The Legal 500

Within Banking and finance, Abreu Advogados is a third tier firm,

Abreu Advogados’ 15-strong team is jointly led by Miguel Castro Pereira and Sofia Santos Machado. Machado and senior associate António Pina continue to advise BES Group on a number of derivative transactions and finance-linked swaps. Other clients include Banco Português de Negócios, Banif – Banco de Investimento, and JJW Hotels & Resorts.

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Within Capital markets, Abreu Advogados is a third tier firm,

Abreu Advogados continues to act for the Portuguese Association for Derivatives (APIFD), and is currently advising Banco Espírito Santo Group on negotiations regarding the International Swap Dealer Association and matters related to derivative transactions and finance-linked swaps. Co-heads of the practice Sofia Santos Machado and Miguel Castro Pereira are recommended.

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Within Corporate and M&A, Abreu Advogados is a third tier firm,

At Abreu Advogados, Miguel de Avillez Pereira’s team advised Hidrocentrais Group on the reverse cross-border merger of Renewable Power International Iberian Hydros (Spain) into Hidro Eléctrica (Portugal), and acted for Apax on its intended acquisition of a stake in Heliportugal. Miguel Teixeira de Abreu, Ana Sofia Batista and Inês Sequeira Mendes are also recommended, alongside Rui Peixoto Duarte in Oporto. Other clients include Embraer and Iberdrola Renovables.

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Within Dispute resolution, Abreu Advogados is a third tier firm,

Noted for its ‘very good knowledge’ and ‘timely responses’, Abreu Advogados launched a private mediation service in February 2011. Miguel Castro Pereira is assisting a holding company in administrative proceedings over an alleged omission of information and communication to the Central Bank of Portugal. Natália Garcia Alves is experienced in debt recovery work. Clients include Caixa Económica Montepio Geral, Banco Popular Portugal and Locarent.

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Within EU and competition, Abreu Advogados is a third tier firm,

Abreu Advogados’ team is ‘strongly committed to clients’ interests’. The ‘dedicated’ Armando Martins Ferreira is advising Iberdrola on competition issues related to its concession for the construction of three hydroelectric power dams in Portugal. The ‘very proactive and straight-to-the-point’ Inês Sequeira Mendes advised Cofina on competition matters concerning a new television channel in Portugal. Mendes and Rui Peixoto Duarte are also advising RAR Açucar on the importation of raw cane sugar to the EU and common market organisation regulations. Clients praise the team’s ‘capacity to understand complex questions’.

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Within Employment, Abreu Advogados is a second tier firm,

Abreu Advogados advises on dismissals, employee transfers, restructurings and employment litigation. Practice head Carmo Sousa Machado is ‘very good’, and recently advised an IT solutions company on a collective dismissal. Senior associate Patrícia Perestrelo is recommended. Clients include Iberdrola, Marriott International and Levi Strauss Espanha.

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Within Energy and environment, Abreu Advogados is a second tier firm,

‘Excellent across the board’, Abreu Advogados has ‘one of the best environmental lawyers in Portugal’ in José Eduardo Martins, who is advising AEPSA on environmental matters including litigation against the Portuguese Environmental Agency. Other clients include Iberdrola Generación and Hidrocentrais Reunidas. Manuel de Andrade Neves and associate Madalena Bernardes Coelho are also recommended.

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Within Insolvency and restructuring, tier 4

Abreu Advogados’ ‘expert’ team is led by Miguel de Avillez Pereira and Francisco Patrício. The ‘very proficient’ Miguel Castro Pereira is advising Caixa de Crédito Agricola Mútuo de Alcobaça on the restructuring and insolvency of several civil construction companies. Guilherme Santos Silva and Miguel Teixeira de Abreu are also recommended.

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Within Intellectual property, Abreu Advogados is a third tier firm,

Abreu Advogados’ team is led by counsel João Veiga Gomes and senior associate João Gonçalves de Assunção. Its highlights included advising TMG Automotive on trade mark protection and patenting, and Micros-Fidelio Software Portugal Unipessoal on software licensing. Armando Martins Ferreira is also recommended.

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Within Oporto: Leading commercial firms, Abreu Advogados is a third tier firm,

Abreu Advogados’ Oporto offering remains strong in all major areas, and particularly tax, litigation, real estate and corporate law. Highlights included advising Portucel Soporcel and Secil (both Semapa Group companies) on tax assessments and related matters; and advising Porto Vivo SRU on real estate agreements and public contracts, led by Maria Dulce Soares. Nuno Barbosa is assisting Internationales Bankhaus Bodensee on financing issues. The experienced Paulo de Tarso Domingues and Rui Peixoto Duarte are also recommended.

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Within Project finance, tier 4

Abreu Advogados fields Sofia Santos Machado, who is experienced in finance-linked swaps and derivative transactions in the project finance arena. Miguel Castro Pereira is recommended and acts for Câmara Municipal do Porto.

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Within Public law, tier 4

At Abreu Advogados, Manuel de Andrade Neves advises Fundação Centro Cultural de Belém, PT Comunicações and Vortal on public procurement matters, and is also assisting Air Liquide in a public tender bid for the supply of healthcare systems. José Eduardo Martins and senior associate Mafalda Teixeira de Abreu are recommended.

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Within Real estate, Abreu Advogados is a third tier firm,

Abreu Advogados’ practice spans its Lisbon and Oporto offices, with Duarte de Athayde and Rui Peixoto Duarte heading the team. ‘A most trusted partner’, Miguel Castro Pereira assisted an investment fund manager in structuring mortgage-backed loans in Angola.

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Within Shipping and transport, Abreu Advogados is a second tier firm,

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.

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Within TMT, tier 4

Following a period of change, João Veiga Gomes is now the key contact for Abreu Advogados’ TMT/IP practice. The firm advised a software industry client on the supply of software from a US software house to a Portuguese retailer.

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Within Tax, Abreu Advogados is a first tier firm,

Tax is a core practice area for Abreu Advogados. The ‘very good’ Miguel Teixeira de Abreu and Maria Dulce Soares are advising Secil on Portugal’s tax arbitration law; and Pedro Pais de Almeida assists Embraer regarding its investments in Portugal. Other clients of this ‘high-quality’ team include Iberdrola Generación and Eurimobe. Senior associate Mariana Gouveia de Oliveira is also recommended.

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