The Legal 500

Within Banking and finance, tier 4

Highlights for pbbr (Pedro Pinto, Bessa Monteiro, Reis, Branco, Alexandre Jardim & Associados – Sociedade de Advogados, R.L) included advising Millennium BCP on the restructuring of a credit portfolio, and acting for Fundo Recuperação in the financial restructuring of three Portuguese textile groups. The firm also continues to act for several Spanish savings banks in Portugal. The ‘effective and timely’ Alexandre Jardim, who joined in 2011, is recommended for credit restructuring work.

Within Corporate and M&A, pbbr (Pedro Pinto, Bessa Monteiro, Reis, Branco, Alexandre Jardim & Associados – Sociedade de Advogados, R.L) is a third tier firm,

Providing ‘excellent and accurate responses’, pbbr (Pedro Pinto, Bessa Monteiro, Reis, Branco, Alexandre Jardim & Associados – Sociedade de Advogados, R.L)’s ‘extraordinarily professional’ team is ‘uncommonly easy to deal with’. Carla Martins Branco demonstrates ‘availability and commitment to clients’, and acts for Serlusa Refrigerantes, Zambon Group and SIMAB. The ‘very pragmatic’ Alexandre Jardim has ‘deep knowledge of M&A particularities’. Inês Reis advised CHG Communications Holdings on the sale of its Portuguese subsidiary, Siemens Enterprise Communications. Pedro Pinto’s team also features César Bessa Monteiro Jr and Teresa Freire.

Within Dispute resolution, tier 4

pbbr (Pedro Pinto, Bessa Monteiro, Reis, Branco, Alexandre Jardim & Associados – Sociedade de Advogados, R.L) has strong experience in IP disputes, thanks to César Bessa Monteiro. Gonçalo Malheiro is advising Teixeira Duarte in a dispute with a wind energy company over the noise of a wind turbine.

Within Employment, pbbr (Pedro Pinto, Bessa Monteiro, Reis, Branco, Alexandre Jardim & Associados – Sociedade de Advogados, R.L) is a second tier firm,

pbbr (Pedro Pinto, Bessa Monteiro, Reis, Branco, Alexandre Jardim & Associados – Sociedade de Advogados, R.L)’s experience spans social security, collective dismissals, HR restructurings, and disciplinary proceedings. The team provides ‘very timely responses’, and acts for Virgin Active, Motorola, Hays, and Mercer. ‘Fantastic lawyer’ Inês Reis is ‘pragmatic and experienced’, and is praised for her ‘awareness of the multinational environment’ and ‘technical skills’. Bruno Soeiro Barbosa and associate Inês Oom de Sacadura are also recommended.

Within Energy and environment, pbbr (Pedro Pinto, Bessa Monteiro, Reis, Branco, Alexandre Jardim & Associados – Sociedade de Advogados, R.L) is a third tier firm,

pbbr (Pedro Pinto, Bessa Monteiro, Reis, Branco, Alexandre Jardim & Associados – Sociedade de Advogados, R.L) ‘understands clients’ needs’. Carla Martins Branco advises Vestas Portugal on licensing for wind farms, and associate Tânia Ferreira Osório advises Bouygues Immobilier on environmental impact assessments.

Within Insolvency and restructuring, tier 4

At pbbr (Pedro Pinto, Bessa Monteiro, Reis, Branco, Alexandre Jardim & Associados – Sociedade de Advogados, R.L), Gonçalo Malheiro and Carla Martins Branco are advising Viagens Marsans Lusitânia on insolvency proceedings. NovaCaixaGalicia is also a client.

Within Intellectual property, pbbr (Pedro Pinto, Bessa Monteiro, Reis, Branco, Alexandre Jardim & Associados – Sociedade de Advogados, R.L) is a first tier firm,

‘One of the most impressive firms for IP matters’, pbbr (Pedro Pinto, Bessa Monteiro, Reis, Branco, Alexandre Jardim & Associados – Sociedade de Advogados, R.L) fields ‘star lawyer’ César Bessa Monteiro, who is ‘an intimidating and effective negotiator’ and ‘an excellent communicator’. Highlights included acting for Estée Lauder, Visa International and Boehringer Ingelheim in respective trade mark prosecution cases, and for Nestlé in an unfair competition case. César Bessa Monteiro Jr is also recommended, together with ‘very responsive’ senior associate Ricardo Henriques.

Within Real estate, pbbr (Pedro Pinto, Bessa Monteiro, Reis, Branco, Alexandre Jardim & Associados – Sociedade de Advogados, R.L) is a third tier firm,

pbbr (Pedro Pinto, Bessa Monteiro, Reis, Branco, Alexandre Jardim & Associados – Sociedade de Advogados, R.L)’s team is led by Pedro Pinto, and includes Teresa Freire and associate Tânia Ferreira Osório. It is advising Bouygues Immobilier on the development of a shopping centre in Portimão and two office buildings in Lisbon. It is also advising Spanish hotel group Fonteduero on a planned project in Lisbon. ING Real Estate Development and the Sacoor Brothers are also clients.

Within TMT, pbbr (Pedro Pinto, Bessa Monteiro, Reis, Branco, Alexandre Jardim & Associados – Sociedade de Advogados, R.L) is a second tier firm,

‘Responsive, reliable and punctual’, pbbr (Pedro Pinto, Bessa Monteiro, Reis, Branco, Alexandre Jardim & Associados – Sociedade de Advogados, R.L) has enviable experience in TMT, with César Bessa Monteiro an ‘excellent market leader’. ‘Fast, effective and practical’, Monteiro is advising Warner Bros, Honda, Sony Music, and Nike on data processing and outsourcing agreements. Senior associate Ricardo Henriques is ‘pragmatic and responsive’, and César Bessa Monteiro Jr is also recommended. The team ‘delivers to incredibly tight timescales’ and ‘effectively manages many cases simultaneously’.

Within Tax, tier 4

Of counsel Joao Marques Pinto at pbbr (Pedro Pinto, Bessa Monteiro, Reis, Branco, Alexandre Jardim & Associados – Sociedade de Advogados, R.L) provides tax assistance to the firm’s corporate and real estate clients.