The Legal 500

Within Banking and finance, Sérvulo & Associados is a third tier firm,

Sérvulo & Associados advises several major banks, including Banco Espírito Santo and Banco Privado Atlântico Europa. The group has regulatory experience, and is assisting the Associação Portuguesa de Bancos with various matters. It advised a consortium of 14 banks on a depositor compensation scheme. Paulo Câmara heads the team.

Within Capital markets, tier 4

Sérvulo & Associados’ ‘fully equipped’ practice has a growing track record in capital markets work. Recent highlights include advising a group of 15 banks, among them Banif and Banco Espírito Santo, on investor compensation schemes. Other clients include the European Investment Bank, Banco Privado Atlântica Europa and the Cape Verde Capital Markets Authority. Practice head Paulo Câmara is fast becoming ‘one of the best capital markets lawyers in Portugal’.

Within Corporate and M&A, Sérvulo & Associados is a third tier firm,

Offering ‘very high standards of service’, Sérvulo & Associados has broad corporate experience and an excellent reputation. The team ‘provides quick responses’ and offers ‘real value for money’. António Teles and Sofia Carreiro advised Enercon on its plans for a new factory, and on implementing a renewables energy project and joint venture. The team brings to bear its contentious capabilities to assist corporate clients, with the ‘extremely professional’ Nuno Moura Roldão recently assisting Carne do Montado do Sobro in arbitration. Fernando Ferreira Pinto is recommended.

Within Dispute resolution, Sérvulo & Associados is a second tier firm,

Sérvulo & Associados offers ‘very good and practical advice’ on commercial, criminal and regulatory disputes, and has notable strength in cases of public law. This team of ‘very professional and organised lawyers’ can be relied on for ‘excellent response times and quality of information’. Ricardo Guimarães recently advised the Rede Ferroviária Nacional in a termination of contract dispute. He and criminal law expert José Lobo Moutinho are praised for their ‘high level of knowledge’. Sérvulo Correia, Rui Medeiros and Fernando Ferreira Pinto are all active in arbitration cases. Rádio Televisão de Portugal is a key client of the practice.

Within EU and competition, Sérvulo & Associados is a third tier firm,

The ‘excellent’ Miguel Gorjão-Henriques at Sérvulo & Associados receives superb praise. The young team is gaining experience on the contentious side, and represents clients before the PCA. It also assists the government in cases before the EC. Rádio e Televisão de Portugal (RTP) is a key client.

Within Employment, Sérvulo & Associados is a second tier firm,

Sérvulo & Associados continues to be very active in employment law, and much of its strength is attributable to the expertise of practice head Pedro Furtado Martins. Drawing on its public law practice, the firm is well placed to deal with employment issues in the public sector, and advises IPTM – Instituto Portuário e dos Transportes Marítimos and IEFP – Instituto do Emprego e Formação Profissional. The team also advises Enercon on employment issues including litigation, and represented regular client Rádio e Televisão de Portugal in negotiations relating to three collective bargaining agreements. Tiago Soares Cardoso is also recommended.

Within Energy and environment, Sérvulo & Associados is a third tier firm,

António Teles and Sofia Carreiro head Sérvulo & Associados’ energy expertise. The firm draws on its public law strength to advise on administrative law and public tenders. Clients include Enercon.

Within Project finance, Sérvulo & Associados is a third tier firm,

A ‘top-notch public law firm’, Sérvulo & Associados has extensive experience advising state sponsors on project finance. The team advised Ascendi Company as sponsor of a €3.5bn PPP motorway project in Slovakia, and as sponsor for the Douro Interior and the Pinhal Interior motorway subconcessions, respectively worth €300m and €800m. The team also acts for Estradas de Portugal and Altavia Consortium. Lino Torgal and Paulo Câmara are excellent practitioners.

Within Public law, Sérvulo & Associados is a first tier firm,

Sérvulo & Associados is the ‘undisputed public law leader’ in Portugal, fielding a team of ‘simply outstanding lawyers’. The firm has strength in every aspect of public law, with notable expertise advising on public procurement and regulatory law, and advises clients from all major industry sectors. A ‘master in himself’, José Manuel Sérvulo Correia is a prominent figure within a team that regularly acts on major instructions from the government and other public institutions. João Amaral e Almeida is currently representing the firefighting public body Empresa de Meios Aéreos against HeliPortugal in a €44m arbitration relating to helicopter supply. Lino Torgal, who is ‘very well prepared, and has technical knowledge and strength in negotiations’, advised the Altavia consortium on its public tender for the Lisbon-Poceirão stretch of the now suspended high-speed rail network. Ricardo Guimarães, Rui Medeiros and Mark Kirkby are also recommended.

Within TMT, Sérvulo & Associados is a third tier firm,

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.

Within Tax, Sérvulo & Associados is a third tier firm,

The ‘intelligent and accurate’ Gonçalo Leite de Campos leads the ‘excellent’ tax practice at Sérvulo & Associados, which offers tax consultancy and litigation advice. The group has been representing KPMG on withholding tax cases and tax representation, and also advises the Ministry of Education on VAT matters.