The Legal 500

Within Banking and finance, tier 4

Gómez-Acebo & Pombo’s ‘hardworking and dedicated’ team has particular experience in project finance and energy. Fermín Garbayo Renouard and Jorge Santiago Neves head the group, which typically represents domestic and international banks, and is advising several clients on acquiring loan portfolios from Portuguese banks. Senior lawyer Luisa Carrilho da Graça is recommended.

Within Capital markets, tier 4

Gómez-Acebo & Pombo’s Jorge Santiago Neves has recent capital markets experience advising Siemens and Veolia Environnement on public share offerings to employees.

Within Corporate and M&A, tier 5

Gómez-Acebo & Pombo’s experienced team provides ‘immediate answers and much industry knowledge’. Jorge Santiago Neves led advice to Laureate Education on its €10m acquisition of ISLA Lisboa. Fermín Garbayo Renouard is advising Principle Power on the corporate structure for Windplus, its offshore project. Associates Susana Morgado and Francisco Goes Pinheiro are recommended, with the latter noted as ‘very accurate and efficient’.

Within Dispute resolution, tier 4

Gómez-Acebo & Pombo’s litigation and arbitration group is headed by Leonor Chastre, who joined from Abreu Advogados in 2011. The team, which also includes associates Carlos Soares and Paulo Nogueira da Rocha, acts in civil, insurance, construction, insolvency and energy disputes.

Within EU and competition, tier 4

Gómez-Acebo & Pombo’s competition experience includes the petrochemicals, mining and energy sectors. It advises on competition issues before the PCA for clients such as Equinox Minerals and Harley-Davidson España. Jorge Santiago Neves and senior associate Diogo Coutinho de Gouveia are recommended.

Within Energy and environment, Gómez-Acebo & Pombo Abogados is a third tier firm,

At Gómez-Acebo & Pombo, Fermín Garbayo Renouard and Jorge Santiago Neves handle energy matters for national and international clients, including Suzlon Wind Energy and Acciona Energía.

Within Insolvency and restructuring, tier 4

At Gómez-Acebo & Pombo, Albano Sarmento handles insolvency cases, and Fermín Garbayo Renouard leads on restructuring. The group provides ‘very good service’, and advises corporate clients, particularly in the real estate and infrastructure sectors, and also assists banks and hedge funds. Senior associate Susana Morgado is ‘very focused and client-oriented’.

Within Intellectual property, Gómez-Acebo & Pombo Abogados is a third tier firm,

Abreu Advogados’ ‘outstanding’ corporate partner Miguel Castro Pereira, together with associate João Gonçalves de Assunção, recently assisted Planeta Azul in trade mark protection work, patents and licensing issues in Portugal and Brazil. Armando Martins Ferreira is also advising Staples on trade mark, copyright and protection matters. Leonor Chastre’s move to Gómez-Acebo & Pombo in 2011 was a blow.

Within Project finance, tier 4

At Gómez-Acebo & Pombo, Albano Sarmento and Jorge Santiago Neves handle project finance work for banks. Senior associate Teresa Baptista is recommended.

Within Public law, tier 5

Gómez-Acebo & Pombo expanded its public law practice again, recruiting four junior lawyers in 2011. The team, led by Albano Sarmento, has expertise in public infrastructure contracts work, and is advising LGV on the €1.4bn Poceirão-Caia railway connection. The team is also active in PPPs for highway construction, and is acting for clients on the €260m construction of the two Baixo Sabor dams.

Within TMT,

Abreu Advogados lost Leonor Chastre to Gómez-Acebo & Pombo in 2011. Consultant João Veiga Gomes now leads the team, and is advising iTouch Movilisto Portugal on partnership agreements concerning mobile telecoms services.