The Legal 500

Having moved ‘well ahead’ of its competitors, the ‘leading firm’ of Vieira de Almeida & Associados provides domestic and foreign telecoms operators with ‘extraordinary commitment’ and ‘deep legal and technical knowledge’, with clients valuing the international capabilities of the firm. Magda Cocco uses her ‘in-depth expertise’ to advise on regulatory issues, and is assisting Portugal Telecom regarding a licence for a mobile communications operator in Mozambique. Fernando Resina da Silva, who leads ‘one of the most experienced and valuable legal teams in IT and outsourcing matters’, is praised for his technical understanding. He is advising the government and the Ministry of Education on several IT projects, and is advising Caixa Económica Montepio Geral on IT outsourcing. The ‘dedicated’ Magarida Couto displays ‘insight, experience and clarity’.

Morais Leitão, Galvão Teles, Soares da Silva & Associados is another ‘major player’ in the TMT arena and has substantial experience advising on commercial matters, advertising and regulatory disputes. Teresa Morais Leitão advised on the merger of television operator SIC and cable provider Lisboa TV, while Helena Tapp Barroso regularly represents SIBS Processos. Tomás Vaz Pinto advises beverage distributor Pernod Ricard Portugal on all media and advertising matters. Other clients include Impresa and Sonaecom. Oporto-based António Lobo Xavier heads the practice.

PLMJ Law Firm brings broad experience to its TMT practice. Telecoms expert Luís Pais Antunes advised Vodafone in its high-profile case relating to sharing fibre-optic infrastructure. The team is advising MSTelcom on forthcoming telecom legislation in Angola, while Samsung is another key client. Practice head Manuel Lopes Rocha is highly recommended. Vasco Marques Correia handles media work, and senior associate Daniel Reis has a growing reputation.

SRS Advogados fields ‘one of the best teams’ for telecoms work, and offers ‘good response times and in-depth knowledge’. The ‘excellent’ Octávio Castelo Paulo heads the practice, which continues to represent ZON Group in several disputes with PT Comunicações, and is advising Rádiomovel in court proceedings against ANACOM. AR Telecom became a new client in 2010. Luís Neto Galvão is recommended.

Macedo Vitorino & Associados has an ‘established track record’ in the sector, and acts for clients including Onitelecom and AR Telecom. Practice head João Vitorino is advising Cable & Wireless on telecoms licensing issues in Portugal, while the group also regularly advises clients on regulatory matters involving ANACOM. NBC Universal Global Networks España is also a key client.

Pedro Pinto, Bessa Monteiro, Reis, Branco & Associados made a significant move into the TMT sector in 2010 with the recruitment of César Bessa Monteiro, César Bessa Monteiro Jr and senior associate Ricardo Henriques from ABBC – Azevedo Neves, Benjamim Mendes, Carvalho & Associados – Sociedade de Advogados. The group has substantial expertise advising on software licensing, data protection and telecoms regulations, while its clients include Compuware, Oracle, Warner Bros, Iridium, Apple and I-Tunes.

Sérvulo & Associados’ TMT practice is ‘excellent’ for regulatory disputes and draws on the considerable strength of the firm’s public law practice to represent several public bodies, including ANCP and ANACOM. Its clients include Portugal Telecom and IT company Multicert. Public law specialist Lino Torgal and Fernando Ferreira Pinto are recommended.

A smaller player in the market, Uría Menéndez – Proença de Carvalho fields a ‘responsive’, value-for-money TMT team led by ‘dedicated’ senior associate Jacinto Bettencourt. The firm is advising Nokia on a telecoms project, assisting a subsidiary of the Portuguese postal service on outsourcing contracts, and advising Wyeth on transferring data to Pfizer. The Walt Disney Group and Sony Computer Entertainment Europe are also clients.

ABBC – Azevedo Neves, Benjamim Mendes, Carvalho & Associados – Sociedade de Advogados suffered the departure of César Bessa Monteiro, César Bessa Monteiro Jr and senior associate Ricardo Henriques to Pedro Pinto, Bessa Monteiro, Reis, Branco & Associados, a move which greatly reduced the firm’s profile. Ana Mira Cordeiro and Carmina Cardoso now handle TMT work for clients including Oracle and Aerosoles.

Abreu Advogados’ TMT and IP team displays ‘excellent know-how’, and has a breadth of experience in a range of sectors, with recent focus on media and advertising issues. Clients include several companies of the WWP Group and the Portuguese Association of Publicity Agencies. Practice head Leonor Chastre adopts a ‘very professional approach’.

Offering ‘profound TMT knowledge’, CCA Advogados advises private equity investors and advertising agencies. It advised interactive marketing and sales company Tim w.e. and Sonae on the FIFA World Cup SMS campaign, and advertising groups HAVAS and Euro RSCG are also key clients. Team head Martim Menezes provides ‘real and viable solutions’.

Carlos de Almeida Sampaio leads the TMT team at Cuatrecasas, Gonçalves Pereira, which advises major corporates on issues including data protection and IT.

Miranda Correia Amendoeira & Associados provides ‘very quick and competent support’ on TMT matters. João Luís Traça has ‘exceptional capabilities in the area of IT and overall contract negotiation’, while Rui Amendoeira is a ‘very good analyst’. Clients include Barclays, Western Union and Accenture Portugal.

Abel Sequeira Ferreira leads the TMT practice at Raposo Bernardo, which provides a ‘very high standard’ of advice. The firm advises Phone House and Angola Telecom on regulations and T-Systems on technical and regulatory procedures. Logica is another key client.

Rui Pena, Arnaut & Associados, Sociedade de Advogados, RL’s TMT practice is closely integrated with its IP group, and has particular expertise in the media sector. Clients include Portugal Telecom and TMN. José Luís Arnaut is the key contact, with associate João Figueiredo also recommended.