The Legal 500

Within Corporate and M&A, FCB&A – F Castelo Branco & Associados is a third tier firm,

FCB&A – F Castelo Branco & Associados fields a strong team, featuring the experienced and ‘very helpful’ Pedro Guimarães, whose clients include Nike and Foot Locker. Rodrigo Almeida Dias advised ECS (manager of two Portuguese private equity funds) on acquiring a network of Portuguese car dealers. Gonçalo da Cunha and Nuno Cadima Oliveira are also recommended.

Within Dispute resolution, FCB&A – F Castelo Branco & Associados is a third tier firm,

Miguel Castelo Branco leads a large team at FCB&A – F Castelo Branco & Associados, which handles civil, tax, employment, IP, construction, public law and criminal disputes. It also represents clients in debt collection and arbitration. It is advising Nike regarding pre-litigation issues concerning violation of image rights, and representing BCP in a tax dispute. Hewlett-Packard, Portucel and Indra Sistemas are also clients. Associate Rui Tabarra e Castro is recommended.

Within EU and competition, tier 4

FCB&A – F Castelo Branco & Associados’ team is led by associate Pedro Alves da Silva, with Gonçalo da Cunha also active in the arena. Highlights included advising Medinfar on competition issues relating to its acquisition of a dermatological products business, and successfully advising Sugalidal in regulatory offence proceedings brought by the PCA.

Within Employment, FCB&A – F Castelo Branco & Associados is a second tier firm,

FCB&A – F Castelo Branco & Associados’ ‘robust and reliable’ team displays ‘experience and knowledge’ and the ‘flexibility to adjust to clients’ requirements’. The ‘very assertive’ associate Alexandra Almeida Mota handles advisory work, and is praised for her ‘know-how’. Pedro Guimarães manages transactional work. Mota and Guimarães advise Logica on outsourcing and HR issues. The team also acts for Londimo Group and Foot Locker.

Within Energy and environment, FCB&A – F Castelo Branco & Associados is a third tier firm,

FCB&A – F Castelo Branco & Associados has renewable energy sector expertise, as well as broader experience. It continues to advise Repower Systems, and is representing AE&E Lentjes on two waste treatment facilities. Miguel Castelo Branco and Miguel Lorena Brito are recommended.

Within Insolvency and restructuring, tier 4

FCB&A – F Castelo Branco & Associados’ recent instructions include advising Contrinex, Lexibook and JAB Anstoetz on restructuring. Rodrigo Almeida Dias is ‘consistent and reliable’, and has ‘good communication skills’. Miguel Castelo Branco is also recommended, along with associate and litigator Rui Tabarra e Castro, who handles insolvency work. The team also features a debt collection practice.

Within Intellectual property, FCB&A – F Castelo Branco & Associados is a second tier firm,

FCB&A – F Castelo Branco & Associados notably advises clients on IP protection in Angola. Nuno Cadima Oliveira represents Logica in matters including trade mark and patent advice and related litigation.

Within Oporto: Leading commercial firms, FCB&A – F Castelo Branco & Associados is a third tier firm,

The Oporto branch of FCB&A – F Castelo Branco & Associados collaborates with the Lisbon team on corporate transactions and contentious cases, representing developers and banks including Sardinha & Leite, Casais, Banif and Banco Espírito Santo. Senior associate Susana Proença is recommended but Vitor Marquez da Cruz left the firm.

Within Public law, tier 4

Public law is a key focus for FCB&A – F Castelo Branco & Associados, particularly on the contentious side. Miguel Lorena Brito now heads the team, after former practice head Paula Teixeira da Cruz became Minister of Justice in June 2011. The group recently represented AE&E Lenjes in two arbitrations (one ongoing), and it continues to assist Repower Systems in wind farm contract negotiations.

Within Real estate, tier 4

Miguel Castelo Branco heads FCB&A – F Castelo Branco & Associados’ ‘proactive and accurate’ team, which also features Miguel Lorena Brito and associate João Robles. The team advises Londimo on its tourism projects in Portugal, and also acts for construction companies Siccal and Opway on matters in Angola. Brito is advising EAV on zoning requirements for a hotel, golf course and resort, and is also advising REpower on turnkey contracts for supply and construction of several wind farms.

Within TMT, tier 4

FCB&A – F Castelo Branco & Associados recently advised Logica on its bid for an IT outsourcing contract with a Portuguese bank, and assisted Nike in negotiating its sponsorship of the Federação Portuguesa de Futebol. Rodrigo Almeida Dias advises Hewlett-Packard on legal issues in Portugal.

Within Tax, FCB&A – F Castelo Branco & Associados is a second tier firm,

FCB&A – F Castelo Branco & Associados provides advisory and contentious tax advice, and has experience in Angola. Diogo Bernardo Monteiro is advising Medinfar on tax restructuring, and also advised Antalis on tax aspects of the €20m sale of its office supplies division. New clients include ONGC Videsh, BNP Paribas and HSBC.