VCA - Valadas Coriel & Associados > Lisbon, Portugal > Firm Profile

VCA - Valadas Coriel & Associados
Rua Tierno Galvan, 10, Torre 3, 16th floor
1070-274 Lisbon
Portugal

Portugal > Dispute resolution Tier 4

VCA - Valadas Coriel & Associados‘ dispute resolution practice offers expertise across the spectrum of matters, with a notably strong record in real estate and maritime-related disputes, as well as tax arbitrations. The practice operates under the leadership of three accomplished practitioners: João Valadas Coriel, who is noted for his experience in contentious real estate, civil and commercial law, as well as white-collar crime; Hugo Martins Braz, who stands out for his expertise in civil, labour, and criminal cases; and Vera Chalaça, noted for her expertise in civil and administrative litigation.

Practice head(s):

João Valadas Coriel; Hugo Martins Braz; Vera Chalaça

Other key lawyers:

Sónia Antunes Dias

Testimonials

‘What makes VCA unique is a combination of professionalism and individual approach to each of their clients. They are proactive, attentive, supportive, and precise in everything they do. They are at the same time very knowledgeable and persistent in delivering the highest quality service.’

‘Virtually every single person at VCA I have worked with was outstanding.’

‘VCA stands out for its specialisation, with over three decades of experience navigating complex regulations. VCA successfully represented large corporations and non-profits in high-stakes cases, leading significant policy changes.’

‘VCA is led by a team of renowned experts, who offer unparalleled insights and strategies. VCA’s collaborative approach ensures that all their clients benefit from a wide range of perspectives and experiences, enhancing the quality of them as counsel.’

‘VCA leverage cutting-edge technology, employing AI-driven case analysis to streamline processes and reduce costs.’

‘Unique qualities and expertise: Working with individuals at VCA has been an exceptional experience due to their profound expertise and dedication.

‘Partner João Valadas Curiel is renowned in the field of tax and immigration law. His intricate understanding of these areas of law and her strategic foresight has consistently led to favourable outcomes for their clients.’

‘What sets these individuals apart from competitors is their personalised approach to each case.’

Key clients

GALP Energia

EDP Energias de Portugal

Work highlights

  • Advising Galp Energia in relation to investigation processes related to whistleblowing.
  • Advising EDP on several debt recovery and breach of contract disputes against various clients.
  • Advising investors on a €4m claim related to the purchase of property from a company undergoing a revitalisation process (PER procedure) due to challenges in bank negotiations.

VCA was established in 2001 by João Valadas Coriel, currentely managing partner. Today we are seen as a lean versatile full-service firm. Our team combines experience, expertise and creativity, that allow us to support our clients in a wide variety of projects, both national and international.

VCA’s dynamic yet informal environment has attracted lawyers from major firms and audit companies. Networks and trust-based relationships allow us to pool resources and expertise across continents.

Firm details

Our firm has a very energetic team of 7 partners and 20+ associates who combine experience, expertise, innovation, and creativity. Our team works on all sorts of cases from litigation and dispute resolution to labour, real estate, corporate, energy, finance and international projects, for clients of all sizes, both domestic and international. We also have a very strong practice focused on private clients and the art world, assisting various individuals in investing or relocating to Portugal.

We work in litigation matters for two of the largest Portuguese listed companies on a permanent basis, side by side with a practice group focused on SME and private clients. We are able to effectively respond to clients across the spectrum of legal, regulatory and tax issues.

We believe that each case is as unique as the individuals involved. We approach every legal challenge not just with expert knowledge and experience, but with unmatched creativity that sets us apart in the legal arena. Our team recognizes that behind every case there’s a person, a family, a business, or a community, depending on its nature. Thus, we ensure that our clients remain at the very heart of our focus, guiding each decision we make. Our innovative strategies are tailored to the specific needs of our clients, ensuring that their best interests are always at the forefront. With us, clients are not just numbers or files, but the very essence of why we practice law with such dedication and passion.

VCA has become a firm of polymath lawyers, with expertise in specialised areas of practice, which also cater to other areas of law that are intersectional with our areas of specialisation.

Our 25-lawyers team combines experience, anticipation, creativity, and determination, offering clients a range of skills and resources for a variety of projects, both locally and internationally.

We seek to immerse in your cases. We want to become your trusted advisors, to be considered not only as lawyers but also as reliable partners.

Our lawyers make a big effort to keep a close connection with their assigned clients.You shall never feel like a number at VCA.

Our main focus is to solve every case using creative andout-of-the-boxsolutions. We embrace challenges. We are resilient by principle, mostly conciliators, and always determined.

Main areas of practice
  • Dispute resolution
  • Corporate
  • Tax
  • Real estate
  • Private wealth
  • Immigration
  • Labour
  • Insolvency
Offices

Amoreiras Office
Rua Tierno Galvan, 10, Torre 3, 16th floor
1070-274 Lisbon, Portugal
Tel:+351 211 625 700
Email:[email protected]

Madeira Office
Rua Queimada de Cima, 28, 2.º M
9000-065 Funchal
Tel:+351 211 625 700
Email:[email protected]

Côte d’Ivoire Office
Immeuble Le Marigny 3eme Etage
08 BP 1411 Abidjan 08
Tel:+225 0758793379
Email:[email protected]

Department Name Email Telephone
Private Wealth and Tax Law João Valadas Coriel [email protected]
Litigation, Insolvency, and Labour Law Hugo Martins Braz [email protected]
Real Estate Law Marta Valadas Coriel [email protected]
Immigration Law Patrícia Valadas Coriel [email protected]
Corporate and Real Estate Law Rita Tigeleiro Afonso [email protected]
Tax and Private Wealth Law Sofia Quental [email protected]
Litigation and Administrative Law Vera Chalaça [email protected]
Nationality Law Ana Santos Fontes [email protected]
Immigration and Investment Law Cláudia Cardoso [email protected]
Immigration Law Sarah Lopes [email protected]
Nationality Law Maria Moura Fonseca [email protected]
Litigation and Maritime Law Sónia Antunes Dias [email protected]
Litigation and Insolvency Rita Maia [email protected]
Litigation and Criminal Law António Cayolla [email protected]
Immigration Law Sandra Jardim Fernandes [email protected]
Labour Law Tiago Lopes Fernandez [email protected]
Photo Name Position Profile
Sónia Antunes Dias photo Sónia Antunes Dias Senior Associate in the Litigation and Maritime Law Department
António Cayolla photo António Cayolla Of Counsel
Vera Chalaça photo Vera Chalaça Partner in the Litigation and Administrative Departments
Rita  Cortes Maia photo Rita Cortes Maia Lawyer at the Litigation and Insolvency Departments
Sandra Jardim Fernandes photo Sandra Jardim Fernandes Co-Head of the Immigration Department
Hugo Martins Braz photo Hugo Martins Braz Partner in the Litigation and Labour Departments
Maria Moura Fonseca photo Maria Moura Fonseca Senior Lawyer of the Nationality Department
Sofia Quental photo Sofia Quental Partner in the Private Wealth and Tax Departments
Ana Santos Fontes photo Ana Santos Fontes Managing Associate of the Nationality Department
Rita Tigeleiro Afonso photo Rita Tigeleiro Afonso Partner in the Corporate and Real Estate Departments
Patrícia Valadas Coriel photo Patrícia Valadas Coriel Partner and Co-Head of the Immigration Department
Marta Valadas Coriel photo Marta Valadas Coriel Partner in the Real Estate Department
João Valadas Coriel photo João Valadas Coriel Managing Partner
Partners : 7
Managing Associates : 3
Senior Associates : 2
Associates : 12
Trainees : 1
Of Councels : 5
Solicitors : 4
Paralegals : 7
Financial and Administrative : 4
Marketing and Business Development : 1
Portuguese
English
Spanish
French
Italian
Russian
Ukrainian
Dutch
Hindi
Urdu
Gurjati
OA Portugal – Portuguese Bar Association
Portuguese Fiscal Association
IBA - International Bar Association
ABA - American Bar Association
IFA - International Fiscal Association
CIArb - Chartered Institute of Arbitrators
IR Global
GRIMALDI Alliance
Law & Numbers
IUSFUL
Other Offices : Madeira and Ivory Coast

Diversity

VCA- Valadas Coriel & Associados, since its foundation 17 years ago, has cultivated diversity in line with the best of Portuguese culture, a country which brought new worlds to Europe since the XIV century. VCA has 5 partners and 20 lawyers and most are women. We are proud to have people from all ages, social perspectives, faith, spiritual and religious beliefs, sexual orientation, social backgrounds, ethnic origins, abilities and cultures, even being a small firm.

VCA-Valadas Coriel & Associados has a professional career plan with objective evaluation with remuneration and incentives based on merit, regardless of the characteristics of its lawyers and workers based on equal pay for equal outcomes.

For VCA, living and working without diversity would be not just unfair and against ethic and the law: it would be like offering to our clients a service using half of our brains. Diversity at VCA is our guarantee of a service of excellence of this specialized business law firm.

VCA-Valadas Coriel & Associados works in or for several countries other than Portugal and its partners integrate and in some cases co-ordinate multinational teams of lawyers and other business experts of several European, African and Latin American countries with diverse cultures, languages and religions. Lisbon, our head office location is a multicultural hub where many people from different origins live together in peace in one of the safest cities in the world. This is so entrenched in the Firm’s DNA that for us diversity is just a way of living and working.

Pro Bono/CRS

VCA-Valadas Coriel & Associados has an organized Pro Bono/CRS department.

One of João Valadas Coriel’s passions, managing partner of VCA, is pro-bono work in criminal cases, something that comes from a desire to help people who have made mistakes.

We assist civil society organizations from children protection charities to social intervention associations and VCA partners work for rehabilitation and social development organizations.

VCA Pro Bono work has also involved the legal representation of destitute clients, some in complex legal issues, including litigation cases. For VCA- Valadas Coriel & Associados, a lawyers’ job is to pursue Justice, that sometimes elusive notion amidst the pressure and the stress of business legal practice.

Pro bono and CRS works remind to all lawyers at VCA-Valadas Coriel & Associados that our communities not only in Portugal but also in other countries where we work have given to us. It is also a constant reminder that destitute people also seek Justice and do have some technically complex legal issues to be sorted out and solved with the same high level of professionalism as paying clients.