Alberto Galhardo Simões > CMS > Lisbon, Portugal > Lawyer Profile

CMS marries a wealth of experience in construction law, public procurement and government contracts with a strong track record in high-end corporate and financing transactions. ‘The firm features professionals with very specific and specialised knowledge of the energy sector in Portugal‘, and is a main port of call for international financial institutions engaged in the financing of renewable projects, including wind farms and photovoltaic plants. Department head António Payan Martins specialises in banking and finance law, with considerable experience in Portuguese-speaking countries. Alberto Galhardo Simões leads the firm’s Lusophone Africa team, handling infrastructure projects for both public and private clients. Mónica Carneiro Pacheco is lauded as a ‘reference in the energy sector in Portugal’.

CMS is actively involved in a variety of industries, including maritime, transport, and construction, as well as energy, agriculture, and telecoms. The firm integrated Maputo-based firm Couto, Graça e Associados, lda – member of CMS in November 2022, expanding its operations in the region. The Lusophone Africa practice is jointly headed by Alberto Galhardo Simões, Nuno Alves Mansilha, and Tiago Machado Graça. Galhardo Simões is well versed in infrastructure, project finance, and corporate matters, while Mansilha’s expertise lies in M&A, international transactions, corporate restructuring, and FDI. Machado Graça, who became a partner in January 2023, is adept at advising on both national and international tax and investment issues.

With ‘an impressive range of skills’, CMS‘ diverse expertise spans the energy, infrastructure, mining, transportation, and healthcare sectors. The firm’s Angola practice is housed within its Lusophone Africa team, and is spearheaded by Alberto Galhardo Simões, Nuno Alves Mansilha, and Tiago Machado Graça. Galhardo Simões is well-regarded for his infrastructures, project finance, and M&A expertise, while Alves Mansilha is knowledgeable of cross-border undertakings. Machado Graça primarily counsels on international tax, corporate restructuring, and financing strategies.