados’ Luís Oliveira handles regulatory issues for clients in the rail and maritime sectors.

Teixeira de Freitas, Rodrigues e Associados – Sociedade de Advogados RL acts for shipyards, banks and shipowners. In 2011, Rosana Rodrigues advised a Swedish shipping group on its restructuring, and senior associate Marco Pereira Cardoso recently assisted Crédit Agricole on amendments to a €55m financing for the construction and acquisition of the vessels of an Italian shipping company.

Uría Menéndez – Proença de Carvalho’s João Anacoreta Correia has experience in ship arrest work. Clients include Daarnhouwer, Bunkers International and Barclays.