DLA Piper ABBC > Lisbon, Portugal > Firm Profile

DLA Piper ABBC > The Legal 500 Rankings

Portugal > Employment Tier 1

Well-regarded for its ability to marry ‘excellent technical knowledge’ with a ‘client-oriented’ approach, the employment group at DLA Piper ABBC covers both transactional employment matters and standalone advisory services. Esteemed as trusted advisers to blue-chip international companies, the team excels in managing complex issues such as collective bargaining agreements, redundancies, employee transfers, and business reorganisations. Benjamim Mendes focuses on individual and mass dismissal procedures, collective bargaining agreements, lay-off procedures and contentious employment matters. Catarina Santos Ferreira is lauded as an ‘extremely professional’ individual who possesses ‘remarkable know-how.’ João Guedes advises on the labour law implications of M&A deals, and Sara Leitão regularly assists companies with day-to-day advice.

Portugal > Transport Tier 1

DLA Piper ABBC ‘stands out for its experience in the aviation industry’, focusing on transactional matters, dispute resolution and regulatory work. The practice is led by António Moura Portugal, a highly regarded lawyer with broad expertise across multiple jurisdictions and a key contact for airlines and aviation authorities. Inês Teixeira specialises in regulatory matters and provides ongoing support to several prominent European airlines. Stéphanie Sá Silva, drawing on her in-house experience at a major domestic airline, advises on complex aviation matters while also offering insights into the rail sector. Catarina Portela Morais excels in aviation disputes.

Portugal > Commercial, corporate and M&A Tier 2

Leveraging its extensive global network, DLA Piper ABBC is a go-to for major corporates, private equity firms, financial institutions, and fund managers across the energy, real estate, TMT, transport, and pharmaceutical sectors, providing robust support on M&A transactions and corporate advisory matters. The practice is jointly steered by Nuno Azevedo Neves , known for his work on significant cross-border M&A deals and privatisations, and João Costa Quinta , who advises private equity and investment funds on corporate governance, venture capital, and M&A. Elsewhere in the team, Nuno Castelo Branco is recognised for his expertise in the energy sector, while Stéphanie Sá Silva is noted for her capabilities in the transport sector.

Portugal > Data privacy and data protection Tier 2

Domestic and multinational companies from an array of sectors, including tech, energy, life sciences, industrials and retail, frequently turn to DLA Piper ABBC for advice on GDPR compliance and data privacy-related commercial and litigation matters. The group is jointly led by João Costa Quinta, a commercial contracts and privacy law specialist, and Daniel Reis, recognised for his in-depth knowledge of data protection issues, including data breaches and GDPR compliance. Margarida Leitão Nogueira, who is especially active in the life sciences, consumer goods and tech sectors, is another name to note for privacy and cybersecurity mandates.

Portugal > Energy and natural resources Tier 2

DLA Piper ABBC is well positioned to advise on transactional matters - including financings, joint ventures and M&A - and regulatory issues in the energy sector. Practice head Nuno Azevedo Neves, a corporate and finance specialist, is regularly engaged in cross-border M&A involving energy and natural resources assets. Nuno Castelo Branco is another name to note for multijurisdictional deals in the energy space.

Portugal > EU and competition Tier 2

A popular choice for companies from the food, pharma, energy, transport, financial services and media sectors, DLA Piper ABBC has a wealth of experience in merger control, antitrust investigations and litigation, and EU law and regulatory matters. The practice is led by Miguel Mendes Pereira, a recognised expert in competition law, who often handles cartel cases, merger control issues, and State Aid matters.

Portugal > Tax Tier 2

Standing out for its ability to provide ‘tailored legal insights that go beyond baseline advice’, the tax group at DLA Piper ABBC represents a diverse client base, including financial institutions and corporates, across transactional and contentious tax matters. Practice head António Moura Portugal stands out for his expertise in tax litigation, particularly within regulated industries such as tobacco, online gambling, aviation, and energy. The ‘incredible’ Inês Teixeira frequently handles significant tax litigation cases, including proceedings before superior courts, while Ana Carvalho is noted for her expertise in transactional and international tax matters.

Portugal > Banking and finance Tier 3

‘Responsive, thorough and efficient’, the banking and finance team at DLA Piper ABBC is renowned for its expertise in complex banking issues and financing transactions, advising major banks, financial services companies, and institutions. The firm boasts strong capabilities in acquisition and corporate finance, while its proficiency in real estate and project finance means that it is frequently involved in large-scale project refinancing. Practice head Nuno Azevedo Neves  is a key port of call for national and international banks, financial institutions, PE houses and corporates seeking assistance on complex finance matters. João Bento is particularly noted for his experience concerning NPL transactions. Gonçalo Castro Ribeiro rejoined the firm in October 2024 from BROSETA Abogados.

Portugal > Dispute resolution Tier 3

Operating across a myriad of sectors and industries including employment, insurance, administrative law, energy and aviation, the team at DLA Piper ABBC remains active in civil and commercial litigation, arbitration, and white-collar crime matters. Paulo Saragoça da Matta stands out for his work on white-collar crime, political crime, banking crime and tax fraud matters. He leads the team alongside Vanessa Antunes and Sofia Ribeiro Mendes, both of whom maintain active practices advising domestic and international clients on a broad spectrum of disputes.

Portugal > Fraud and white-collar crime Tier 3

Noted for its ‘excellent service’, DLA Piper ABBC specialises in defending clients against a broad range of criminal and white-collar charges, including fraud, corruption, money laundering, and corporate misconduct. Spearheading the team is Paulo Saragoça da Matta, who has extensive experience in white-collar crime, political crime, banking crime and tax fraud matters. He is supported by Rui Pedro Martins, who stands out for his litigation capabilities.

Portugal > Projects and project finance Tier 3

DLA Piper ABBC  acts for a diverse client base, including companies from the financial services, energy, real estate, transport, chemicals, and heavy industry sectors, across a broad spectrum of project matters. The firm showcases particular expertise in mandates involving Lusophone jurisdictions. Nuno Azevedo Neves oversees the practice, where André Duarte Figueira, an arrival from Cuatrecasas in October 2023, is the name to note for international projects in the infrastructure and energy spaces, with a special focus on Angola.

Portugal > Real estate and construction Tier 3

Luis Filipe Carvalho, described by clients 'a reference in the national real estate market’, leads the real estate practice at DLA Piper ABBC, which advises major domestic and international investors on predominantly transactional matters. The team handles every stage of a real estate investment, from initial due diligence and negotiations to contract drafting, and is also highly skilled in development and financing matters. Paulo Anjo provides key support, assisting with real estate investments, leasing matters, condominium management, and various other mandates.

Portugal > TMT Tier 3

The ‘versatile’ team at DLA Piper ABBC handles the full gamut of TMT matters, ranging from data protection, software licensing, and administrative disputes to issues concerning unfair competition. The practice is jointly steered by João Costa Quinta and Daniel Reis. Qunita is noted for his focus on commercial contracts and privacy issues, where he is frequently sought by national and international clients, while Reis is recognised for his specialised knowledge of software licensing, IT services, data protection and cybersecurity. Other notable individuals include Margarida Leitão Nogueira, who plays an active role in the IT, gaming, media, entertainment, advertising, and e-commerce industries, and Vanessa Patrocínio, lauded for her ‘ability to understand the specific reality of the client'.

Portugal > Insolvency and restructuring Tier 4

Working seamlessly with the firm’s banking and finance, tax, real estate, employment, and criminal law practices, DLA Piper ABBC offers comprehensive expertise in debt and financial restructurings, in addition to advising on the acquisition and disposal of distressed assets and formal insolvency proceedings. The practice is jointly steered by Nuno Azevedo Neves and Vanessa Antunes; Azevedo Neves focuses on financial restructurings and distressed investments, while Antunes specialises in litigation, representing both domestic and international clients.

Portugal > Public law Tier 4

DLA Piper ABBC taps into an international network of technical expertise to support clients with a wide range of public law matters, with a particular focus on the healthcare sector. Mariana Ricardo leads the team with a multidisciplinary approach, drawing on her background in corporate law. She has extensive experience in public procurement and regulatory frameworks, particularly in the energy and life sciences sectors.