Team size: 17

Major legal advisors: Linklaters, VdA, Morais Leitão, Pérez‑Llorca, Sérvulo

Jurisdictions your role covers: Portugal

What are the most significant cases or transactions your legal team has recently been involved in? 

Over the past year, the legal team has been deeply involved in several high‑impact strategic transactions and complex matters across the group. 

One of the most significant transactions was the sale by Fidelidade of a relevant minority stake in Luz Saúde to Macquarie Asset Management (MAM). The legal team played a central role throughout this process, which was highly complex and involved multiple jurisdictions, sophisticated governance arrangements, and the coordination of different legal, regulatory and transactional workstreams. Our involvement covered transaction structuring, due diligence, corporate governance, regulatory analysis, negotiation of key transaction documents and close coordination with external counsel across jurisdictions. This transaction was strategically critical for Luz Saúde and required intense legal engagement at group and shareholder level. 

In parallel, the team continued to support the group’s expansion strategy, including acquisitions, greenfield healthcare projects, and real estate developments, as well as increasingly complex regulatory, compliance and data‑driven healthcare initiatives.

What do you value most in external advisers working alongside your team? 

We value advisers who combine technical excellence with deep sector knowledge and a strong understanding of our business model. Responsiveness, pragmatism, and the ability to translate complex legal issues into clear, actionable advice are essential. We particularly value advisers who act as true partners and integrate seamlessly with us in‑house team, especially in complex and multi‑jurisdictional transactions.

How has the role of the legal function evolved within your organization, and where does it add the most strategic value today? 

Over recent years, the legal function at Luz Saúde has evolved from a traditional support role into a fully integrated strategic partner of the business. Today, we are involved early in strategic decision‑making processes, major investments, and transformation projects. 

Our greatest strategic value lies in enabling growth and innovation while managing regulatory, operational, and reputational risk in a highly scrutinized sector. The legal team actively contributes to shaping solutions rather than simply validating them.

In what ways does your legal team promote diversity, equity, and inclusion? 

Diversity, equity, and inclusion are core values within our legal team and along all Luz Saúde. Internally, we promote equal opportunities, transparent career development, and a culture of mutual respect. Externally, we encourage our legal advisers to staff matters with diverse teams and value firms that demonstrate a genuine commitment to DEI, which we see as an essential component of legal excellence.