Maria Zagallo > PLMJ > Lisbon, Portugal > Lawyer Profile

PLMJ
Av. Fontes Pereira de Melo, 43
1050-119 Lisboa
Portugal
Maria Zagallo photo

Work Department

Public Law

Position

Partner

Career

Maria is a partner in the Public Law practice who has over 15 years’ professional experience in general administrative law, public procurement, project finance and public-private partnerships. She has focused, in particular, on projects and infrastructures.

Maria has advised public and private entities in various areas of public law, with an emphasis on dealing with concessions and projects in the road, rail, airport, port, health, water and waste sectors.

Before joining PLMJ, Maria was head of the Portuguese PPP Unit (UTAP) and a member of the Higher Council for Public Works. In these roles, she was involved in the launch and renegotiation of the main public projects in Portugal. At the same time, she represented the Portuguese State in various domestic and international forums on PPPs and major projects. These forums took place before European and multilateral institutions as part of the missions and reviews of the Economic and Financial Assistance Programme for Portugal.

Maria began her career at the law firms Sérvulo & Associados and Vieira de Almeida.

Languages

Portuguese and English

Education

Law degree from the University of Lisbon, 2004
Admitted to the Portuguese Bar Association, 2006
Postgraduate course in pharmaceutical law at the Faculty of Law of the University of Coimbra, 2006

Lawyer Rankings

Portugal > Projects and project finance

(Next Generation Partners)

Maria Zagallo  – PLMJ

PLMJ provides expert guidance to both Portuguese and international clients in project finance and development, covering a broad range of sectors from energy to healthcare. The team is under the leadership of Inês Pinto da Costa and Maria Zagallo, with Pinto da Costa specialising in PPPs and project finance in the infrastructure space, and Zagallo showing particular strength in advising both public and private entities on infrastructure projects in the transport, healthcare, water and sanitation segments. Diogo Perestrelo, who ‘has a unique level of experience and is unanimously recognised by his peers‘, concentrates on energy and infrastructure-related M&A and projects, while João Marques Mendes is dedicated to energy and natural resources matters, offering advice on regulatory issues, project implementation, and dispute resolution. Joana Brandão‘s expertise lies in energy, infrastructure, and real estate projects, and Nuno Serrão Faria has in-depth knowledge of project finance and development in the renewables sector.

Portugal > Public law

The ‘excellent team’ at PLMJ adeptly advises a varied client base on public procurement, tender procedures, and related dispute resolution. Diogo Duarte Campos, recognised for his wide-ranging expertise, has helped high-profile clients navigate complex public law matters concerning PPPs and concession projects in the transport and energy sectors in Portugal and Lusophone Africa. Maria Zagallo is noted for her significant experience in public procurement, project finance, and concessions, with a particular focus on transport projects. Carla F. Machado is another key contact for public procurement procedures and regulatory issues.