The Legal 500

Within Banking and finance, Garrigues is a second tier firm,

The banking and finance practice at GARRIGUES PORTUGAL, S.L. – Sucursal is led by finance expert Diogo Leónidas Rocha. The Portuguese team is supported by its strong Spanish client base, including Criteria Caixa Corp, to whom the team provides regulatory advice and assistance with Portugal investments. Recent highlights include advising Fortis Lease UK, on the $62.5m financing of an aviation company. Clients say the team ‘provides a very personalised service and has very well trained staff who are always ready to answer our requests’.

Within Capital markets, Garrigues is a second tier firm,

GARRIGUES PORTUGAL, S.L. – Sucursal attracts overwhelming praise for its strong capital markets team, led by the highly regarded Diogo Leónidas Rocha. Representative matters of the past year include assisting with the €2bn spin-off of PT Multimédia from Portugal Telecom. The firm’s strong Iberian presence facilitates seamless service to both Portuguese and Spanish clients. Associate Marta Graça Rodrigues is considered by many a rising star who is a ‘pleasure to work with’.

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

At GARRIGUES PORTUGAL, S.L. – Sucursal, Mário Lino Dias led a team advising Starman UK Services Company on the restructuring of the Meridien Group in Portugal and the €150m sale of Le Meridien hotels in Algarve. Meanwhile Diogo Leónidas Rocha and Cristina Ribeiro Coelho assisted Sorema – Tapetes e Cortinas de Banho on the sale of a majority share participation to Welspun India. This 20 fee-earner practice is lauded for providing ‘a very personalised service’ with ‘very well trained staff aways ready to answer requests’.

Within Dispute resolution, Garrigues is a third tier firm,

GARRIGUES PORTUGAL, S.L. – Sucursal focuses on significant disputes for high-end clients, including a large Iberian energy company. The team recently acted for a finance client in administrative proceedings valued in excess of €53m, wherein objections were laid to an administrative decision denying transferability of tax losses following a merge option. João Paulo Teixeira de Matos heads this seven fee-earner group, boasting strength in arbitration.

Within EU and competition, Garrigues is a second tier firm,

GARRIGUES PORTUGAL, S.L. – Sucursal is developing its strengths in merger control, anti-trust issues, and compliance matters. The team works closely with colleagues in both Spain and Brussels, while also utilizing the anti-trust expertise of its Latin-American office. Recent highlights include assisting PT Multimédia with a notification before the PCA concerning the acquisition of Bragatel, Pluricanal Leiria and Pluricanal Santarém. Other instructions derive from Barclays Bank and Endesa. Clients appreciate the team’s ‘swift and reliable solutions and proposals’. Practice head João Paulo Teixeira de Matos is noted for his ‘knowledge, reliability and experience’.

Within Employment, Garrigues is a second tier firm,

GARRIGUES PORTUGAL, S.L. – Sucursal fetches positive feedback from clients who say, ‘unlike some other firms, they are truly specialists with deep expertise in all areas of the law – they are on a higher level’. The firm offers a strong standalone employment practice that caters to a number of large domestic and foreign companies on matters such as hiring, contractual conditions, and outsourcing. The team recently advised a major telecommunications company on the termination of two outsourcing agreements and the legislation of employees assigned to Angola. Led by João Paulo Teixeira de Matos, the team ‘provides very personalized service and has very well trained staff always ready to answer requests’.

Within Intellectual property, Garrigues is a first tier firm,

Hailed as having ‘one of the strongest IP teams’ GARRIGUES PORTUGAL, S.L. – Sucursal continues to thrive, with Gonçalo da Cunha Ferreira at the helm of this 5 fee-earner IP department. With offices found worldwide, the team has subsequently built a client base with a strong international flavour, while also representing a selection of high-profile domestic brands. The team is busy advising on matters spanning portfolio management and dispute resolution, acting for clients from the retail, real estate, tourism, technology and pharmaceuticals sectors.

Within Legal market,

Spanish firms Uría Menéndez, GARRIGUES and Cuatrecasas, Gonçalves Pereira continue to solidify their Portuguese presence, each representing a host of high-calibre Portuguese clients. The global re-branding of Cuatrecasas, Gonçalves Pereira is indicative of the firm’s commitment to full integration between its Portuguese and Spanish offices. It would appear that many Spanish firms are keeping one eye firmly set on the Portuguese market, with Gomez-Acebo & Pombo Abogados rumoured to be its newest entrant.

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

GARRIGUES PORTUGAL, S.L. – Sucursal has significantly expanded its Oporto presence, having grown from eight to 18 lawyers over the past two years. The Oporto office is best known for providing top-notch tax advice, though it also offers corporate, labour, real estate and litigation services. Key instructions are drawn from the industrial manufacturing, maritime and health sectors, with a number of mid-sized local banks forming part of its client roster. Miguel Reis is the firm’s only resident partner.

Within Public law, tier 4

GARRIGUES PORTUGAL, S.L. – Sucursal received a major boost to its public law department in September 2008, when it welcomed the arrival of former head of public law at Rui Pena, Arnaut & Associados, Sociedade de Advogados, RL, João Rosado Correia. Several clients have made the decision to remain loyal to Correia, stating ‘the new firm is much bigger but the service remains as good as it always was’.

Within Real estate, Garrigues is a second tier firm,

GARRIGUES PORTUGAL, S.L. – Sucursal boasts an outstanding real estate team, led by Miguel Marques dos Santos, who clients say ‘has the technical skills and business approach that make him one of the best real estate lawyers in Portugal’. The team is assisting Portelas do Guardiana with a €200m tourism development located in the Algarve, requiring the team to assist with property acquisition, planning, licensing and contract matters. Clients say, ‘it is easy to handle matters with the firm since it has vast experience in serving multinational companies involved in all kinds of assignments’. Pedro Pereira Coutinho, André Marques dos Santos, Pedro Corrêa d’Oliveira and Eduardo Gonçalves Rodrigues are all regarded as leading individuals.

Within TMT, Garrigues is a third tier firm,

GARRIGUES PORTUGAL, S.L. – Sucursal advised Inditex, owners of the Zara brand, on the implementation of global data protection measures in Portugal. The team also advised a pharmaceutical company on data protection compliance issues relating to the collection and processing of data involved in clinical trials. The team is a top choice for telecoms clients.

Within Tax, Garrigues is a first tier firm,

Recognized for its ‘very strong tax team’, GARRIGUES PORTUGAL, S.L. – Sucursal has recently strengthened its Lisbon office by appointing the well-reputed Paulo Núncio to partnership. Focused mainly on tax litigation, compliance and transfer pricing matters, this practice finds its strength in depth, fielding some 30 lawyers solely dedicated to tax. The team is providing ongoing tax assistance to Santader Group in relation to its reorganization and internal restructuring involving the merging of various financial insitutions operating in Portugal.