Sofia Galvao Advogados > Lisbon, Portugal > Firm Profile
Sofia Galvao Advogados Offices
RUA NOVA DA TRINDADE, 1-4 D
1200-301 LISBOA
Portugal
Sofia Galvao Advogados > The Legal 500 Rankings
Portugal > Planning law Tier 1
Focusing on real estate and planning matters, boutique law firm Sofia Galvao Advogados is highly regarded as ‘the best team for urban planning and real estate law in Portugal’. The group is typically engaged in some of the most high-profile developments in the country, including residential and touristic resort projects. Founding partner Sofia Galvão has a wealth of experience in real estate, tourism, environment law, construction, public procurement and administrative concessions. In October 2022, the practice grew organically at the partner level with the promotion of Luís Moitinho De Almeida, whose expertise spans licensing, litigation and public procurement matters. Hugo Nunes is no longer at the firm.Domestic and international clients turn to Cuatrecasas for assistance with the construction, licensing, development and redevelopment of their real estate assets. Headed by construction and town planning expert Nuno Sá Carvalho, the practice covers all segments of the real estate industry, including residential, office, retail, logistics, tourism and healthcare. Another key practitioner is Sara Quaresma, who advises investment funds and institutional investors on real estate, construction and licensing matters. Following its merger with SLCM | Serra Lopes, Cortes Martins & Associados in January 2023, the team now also draws on the expertise of Marisa Mirador, who has a strong background in urban planning and municipal licensing procedures. Hugo Nunes joined from Sofia Galvao Advogados in April 2023.Practice head(s):
Sofia Galvão
Other key lawyers:
Luis Moitinho de Almeida
Testimonials
‘Excellent team with personalised service. Good reputation in the market, with a lot of experience and a good network of contacts. Availability and transparency in processes. Technical capacity combined with a pragmatic approach and a clear strategy.’
‘I had the opportunity to work with Sofia Galvão, who is another reason for respecting this firm.’
‘This is the best team for urban planning and real estate law in Portugal. Only dedicated to urban planning law. Highly specialised and has been involved in all major operations in this area for the past 20 years. The firm distinguishes itself from the large generalist firms as it only hires the best lawyers. It is also involved in the development of urban legislation and is required to provide opinions for public and private entities on major projects.’
‘The most outstanding individual in the team is Sofia Galvão, the firm founder.’
‘The office has a team that has great knowledge of urban and planning laws.’
‘Simply the best, with in-depth knowledge of the law and 360º vision of matters.’
‘Sofia Galvão and Luis Moitinho de Almeida. Always available and excellent technical knowledge in the matters in which we entrust the team with.’
‘The team has enormous technical knowledge in the area of real estate and urbanism, providing advice on numerous projects. The fact that it is a boutique in this area of law allows it to closely monitor the client’s matters, which, in our case, was always provided by partners.’
Key clients
Discovery Land Company
Fidelidade Property Europe
Tidewell Corporation
Metropolitano de Lisboa, EPE
El Corte Inglés
Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Universidade Nova de Lisboa
Grupo Novo Banco
ECS Capital Group
APAFLOC
Bedrock Capital
Auchan Portugal Hipermercados
Jackyl
Primosfera
Eastbanc
Stone Capital
Coporgest
Setúbal and Sesimbra Port Authority and Setúbal Municipality
Mercan Properties
RE Capital
Work highlights
- Advised DLC on a project involving the acquisition and development of a prime-location allotment for the construction of a residential and touristic complex.
- Acted for Novo Banco Group on two real estate and planning projects, Artilharia 1, in Lisbon, and Benagil, in Algarve, involving the setting up and execution of a highly complex planning strategy.
- Assisted Fidelidade Property Europe in planning matters regarding the development of its Entrecampos project in Central Lisbon, involving over 290,000 sqm of construction area.
Practice head(s):
Nuno Sá Carvalho
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘It distinguishes itself from others by its technical competence, promptness, availability, speed in dealing with matters and creativity in the construction of solutions.’
‘In my opinion, what makes this office unique is the quality of the service provided.’
‘Excellent law firm with good knowledge of real estate matters.’
‘I have worked for many years with Marisa Mirador, who provides knowledgeable, professional, timely and accurate advice.’
‘Dedication.’
‘Marisa Mirador and her team are recommended.’
Key clients
Novaxia Group
Macl Capital
Icade Santé Group
Deka
Jaymon Investments LLC
Bankinter – Montepino
Atitlan
Gaw Capital
Caixa Geral de Depósitos Group
Somfy Group
Soho House
Adeo Groupe (Bricomart)
Borealis
Motel One
Sonder Hospitality
Maya Capital
Hi Partners (Blackstone)
RIVA Asset Management
Novo Banco Group
Fremont Bluespace
Zurich
COFIDIS
Robert Bosch Group
The Student Hotel
Castle Group
Savills Investment Management
BricoDepot
Work highlights
- Advising Macl Capital on the acquisition of a shopping centre in Cascais in order to redevelop it into a luxury residential condominium, with a total investment of over €100m.
- Acted for Jaymon Investments in the town planning structuring and licensing of the development of a senior living and health resort located in Benavente, with a total investment of over €100m.
- Assisted Somfy Group with the acquisition, licensing and development of a plant in Felgueiras, with a total investment of over €50m.
Portugal > Real estate and construction Tier 2
Cuatrecasas‘ real estate and town planning practice is a popular destination for major investors and financial institutions seeking assistance with their investments in Portugal. Covering transactional, regulatory and project development work, the group excels in real estate M&A and offers advice across a wide range of real estate assets, including residential, offices, logistics and tourism. Nuno Sá Carvalho heads the team and is frequently involved in complex acquisitions of real estate portfolios, hotels, shopping centres and logistics parks. Sara Quaresma works alongside Carvalho and has a strong background in construction, regeneration and urban leases matters. Following its merger with SLCM | Serra Lopes, Cortes Martins & Associados, the team also includes real estate experts Rafael Lucas Pires and Maria Raquel Moreira. The group was strengthened by the arrivals of Hugo Nunes from Sofia Galvao Advogados in May 2023, and Sofia Gomes da Costa from PLMJ in July 2023.‘Highly qualified’ boutique law firm Sofia Galvao Advogados is a go-to adviser for institutional investors, developers and corporate clients seeking assistance with complex real estate and planning law matters. The group assists clients in major development operations and is geared to handle sales, acquisitions and leaseback transactions. Sofia Galvao Advogados manages a broad practice covering land and maritime planning, real estate, construction and public procurement. Also recommended is Luís Moitinho De Almeida. Former practice head Hugo Nunes is no longer at the firm.Practice head(s):
Nuno Sá Carvalho
Other key lawyers:
Key clients
Icade Santé Group
Macl Capital
Novaxia Group
Deka
Bankinter – Montepino
Jaymon Investments LLC
Apollo/Lapithus
Gaw Capital
Caixa Geral de Depósitos Group
Novo Banco Group
Somfy Group
Invesco
Soho House
Adeo Groupe (Bricomart)
Motel One
Sonder Hospitality
Maya Capital
Atitlan
Zurich
RFR Management
Auchan
Les Mousquetaires
Savills
Xior
Orpea
Eurofund / Baupost
Hi Partners
Acciona
Club Med
Cofidis
Azora
Riva
Drago Capital
Bluespace
The Student Hotel
Castle Group
Unicorn Group
Leadcreast
Borealis
Lighthouse
Momentum
IP Investments
Work highlights
- Advised Icade Santé on the acquisition of the SaúdeInveste fund from Fidelidade, including six leased properties for the operation of the Lusíadas private hospitals.
- Assisted Grupo Novo Banco (GNB) in the sale of a logistics portfolio of 20 premises to Blackstone.
- Acted for Macl Capital in the acquisition of a shopping centre in Cascais to redevelop it into a luxury residential condominium.
Practice head(s):
Sofia Galvão
Other key lawyers:
Luis Moitinho de Almeida
Testimonials
‘Can do attitude and knowledgeable.’
‘Probably the most prepared team on the market to respond to the legal challenges of the sector.’
‘In complex urban planning processes in Portugal, the team knows the law in detail and is often able to anticipate problems and strategically advises clients. As a result of its extensive experience, it has easy access to the authorities. Its lawyers have a clear understanding of the project and their interactions with architects are always proactive and deliver results.’
‘I recommend Sofia Galvão and Luís Moitinho de Almeida. I value their know-how and commitment in solving problems. Accessible and available, they make all the difference in solving complex issues and in approaching the authorities.’
‘Highly qualified office in this area, and with great professionals and extensive experience in highly complex processes.’
‘I strongly recommend Luis Moitinho de Almeida and Sofia Galvão for their dedication and deep knowledge of the subjects.’
Key clients
Discovery Land Company
Tidewell Corporation
ECS Capital Group
Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Work highlights
- Advised DLC on a project involving the acquisition and development of a waterfront prime-location allotment in Melides, Alentejo, for the installation of a residential and touristic complex.
- Assisted El Corte Inglés in complex planning matters and in obtaining the approval of an allotment architecture.
- Acted for Novo Banco Group in two real estate and planning projects, Artilharia 1 in Lisbon, and Benagil in Algarve.
Sofia Galvao Advogados > Firm Profile
Sofia Galvão Advogados (SGA) is a boutique law firm, founded in 2014, which dedicates to the Territory, focused on supporting the implementation and development of economic activities on land and at sea.
SGA has its distinctive feature in the integrated approach of real estate and planning, and has been able to establish itself as a recognized go-to firm (namely in major real estate transactions and planning instructions), filling what was a gap in Portuguese legal services panorama: a partner based boutique law firm, with very solid (and acknowledged) real estate and planning expertise, that is able to present an integrated view of deals, whether they are of a “classic” real estate model (e.g., assets with a running cash flow or a sale and leaseback transaction) or require a prospective, strategy-oriented approach (e.g., development deals or urban renewal deals).
Main Contacts
| Department | Name | Telephone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Land and maritime spatial planning | Sofia Galvão | ||
| Land and maritime spatial planning | Hugo Nunes | ||
| Tourism | Sofia Galvão | ||
| Tourism | Hugo Nunes | ||
| EU funds | Sofia Galvão | ||
| EU funds | Hugo Nunes | ||
| Ports | Sofia Galvão | ||
| Ports | Hugo Nunes | ||
| Public procurement | Sofia Galvão | ||
| Public procurement | Luís Moitinho de Almeida | ||
| Real estate | Sofia Galvão | ||
| Real estate | Hugo Nunes | ||
| Environment | Sofia Galvão | ||
| Construction | Sofia Galvão | ||
| Construction | Hugo Nunes | ||
| Litigation | Hugo Nunes | ||
| Litigation | Luís Moitinho de Almeida | ||
| Administrative concessions | Sofia Galvão | ||
| Administrative concessions | Luís Moitinho de Almeida |
Lawyer Profiles
| Photo | Name | Position | Profile |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Dra Sofia Galvão | Sofia is Partner and founding member of Sofia Galvao Advogados, a boutique… | View Profile |
 | Dr Luís Moitinho de Almeida | Luís is member (since 2015), and Partner (since October 2020) of Sofia… | View Profile |
 | Dr Hugo Nunes | Hugo is Partner and founding member of Sofia Galvão Advogados, a boutique… | View Profile |
Staff Figures
Number of lawyers : 10Languages
English French Italian Portuguese SpanishOther
Other offices : LisbonClient Testimonials
CLIENT: Frederico Pedro Nunes – Head of Development of Grupo Novobanco Real Estate
COMPANY/FIRM: Grupo Novobanco Real Estate
TESTIMONIAL: As a matter of context, as part of my role at Grupo Novobanco Real Estate, I have been a client from Sofia, Hugo and Luis Moitinho since 2017, dealing with highly complex development projects. Sofia Galvão’s team are a highly dedicated group of lawyers offering a powerful combination of strong urban law knowledge and relevant experience on the ground, topped with a practical approach to client’s challenges, making them a winning team when dealing with real estate, urban law and environmental matters. Also, I would like to stress their commitment to long standing clients, creating a true partnership.
CLIENT: Gonçalo Laia Fernandes – Director of ECS Capital
COMPANY/FIRM: ECS Capital
TESTIMONIAL: As a matter of context, as part of my role at ECS Capital, I have been a client from Sofia, Hugo and Luis Moitinho since 2016. Sofia Galvão’s team are a highly dedicated group of lawyers offering a powerful combination of strong urban law knowledge and relevant experience on the ground, topped with a practical approach to client’s challenges, making them a winning team when dealing with real estate and urban law matters. Also, I would like to highly their commitment to long standing clients, creating a true partnership.
CLIENT: Javier Catena Gordo – Real Estate Director of ECI Spain| Enrique Hidalgo Miralles – General Director of ECI Portugal
COMPANY/FIRM: El Corte Inglés (“ECI”)
TESTIMONIAL: From Spain, it is essential to have a trust-worthy expert on the field who transmits with clarity the status of business, whilst conveying the little details which make a difference in an operation. For my business, working with this Law Firm means a guarantee of reliability and effectiveness, especially in juridically complex matters such as those related to urbanism. We would like to highlight the professionalism, patience and empathy of Hugo Nunes with whom we have worked in extremely complicated operations. In those complex situations, Hugo is always able to provide creative solutions.
CLIENT: John Dwyer – Chief Executive Officer of CostaTerra (Discovery Land Company)
COMPANY/FIRM: CostaTerra | Discovery Land Company
TESTIMONIAL: CostaTerra’s relationship with Sofia Galvao, and Hugo Nunes started in 2018, at the inception of the acquisition process, and progressed through DD, Vesting, early sales and eventual conveyancing. Hugo and his Team, underwrote our confidence in the acquisition, through their extensive DD work, clearly set out in logical easily consumable opinions and narrative, with concise risk analysis and associated mitigation measures. Hugo’s composed, methodical and botom-up approach, endorses credibility, and promotes open and positive dialogue from all stake holders. The rules, regulations, and nuances of our project were scripted to protect the unique location, respect the local community, and be “of the place”. A particular, and very valuable characteristic of Hugo’s Team, is the instinct to give commercial intuitive advices, without just quoting legislation. An invaluable and time saving trait.
CLIENT: Walter van Damme – President of Fosun Hive
COMPANY/FIRM: Fosun Hive
TESTIMONIAL: Sofia Galvão is beyond any doubt one of the most professional and skilled real estate lawyers in Portugal. This holds for real estate matters in general, and more particular for any matters related to planning and licensing. Over the years, I had the opportunity to work with Sofia and her team in various dynamic and complex issues and she consistently performed by following a clear strategy and delivered the results as promised. Her approach is holistic, strategic, business-minded, no-nonsense, pragmatic and results driven. She combines superior professional skills with strong communication skills, driving the points in clear terms to the essence. She says what she does and does what she says, which nowadays unfortunately has become a rarity.
- Planning law
Top Tier Firm Rankings
- Real estate and construction