The Legal 500

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

Sérvulo & Associados has strong banking and finance capabilities, as well as experience in restructuring matters and on the regulatory side. Paulo Câmara is highly recommended, and the arrival of Manuel Magalhães in mid-2011 was a boost to the practice. The team is advising the National Asset Management Agency on regulatory issues related to loans of €650m granted to companies and property investment funds. Deutsche Leasing Iberica, Banco Credibom, Banco Privado Português and GE Consumer Finance are also clients.

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Within Capital markets, Sérvulo & Associados is a third tier firm,

Sérvulo & Associados’ finance and governance team provides an ‘excellent and timely’ service. ‘Outstanding lawyer’ Paulo Câmara is ‘very reliable and extremely knowledgeable in regulatory matters’, and ‘delivers solutions on even the most complex issues’. Câmara notably advised Cape Verde and Angola regulators on their local regimes, and ‘understands the specifics’ of these countries. Manuel Magalhães, who joined in 2011, is also recommended. Clients include PT, Caixagest, Brisa, and the Cape Verde Stock Exchange.

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

The ‘honest and professional’ team at Sérvulo & Associados includes Sofia Carreiro, who advised Tecmicon on its acquisition of a mobile telecoms operator. António Teles is ‘an excellent professional’, and associate João Carmona Dias is also recommended. Fernando Ferreira Pinto and Nuno Moura Roldão both left the firm in January 2013.

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

With ‘impressive business acumen’ and ‘deep understanding’, Sérvulo & Associados’ practice spans civil and commercial litigation and arbitration, corporate crime and regulatory compliance, and public law litigation. Teresa Serra and José Lobo Moutinho lead in criminal matters; Serra is currently representing Casa Carvalho Cerqueira in a civil claim, and Moutinho is advising Caixa Geral de Depósitos on alleged offences under the Portuguese securities code. Elsewhere, João Saúde is assisting Interlog in seeking payment of an indemnity from TD Tech Data Portugal and Tech Data Europe. José Manuel Sérvulo Correia and Rui Medeiros are recommended for public law arbitrations. Public law expert Ricardo Guimarães and practice head António Teles are also noted for their experience.

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

The ‘very professional and committed’ Miguel Gorjão-Henriques at Sérvulo & Associados provides ‘timely and high-quality advice’. The team is advising Fapricela before the ECJ and the European Commission on issues relating to the pre-stressing steel cartel, and acting for Interlog Informática in bringing a private enforcement against Apple Sales International. It also successfully advised RTP in a state aid procedure before the Commission.

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

Sérvulo & Associados’ team is led by senior partner Pedro Furtado Martins, who has a strong academic reputation. The firm handles collective dismissals, employment litigation, personnel restructurings, social security issues and employee contract termination, and represents clients from the pharmaceuticals, transport, insurance, construction, media and electronics sectors. Associates Nuno Pais Gomes, Dora Joana and Andreia Ferreira Dias are also recommended.

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

Sérvulo & Associados’ team has experience in electricity, gas and renewables, and is supported by the firm’s corporate and public law practices. Lino Torgal, Rui Medeiros, António Teles and Sofia Carreiro are recommended.

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Within Insolvency and restructuring, tier 5

Sérvulo & Associados joins the ranking this year. It is notable for its representation of Privado Português in its insolvency proceedings and winding-up. Manuel Magalhães is recommended together with João Saúde, who handles insolvency litigation.

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Within Intellectual property, Sérvulo & Associados is a third tier firm,

‘Very good on all levels’, Sérvulo & Associados has very strong experience in copyright matters. RTP remains a key client. João Saúde now leads the team, following the departures of Fernando Ferreira Pinto and senior associate Rui Simões. Of counsel Patrícia Akester joined in 2011.

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

Sérvulo & Associados’ project finance experience is matched with the firm’s superb public law capabilities to provide a full service to clients. Lino Torgal is praised for his ‘excellent response times and attentiveness to clients’ needs’, and is advising TERTIR on the concession contract for a port in Peru. Other clients include the Standard Bank of South Africa, Parpública, and the Portuguese Ministry of Defence. Mark Kirkby is recommended, together with associates Ana Luísa Guimarães and Francisca Mendes da Costa.

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

‘The best law firm for public law in Portugal’, Sérvulo & Associados has a large team which continues to impress with its superb academic reputation and practical experience, giving ‘sound legal and commercial advice’ to public entities and private clients on all matters, including arbitration and litigation. ‘Exceptionally strong and well known’, José Manuel Sérvulo Correia is a leading figure and highly recommended for his academic capabilities. Appointed as managing partner in 2012, Lino Torgal is ‘able to think beyond immediate questions and deal with underlying issues’, and acts for TERTIR, Liscont and Standard Bank of South Africa. Ricardo Guimarães has ‘an exceptional ability to solve issues’ coupled with ‘an exemplary capacity to meet deadlines’. Guimarães, together with Rui Medeiros and Mark Kirkby, advised Águas de Portugal on the restructuring of the legal framework applicable to public water distribution, wastewater treatment and waste concessions. João Amaral e Almeida is advising the Portuguese Interior Ministry, Empresa de Meios Aéreos and INEM on the concession of a public tender for the acquisition and leasing of aircraft for an integrated fleet to be employed by both the Ministry and INEM.

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Within Real estate, tier 4

Sérvulo & Associados acts for Philips on real estate matters in Portugal, and also advises RTP, Royal Óbidos and Media Markt Group. Nuno Moura Roldão left the firm in early 2013.

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

Drawing on its superb public law experience, Sérvulo & Associados acts for regulators including ANACOM, and also advises on IT and data protection matters. Fernando Ferreira Pinto left the firm in January 2013.

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

Sérvulo & Associados is representing several clients in judicial and administrative procedures relating to municipal taxes, port taxes and waste taxes. It also has experience in stamp duty, corporate income tax and VAT. Gonçalo Leite de Campos and Tiago Soares Cardoso are recommended.

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