Linklaters > Lisbon, Portugal > Firm Profile

Linklaters > The Legal 500 Rankings

Portugal > Banking and finance Tier 1

Lauded as the premier choice for some of the world’s leading financial players, Linklaters assists clients with the full scope of banking and finance matters. Esteemed as trusted advisers to international banks, alternative asset managers, distressed debt traders and hedge funds, the team showcases notable strength in non-performing loan (NPLs) portfolio disposals, acquisition and project finance, and refinancing matters. Leveraging the firm’s accomplished ESG team, of which Francisco Ferraz De Carvalho and Maria de Athayde Tavares are active members, the practice provides clients with comprehensive guidance on environmental, social and governance issues across a wide range of sectors and contexts. Carvalho leads the wider banking practice and is noted for his focus on project finance, especially in the energy and infrastructure sectors. Key contact Gonçalo Veiga De Macedo represents financial institutions and companies in domestic and cross-border financings, while managing associate Teresa Novo Faria routinely advises on complex project finance and structured finance transactions.

Portugal > Capital markets Tier 1

Linklaters‘ ‘incomparable’ team draws considerable praise for its ‘excellent technical knowledge’ in complex debt and equity transactions, acting both for domestic and international clients. The firm is sought out by some of the world’s leading companies, thanks to its expertise in providing assistance on derivatives and structured finance mandates, as well as issues pertaining to public takeovers, private and public offers of securities, and regulatory filings. Co-head António Soares holds an excellent market reputation for his proficiency in equity and debt deals, financial regulatory issues and privatisations. Vera Ferreira de Lima, who oversees the firm’s financial regulation group,  handles the gamut of capital markets transactions, having participated in the structuring of various public and private securities offerings. Associate Válter Gouveia is highlighted for his ‘creativity and pragmatism in searching for the best solutions for the client’.

Portugal > Commercial, corporate and M&A Tier 1

With expertise spanning the real estate, insurance, infrastructure, energy, transport and IT sectors, Linklaters provides guidance to a diverse roster of prestigious corporate clients across all facets of their M&A work. The team is further lauded for its ability to handle multijurisdictional transactions, leveraging its global network to assist on matters, with a focus on Portuguese-speaking countries in Africa, most notably Mozambique. Practice head Diogo Plantier Santos is noted for his specialist focus on real estate transactions. Marcos de Sousa Monteiro is recommended for cross-border M&A, privatisations, and reorganisations in Portugal and Lusophone Africa. Counsel Mariana Serra Baptista is a key port of call for domestic and international clients seeking advice on all type of M&A work, including acquisitions, joint ventures, corporate restructurings, private equity investments, as well as takeovers and privatisations.

Portugal > Dispute resolution Tier 1

With a wealth of experience in advising Portuguese and foreign clients on domestic and international litigation and arbitration proceedings, the dispute resolution team at Linklaters excels in commercial disputes. Class actions have been a recent area of focus, and the team has taken on new clients in consumer and anti-trust cases. Nuno Ferreira Lousa leads the team, with a practice that spans the gamut of litigation and arbitration proceedings, as well as regulatory investigations. Ricardo Guimarães is singled out for his extensive experience in public law-related disputes and Manuel De Abreu Castelo Branco is active in civil and commercial litigation. Raquel Galvão Silva focuses on domestic and international arbitration in the finance, energy, construction and healthcare sectors, while Carmina Campos Pina is an expert in technology-related matters. Tatiana Lisboa Padrão handles restructuring and insolvency mandates.

Portugal > EU and competition Tier 1

Linklaters‘ competition group stands out for its ‘depth and solid technical-legal knowledge’, possessing capabilities across the full scope of transactional, regulatory and contentious antitrust matters. The firm is highly sought after by some of the world’s largest companies for merger control filings, enjoying recent success handling Phase II investigations. Additionally, the team excels in handling some of Portugal’s most challenging cartel and abuse of dominance cases. João Pateira Ferreira took over as department head in September 2023 and is noted for his expertise across the full gamut of antitrust matters. Carlos Pinto Correia is a key port of call for corporates in merger control matters, including multi-jurisdictional transactions.

Portugal > Insolvency and restructuring Tier 1

Linklaters effectively leverages the collective knowledge of its litigation, arbitration, finance, corporate, tax, and employment experts to provide comprehensive guidance on restructuring and insolvency matters. This encompasses debt restructuring, capital raisings, distressed M&A, and formal insolvency procedures, as well as asset tracing and bank loan portfolios refinancing. The team is under the leadership of Nuno Ferreira Lousa, who also spearheads the litigation, arbitration, and investigations department. Manuel De Abreu Castelo Branco further bolsters the team with his experience in both domestic and cross-border insolvency and pre-insolvency proceedings.

Portugal > Projects and project finance Tier 1

Linklaters is a popular destination for clients seeking advice on the financing and development of large-scale projects, covering acquisition finance, structured M&A, and long-term contracting. Standing out for its cross-border capabilities, the team’s expertise extends to both Portugal and Portuguese-speaking African jurisdictions. Francisco Ferraz De Carvalho, who leads the finance, energy, and infrastructure department, advises lenders, sponsors, and government entities on a variety of energy projects globally. Maria de Athayde Tavares specialises in public law, regulatory, and environmental matters, with a particular focus on the energy, infrastructure, and telecoms spaces. With a keen focus on regulated sectors like energy and infrastructure, Teresa Novo Faria has recently handles numerous financings of photovoltaic projects in the country.

Portugal > Tax Tier 1

By capitalising on the expertise of the firm’s accomplished corporate team, the tax practice at Linklaters integrates its knowledge to offer clients comprehensive guidance in market-defining transactions. Leveraging its extensive global network, the team - praised for its ‘high technical and sector knowledge‘ - is also well positioned to assist clients with the gamut of regulatory and contentious tax matters. The team is spearheaded by the ‘outstanding’ Rui Camacho Palma, who is noted for his international tax planning and transactional tax expertise; he often advises on the tax aspects of public and private M&A. Managing associate Inês Pisco Bento is singled out for her strong performance in tax litigation, including administrative, judicial and arbitration proceedings.

Portugal > Energy and natural resources Tier 2

Linklaters stands out as a strong choice for a diverse range of clients, including equity investors, lenders, and corporates, who turn to the team for its wide-ranging capabilities in M&A, portfolio acquisitions, project finance and financing deals in the energy and infrastructure sectors. A litany of lenders, sponsors and governmental entities regularly retain practice head Francisco Ferraz De Carvalho for his expertise in the renewable energy, power and oil and gas sectors. Leading the public and administrative law and regulatory group is Maria de Athayde Tavares, who advises clients on regulatory, environmental and public law issues. Project finance is a key area of expertise for Teresa Novo Faria.

Portugal > Real estate and construction Tier 2

The 'highly qualified, committed and available team' at Linklaters offers an extensive suite of real estate services, covering areas such as construction, project development, finance, real estate M&A, and dispute resolution. With a strong background in real estate contractual negotiations, department head Diogo Plantier Santos' expertise lies in portfolio transactions, sale and leaseback operations, asset management, as well as property development and construction projects. Marrying knowledge in real estate and corporate law, Diogo Barros Pereira has provided key support in several transactions in the real estate sector. Evo Fernandes is no longer at the firm.

Portugal > Employment Tier 3

Singled out for its keen focus on domestic and cross-border transactional matters, Linklaters’ employment division, part of the firm’s corporate department, provides comprehensive advice on labour disputes, restructurings, collective bargaining, and senior-level appointments and terminations. At the helm of the practice, Marta Afonso Pereira’s strengths lie in workplace diversity issues, employment disputes, and crisis management mandates. Covering all advisory and contentious aspects of labour and social security law, Sílvia Pinheiro Esteves advises human resources departments from both private and public sector companies.

Portugal > Public law Tier 3

Showcasing strong capabilities in public procurement and regulatory matters in the energy, telecoms and healthcare segments, Linklaters is well positioned to advise an array of clients on the negotiation and execution of public contracts. The firm’s public law practice is overseen by Maria de Athayde Tavares, whose expertise in PPP projects and concession contracts spans the transport, healthcare, and water and waste sectors. She has a well-established track record of advising a broad range of clients, including sponsors and lenders, in transactions in highly regulated sectors.

Mozambique > Foreign law firms Tier 2

Angola > Foreign firms

Seamlessly integrating with the firm’s Lisbon, London, Paris, and Tokyo offices, Linklaters LLP ‘s Africa group is led by London-based Andrew Jones who is proficient in energy and infrastructure projects. Lisbon’s Francisco Ferraz De Carvalho is at the helm of the Lusophone Africa practice, and specialises in banking and projects across Angola, Mozambique, and Cape Verde.

Latin America: International firms > Projects and energy

Linklaters retains a strong focus on Latin America with a core team of professionals whose practices include a significant caseload in the region. It stands out for capital markets-driven financings, including those undertaken for energy, natural resources and infrastructure clients; it is also recognised for its expertise in green and sustainability-linked bonds. In addition, it has a solid background in conventional project finance and recently advised ENGIE Energía Perú on an up to $300m loan from IDB and IDB Invest. Other major mandates included advising Fluxys on its joint acquisition (with EIG) of major Chilean LNG regasification terminal GNL Quintero, from Enagas Chile and OMERS Infrastructure. Michael Bassett has a background in energy-related project financings, including offshore oil and gas, LNG and renewables. Andrew Compton (who was part of the team advising Fluxys), and counsel Alejandro Gordano provide further senior level expertise. All are based in New York.