Rising Stars

Foreign firms in Angola

Abreu Advogados

Fernando Viega Gomes and Guilherme Santos Silva lead Abreu Advogados' Angola practice, which is active across a broad spectrum of corporate and commercial matters. Well versed in the energy (covering renewables and oil and gas), mining, financial services and infrastructure sectors, the Angola desk offers a multidisciplinary and multilingual team. The team continues to invest in its collective expertise following the addition of foreign exchange and M&A expert Joao Bravo Da Costa. Co-practice head Gomes is notable for his sport and tourism practice, while Silva remains heavily focused on the oil and gas sector, as well as transport and telecoms.

Practice head(s):

Fernando Veiga Gomes; Guilherme Santos Silva

Other key lawyers:

João Bravo da Costa; Nuno Barnabé

Testimonials

‘We work with Abreu in more complex tax and corporate matters and also in important negotiations and partnerships. Their knowledge is very strong in all areas of work and they are very practical in understanding our needs and finding the best solutions for us.’

‘We also value a lot their negotiations skills, we trust Abreu to lead some of the negotiations we have on our behalf. They are also very collaborative and happy to work with other advisors on specific topics.’

‘Nuno Barnabé is the senior partner that leads Abreu’s work with us. Key factor of distinctiveness for him is his capability to have an independent view from the client and position as a real thought partner that challenges us. By doing that, Nuno is very important in helping us find the best solutions for our most critical issues.’

Key clients

Africatel Holdings BV

PT Ventures SGPS, S.A.

ACREP

China International Fund Limited

Clínica Sagrada Esperança, Lda

Standard Chartered Bank

Bauer Angola

ICBC Standard Bank Plc London

Work highlights

  • Advising Africatel Holding on the sale of Africatel’s Portuguese subsidiary PT Ventures.
  • Assisting China International Fund Limited in connection with several investments and contracts in Angola, including the construction of the new Luanda airport.
  • Assisting ACREP in the acquisition of the share capital of the company that belongs to an insolvency estate of a Portuguese company.

Eversheds Sutherland FCB

Eversheds Sutherland FCB has a well-established position in the Angolan market, and it offers clients a range of support in both commercial and civil litigation, as well as alternative dispute resolution. Led by Porto-based partner João Robles, the team works closely with Angolan firm EVC Advogados to provide a full-service offering. Key areas of expertise for the team include oil and gas, where Pedro Guimarães has a notable practice; infrastructure and projects, where Rodrigo Barbosa Souta has a focus on real estate; and banking and finance.

Practice head(s):

João Robles

Other key lawyers:

Pedro Guimarães; Rodrigo Barbosa Souta

Key clients

Chevron

DHL

Modec

SNC Lavalin

Teixeira Duarte

Vodafone

Elecnor

BNP Paribas

HP

IATA

Work highlights

  • Advising AP Foods with regards to setting up a joint venture with the Webcor Group.
  • Advised SNC Lavalin, as local counsels to Angola, with the sale to Kentech of its oil and gas business.
  • Advising Unisaúde on the corporate restructuring of the entire group.

Miranda & Associados

Tax and oil and gas expert Rita Correia leads Miranda & Associados' Angola-focused team, with a full-service and sizeable offering that has remained present and active in the market for over 30 years. The team works in conjunction with Angolan firm Fátima Freitas Advogados for both domestic and international clients across the full spectrum of corporate and commercial transactions, and has a strong pulse on the region’s most complex matters, particularly in oil and gas industry matters, where Ricardo Alves Silva is a key name. The firm’s banking and finance head Mafalda Oliveira Monteiro is also part of the team, and advises both borrowers and lenders in all types of finance matters. Nuno Marques Antunes is a petroleum industry expert with over 20 years of experience, and Rita Lufinha Borges is a key contact regarding real estate and land rights.

Practice head(s):

Rita Correia

Other key lawyers:

Ricardo Alves Silva; Mafalda Oliveira Monteiro; Nuno Marques Antunes; Rita Lufinha Borges

Testimonials

‘Miranda is our reference firm for a number of countries. Their service is always top notch, they always display in depth knowledge about energy matters, they are quick to respond and always available for our requests.’

‘Miranda has always provided us with great lawyers who have a great sense of business. They are always available and always make sure the advice we get balances legal with business needs.’

‘Good relationship with clients, sensitivity for our challenges and being always available to be of any help. Not having a purely transaction relationship with clients.’

PLMJ

PLMJ‘s Angola desk is integrated in the firm’s wider Africa practice group and maintains a diverse client portfolio across the energy, natural resources, retail and TMT sectors, among others. M&A, projects and private equity specialist Inês Pinto da Costa heads the practice, with Renata Valenti also rejoining the firm to bolster the team’s corporate, employment and real estate transactional and litigation offering. At the non-partner level, managing associate Rúben Brigolas is developing a strong practice in the technology, mining and retail areas and is another key contact.

Practice head(s):

Inês Pinto da Costa

Other key lawyers:

Ruben Brigolas; Renata Valenti

Key clients

Huawei

Águas de Portugal

BayQi

Unitransfer

SUEZ Group

Quantum Partners

Work highlights

  • Advising Huawei on a regular basis on many issues relating to its activity in Angola.
  • Advising Águas de Portugal on contractual issues relating to water supply contracts in different municipalities in Angola.
  • Advising Unitransfer, a non-banking financial institution, in preparing a new and revolutionary forex payment system.

Raposo Bernardo

Raposo Bernardo’s Angolan practice acts for an excellent client portfolio across the region’s key sectors, advising in some of the most high-profile transactions. Particularly strong in the banking and finance sectors, the team continues to advise major international and local banks. The practice is jointly led by managing partner Nelson Raposo Bernardo and Ana Cláudia Rangel, both of whom have over 25 years of experience in the region. Júlio Martins Júnior is particularly experienced in corporate law and finance-related operations. The team also advises on major project finance and development matters in the infrastructure sector, particularly in projects such as rail, road, aviation, dams, and other public-facing projects.

Practice head(s):

Ana Cláudia Rangel; Nelson Raposo Bernardo; Júlio Martins Júnior

Testimonials

‘Raposo Bernardo’s permanent and solid collaboration is also unique in a market such as Angola. We have no doubt that we are advised by the best office in the country.’

‘Our most current day-to-day management subjects are very well delivered to an excellent professional named Cláudia Rangel who knows us as well as we do. Very smart in solving our problems and proactive in preventing ourselves from the associated risks if we follow a certain path and option.’

‘When we have more complex and large projects that involve important coordination and decision-making, we contact the exceptional Nelson Bernardo who is, like the firm, unique. In a word Nelson is the best choice our organization can have to deal with our highly complex matters.’

‘As main strengths and key capabilities I point out the high legal know-how, the rigor and security of advice, a strong network of contacts in Angola and the enormous prestige they have in the country. As innovations I greatly appreciate the new fees system, which allow us several options, and are of absolute transparency.’

‘Starting with Ana Cláudia Rangel, owner of essential clairvoyance and pragmatism to carry out business operations in a complex market like Angola. Very important for our local activity. Nelson Raposo Bernardo is a level above all the lawyers I have worked with. Very competent, knowledgeable about the business environment and staunchly defends our interests, whatever comes. He conveys a strong security in the leadership capacity of any subject and before any entity. A goal scorer, and an example of a great lawyer.’

‘We have been working for some time with Raposo Bernardo and I just have good things to say about this firm. The work developed by this office is of great quality and prestige. Raposo Bernardo’s lawyers are all excellent professionals, without exception, and I have already recommended their services on several occasions.’

‘I highlight the lawyers Nelson Raposo Bernardo and Ana Cláudia Rangel. Nelson Bernardo is the best lawyer I know. I fully trust in his advice and I can no longer move on to anything without consulting him first. Ana Cláudia Rangel is the perfect lawyer to have in our current and daily affairs that need an immediate and effective response. And Ana Cláudia is like this: fast and effective. This effectiveness and prompt response I haven’t met in any other lawyers we’ve worked with.’

‘They are creative, problem-solving and rapid in decision-making. Their integrated transactional capabilities cover all bases of certain transaction or operation. From deal structuring to equity financing, corporate governance compliance matters to arrangements of the financing models, escrow agreements, litigation, labor issues, they cover all in a very sophisticated and clear manner.’

Work highlights

  • Advised a client on a Master Loan and Security Agreement regarding 70 aircraft.
  • Advising a client on its investment in Angola consisting of the acquisition of oil exploration blocks.
  • Advising a client on its investment in Angola consisting in the construction and development of an LNG terminal.

VdA

VdA’s Angolan offering is provided on a multidisciplinary basis and is jointly led by Tiago Marreiros MoreiraJoão Afonso Fialho and Paulo Trindade Costa. The team continues to work on some of the region’s most high-profile transactions in the oil and gas, mining, agriculture and financial services sectors, offering transactional, operational, investigatory and regulatory expertise. Hugo Moredo Santos is a key player, whose practice primarily advises issuers, financial intermediaries and domestic and international investors in public offerings and securities. Fialho is notable for his work in oil and gas upstream, midstream and downstream power projects from project inception to completion.

Practice head(s):

Tiago Marreiros Moreira; João Afonso Fialho; Paulo Trindade Costa

Other key lawyers:

Hugo Moredo Santos

Testimonials

Excellent and expert knowledge and experience. Commercial approach.’

‘VdA provides good value for money. We have used them regularly where questions of Angola law arise and the firm has considerable expertise in the area.’

‘We have most often worked with Joao Afonso Fialho. Joao is very responsive.’

‘A diverse team consisting of legal proffessionals with different specialisations and seniority. Each team member shows the highest level of professionalism, particularly excelling at providing prompt and detailed advice, problem solving attitude and knowledge of local laws and practice.’

Key clients

Standard Bank de Angola, S.A.

Trafigura Group Pte Ltd.

Puma Energy

KT – Kinetics Technology, SPA

Sacyr, S. A

Hapag-Lloyd Aktiengesellschaft (“HL AG”)

TDR Capital LLP (“TDR Capital”)

I Squared Capital Advisors (US) LLC (“I Squared Capital”)

BIOCOM

Unitel

Odebrecht

Friburge

Lusiaves, SGPS, S.A.

ANGOFLEX Industrial Lda.

Work highlights

  • Assisted Standard Bank Angola on the privatisation process of Banco de Comércio e Indústria.
  • Advising Trafigura and Puma Energy on the sale of Sonangol shareholding in Puma Energy and the acquisition by Sonangol of Puma Energy shareholding in group Pumangol.
  • Advising the KT from the outset in connection with its bid to ENI.

Clifford Chance LLP

Clifford Chance LLP’s Angola practice is led by London-based partners Jeremy Connick and Leonard Cleland and offers a broad inbound and outbound transactional practice. The team regularly advises financial institutions, industrial conglomerates, oil and gas suppliers/operators and other relevant clients in the energy, mining and telecoms sectors. At the senior associate level, Kayode Oladipo is a key name; he specialises in all aspects of emerging markets cross-border loan financing.

Practice head(s):

Jeremy Connick; Leonard Cleland

Other key lawyers:

Kayode Oladipo

Testimonials

‘We have been working with Clifford Chance on a regular basis and on several financing transactions in Angola and Mozambique. They have very good knowledge of local laws and practices, the appropriate expertise, are capable of offering innovation and high quality services.’

Key clients

GE Capital EFS Financing Inc.

Gemcorp Capital LLP

Credit Suisse AG, London Branch

HSBC

VTB Capital

Africell Holding Ltd

ING Bank

DBSA

Work highlights

  • Advised ING Bank and the DBSA on the €640m financing of seven solar farms in Angola with a combined capacity of 370MW.
  • Advising Africell in relation to a commercial facilities arrangement arranged by Gemcorp Capital to support the group’s expansion into the Angolan telecoms markets.

CMS

The Angola practice at CMS sits within the firm’s wider Lusophone Africa team, and is led by Alberto Galhardo Simões. The team works with Angolan firm LBR Advogados to offer a full-service practice across key economic sectors in the region. Maria Figueiredo joined the team in January 2021 and has over 20 years’ tax experience in Portuguese-speaking African countries, with a focus on the oil and gas and renewables industries. The team is best known for its infrastructure and project finance practice, and can often be found advising on some of the region’s high-profile transactions.

Practice head(s):

Alberto Galhardo Simões

Other key lawyers:

Nuno Alves Mansilha; Tiago Machado Graça; Joana Brito Paulo

Testimonials

The team is very competent and attended to all the needs in the requested areas. Focused on deadlines and with high quality work.’

‘The team is very well organized, techically skilled and available to provide a consistent and broad response and to support up to the most high levels of the client organization, along with timing needs, and also prepared to propose different approaches and solutions and operational support. This team diferentiates from other firms on the practical views in such a complex country environment and with taking into account all the legal and ethical requirement topics in place.’

‘Joana Brito Paulo has a solid and strong experience and technical knowledge to deal with multinational clients and is always covering not only the main topics but also accessory topics with relevance to the matter, which is very much appreciated by the different stakeholders from the client side.’

‘In particular, I highlight the work of Alberto Galhardo, who is extremely competent. As a result of the advice provided by Dr. Alberto Galhardo, we obtained excellent results in our demands.’

‘It combines a good understanding of Angolan law and legal practice with practical advice to clients. The firm’s links with LBR – Sociedade de Advogados, RL also ensures that it has a solid base in Angola with an experienced and well-connected team.’

‘Alberto Galhardo Simoes has much experience and excellent knowledge of Angolan law and legal practice. He is therefore an excellent advisor for clients with more complicated transactions.’

‘Nuno Mansilha and Joana Brito Paulo  are providing useful and practical advice, in particular when dealing with complex and multidisciplinary legal issues, combing tax, corporate, foreign exchange and dispute resolution elements.’

‘It’s a very good team, with a deep knowledge of Angola’s circumstances and with a great expertise in corporate and investment law.’

Key clients

Kinda Home

GemCorp

Maersk Drilling

Hilton

The HALO Trust

Caixa de Segurança Social das Forças Armadas de Angola

Lassarat

Bumi Armada

ALPLA Werke Alwin Lehner GmbH & Co KG

QGMI

Mota Engil Angola

Bechtel

Sun Africa LLC

Common Projects

Sebastião Lavrador

BP

EGUS Group

Ferpinta

Sanlam

Clariant

ZTE Corporation

Bureau Veritas

Work highlights

  • Advised Sun Africa on a project to design, finance, build and operate seven solar power plants in Angola of a 370 mw total capacity.
  • Advised Egus Group on the public tender for the concession of social games in Angola.
  • Advised BP on Angolan law aspects of a merger with ENI of the respective Angolan oil and gas businesses.

Morais Leitão, Galvão Teles, Soares da Silva & Associados

Morais Leitão, Galvão Teles, Soares da Silva & Associados’ Angolan practice sits within the firm’s wider Lusophone Africa offering. Headed by Porto-based partner André de Sousa Vieira and Claudia Santos Cruz in Lisbon, the team advises on cross-border inbound and outbound investments into Lusophone Africa, with a strong presence in project finance, particularly in the energy and natural resources, commodities and transport sectors. The firm maintains a partnership with local firm ALC Advogados, of which private investment and tax expert Catarina Levy Osório  is a founding partner and consultant for the firm. International consultant Bruno Xavier de Pina, an expert in cross-border matters involving Angola and Cape Verde, joined the firm in 2021.

Other key lawyers:

Bruno Xavier de Pina

Cuatrecasas

Cuatrecasas’ Angolan practice advises Iberian and international companies across the oil and gas, banking and finance, infrastructure and energy sectors. Lisbon-based partners Maria João Ricou and André Duarte Figueira steer the practice, with Ricou regularly advising on banking operations, regulatory matters and restructurings. Figueira is a key contact for Angola – US international matters, particularly in the oil and gas sector.

Practice head(s):

Maria João Ricou; André Duarte Figueira

Testimonials

‘The Cuatrecasas team is always very knowledgeable and benefits from an extensive network to provide good advice.’

‘Very knowledgeable, focused and always quick to respond.’

‘Great combination of an international law firm but with the access and local knowledge that normally only comes from a top tier local firm. In a market with significant percularities such as Angola, this was crucial to the success of our project.’

‘The firm has a a strong knowledge of the Angolan market, Government institutions and the law of the country. In addition to that, they have good relationship with decision makers within the government which facilitates timely information.

‘Their response time is extremely good and the accuracy of their understanding of the law and advice have been spot on since the beginning.’

Key clients

DP World (Dubai Ports World)

McKinsey & Company

TechnipFMC Angola

Sonangol Sinopec International Limited

Fundació Hospital Universitari Vall d’Hebron – Institut de Recerca (VHIR)

DHL Global Forwarding Angola

IFC (International Finance Corporation)

VINCI

Roche

Elecnor S.A.

Sonangalp

Maersk (Angola) Transporte e Agenciamento

Rovic Africa Limited

Socodar

Trafigura

ABT Associates, INC.

Angola LNG

Work highlights

  • Advising DP World FZE on negotiating the concession agreement to operate the multipurpose terminal at the port of Luanda within the context of the international tender launched by the Angolan state.
  • Advising McKinsey on public procurement law matters in Angola, and reviewing and negotiating contracts relating to labour and employment law, and other matters.
  • Advising TechnipFMC Angola on the new legal regime for local content in the oil and gas sector.

Linklaters LLP

Andrew Jones and Francisco Ferraz De Carvalho lead Linklaters’ Angolan offering from London and Lisbon, respectively. The team’s practice maintains an Africa-wide approach, facilitating cross-border transactions and matters with ease via the firm’s wider network. The team has recently been active advising clients on matters related to the ongoing privatisation initiative by the state.

Practice head(s):

Andrew Jones; Francisco Ferraz de Carvalho

Other key lawyers:

Diogo Santos

Testimonials

‘The team is uniquely straight to the point without compromising the full review of all angles of a subject. It is flexible and confident enough to accommodate global solutions to local problems.’

‘Partner Diogo Santos knows how to work with and properly empower local lawyers in a way that global and local approaches combined to the benefit of the client. His soft-skills are remarkable and his in-depth knowledge of Portuguese speaking African jurisdictions is significant too.’

Key clients

Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation

IGAPE

Work highlights

  • Advised IGAPE on the privatisation of 51% of the state-owned insurance company ENSA.