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

Rua Tierno Galvan, 10, Torre 3, 16th floor
1070-274 Lisbon
Portugal
VCA - Valadas Coriel & Associados > The Legal 500 Rankings
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 - Valadas Coriel & Associados > Firm Profile
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.
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.
- Dispute resolution
- Corporate
- Tax
- Real estate
- Private wealth
- Immigration
- Labour
- Insolvency
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]
Main Contacts
Department | Name | 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] |
Lawyer Profiles
Photo | Name | Position | Profile |
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Sónia Antunes Dias | Senior Associate in the Litigation and Maritime Law Department | View Profile |
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António Cayolla | Of Counsel | View Profile |
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Vera Chalaça | Partner in the Litigation and Administrative Departments | View Profile |
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Rita Cortes Maia | Lawyer at the Litigation and Insolvency Departments | View Profile |
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Sandra Jardim Fernandes | Co-Head of the Immigration Department | View Profile |
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Hugo Martins Braz | Partner in the Litigation and Labour Departments | View Profile |
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Maria Moura Fonseca | Senior Lawyer of the Nationality Department | View Profile |
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Sofia Quental | Partner in the Private Wealth and Tax Departments | View Profile |
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Ana Santos Fontes | Managing Associate of the Nationality Department | View Profile |
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Rita Tigeleiro Afonso | Partner in the Corporate and Real Estate Departments | View Profile |
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Patrícia Valadas Coriel | Partner and Co-Head of the Immigration Department | View Profile |
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Marta Valadas Coriel | Partner in the Real Estate Department | View Profile |
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João Valadas Coriel | Managing Partner | View Profile |
Staff Figures
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 : 1Languages
Portuguese English Spanish French Italian Russian Ukrainian Dutch Hindi Urdu GurjatiMemberships
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 IUSFULOther
Other Offices : Madeira and Ivory CoastDiversity/Community
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 Firms 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 Coriels 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.
- Dispute resolution