The Legal 500

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

Garrigues Portugal has a strong presence in the banking arena, with particular expertise in project finance. The team advised BES Investimento on regulatory aspects of establishing its New York branch, and acted for Companhia Siderúrgica Nacional on the financing for its €4.15bn takeover bid for Cimpor. Other clients include UBS and Emparque. The ‘fantastic’ practice head Diogo Leónidas Rocha has ‘strategic and deep technical knowledge’. Associate Bruno Ferreira is also recommended.

Within Capital markets, Garrigues is a second tier firm,

Garrigues Portugal’s ‘very motivated’ capital markets group is recommended for its ‘complete and precise knowledge’ and ‘enormous diligence’. In 2009, the team advised Banco Espírito Santo on a large issuance of ordinary shares and has a solid history of capital markets mandates advising issuers and managers. However, more recently, the group’s focus has been on advising publicly listed companies on share transactions, such as acting for Portugal Telecom on selling its stake in Brasilcel (Vivo) to Telefónica. Team leader Diogo Leónidas Rocha has ‘a depth of understanding and strategic technical knowledge’, while the group as a whole is praised for its high-quality service and ‘timely responses’. ‘Fantastic’ associate Marta Graça Rodrigues is also singled out.

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

‘Exceeding the best expectations of clients in every aspect,’ Garrigues Portugal has ‘excellent’ corporate capabilities and provides ‘outstanding service’. Its visibility in the market increased in 2010 when it acted on the largest deal ever in Portugal: advising PT on Telefonica’s €7.5bn bid for Brasilcel. Furthermore, the firm advised Portugal Telecom on a €3.7bn acquisition of a stake in Oi, and also assisted Companhia Siderurgica Nacional (CSN) on its €4.15bn hostile takeover bid for Cimpor. SOS Corporación and the Global Hotels & Resorts Group remain key clients. Team head Diogo Leónidas Rocha has ‘deep knowledge of the market’, and is ably supported by Mário Lino Dias and Susana Pimenta de Sousa.

Within Dispute resolution, Garrigues is a third tier firm,

João Duarte de Sousa leads the team at Garrigues Portugal, which displays a ‘high level of knowledge’, ‘good value for money’, and has notable arbitration capabilities. Sousa is representing Crédito Agrícola Gest in €53m proceedings opposing a tax ruling. General Dynamics Corporation and Grupo Júpiter are also recent clients. Associate Miguel Azevedo is recommended.

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

Garrigues Portugal’s established practice has experience of merger control and competition compliance matters. Recent highlights include advising Companhia Siderúrgica Nacional on antitrust and merger control issues relating to its high-profile hostile bid for Cimpor. It also assisted Samsung Electronics Iberia on a compliance programme. Practice head João Paulo Teixeira de Matos is recommended.

Within Employment, Garrigues is a second tier firm,

Garrigues Portugal’s employment practice adeptly handles advisory and contentious matters. The team advises corporates including Faurecia Group, and has been increasingly active in restructuring and reorganisation work, including advising GE Money and IBM on collective dismissal cases. It advised Kraft Foods on employment aspects of its restructuring in Portugal. In terms of litigation, the team is representing DuPont Perfomance Coatings in a judicial proceeding brought by ten former employees. João Paulo Teixeira de Matos heads the team.

Within Energy and environment, Garrigues is a third tier firm,

The ‘deeply knowledgeable’ João Rosado Correia is spearheading Garrigues Portugal’s rapidly developing energy practice, which provides ‘solid advice’ to clients. It is advising the Ministry of Economy, Innovation and Development on contracts for renewably sourced electricity capacity for the national grid. It is also advising Galp on a public tender for an EPC contractor to build a gas-fired power plant in Sines. The ‘client-focussed’ associate Filipa Alves Botton is recommended.

Within Insolvency and restructuring, Garrigues is a second tier firm,

Garrigues Portugal has an excellent reputation for corporate restructuring, with the highly regarded corporate lawyer Diogo Leónidas Rocha and litigator João Duarte Sousa at the forefront of the practice. The team assisted DuPont Group with restructuring its Portuguese subsidiaries, and is advising Microcircuit Technology on efforts to recover more than €5m from the now insolvent Qimonda Portugal. Mário Lino Dias and Susana Pimenta de Sousa are recommended.

Within Intellectual property, Garrigues is a first tier firm,

Garrigues Portugal provides ‘outstanding’ service on trade mark infringement cases and other litigation, and on patent and trade mark protection and licensing agreements. The firm is ‘one of the most advanced in Portugal’ for work relating to data protection, and its clients include Hermès, Kraft Foods, Banco Espirito Santo and Intel Corporation. Gonçalo da Cunha Ferreira heads the ‘competent and professional’ team. Among several capable associates, Isabel Bairrão is ‘highly efficient’ and Paula Veiga has ‘great commitment, awareness and availability’.

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

Garrigues Portugal, SL – Sucursal operates a broad service from its Oporto office, and is particularly well known for the depth of its tax expertise. The firm counts many major Portuguese companies as key clients, and is advising an energy company on tax issues relating to a hydroelectric energy project. Miguel Reis leads the practice, and is consistently rated very highly by clients. The group’s restructuring expertise has earned it involvement in the €30m restructuring of Rádio Popular.

Within Public law, tier 4

Garrigues Portugal’s public law team is expanding its capabilities under the leadership of the widely recommended expert João Rosado Correia. The team is representing the Municipality of Lisbon in court proceedings regarding the construction of the Marquês de Pombal Tunnel and also in a claim case following its acquisition of Parque Mayer.

Within Real estate, Garrigues is a second tier firm,

Garrigues Portugal splits its real estate practice into planning, zoning and transactional groups, and offers ‘perfect response times’ and ‘accurate service’. Practice head Miguel Marques dos Santos has ‘knowledge of the industry and comprehension of client needs’, and provided advice to Promotora Catalunya Mediterrânea on its €125m acquisition of the Prasa companies and their assets, including the Algarve resort of Vilamoura. Cement company Secil and real estate fund manager Norfin are also clients. Associate Pedro Pereira Coutinho is valued for his ‘technical skills and excellent connections’.

Within Tax, Garrigues is a first tier firm,

Garrigues Portugal’s three-partner practice includes ‘one of the best tax lawyers in the country’, Fernando Castro Silva, who leads a highly competent tax team that has experience in tax litigation, compliance and consultancy. The group advised the Brazilian construction company Companhia Siderurgica Nacional on taxes relating to its bid for Cimpor. It is also assisting Iberdrola with tax planning relating to its proposed construction of four hydroelectric plants in Portugal. Galp Energia is another important client. Paulo Núncio is ‘available, knowledgeable and accurate’.