Europe - Portugal
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Commercial, corporate and M&A

VdA

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Highly regarded for its ‘exceptional availability and the extensive expertise’, VdA’s corporate and M&A team remains active across the telecoms, energy, healthcare, infrastructure, technology, and aviation sectors. The team handles a broad spectrum of transactions, offering comprehensive support to a diverse portfolio of domestic and international corporates. Practice head Cláudia da Cruz Almeida is frequently engaged by clients in energy, infrastructure, aviation, and tourism, with experience spanning M&A, private equity, and reorganisations. Paulo Trindade Costa focuses on restructurings, private equity investments, and M&A, while Jorge Bleck remains a sought-after figure for distressed M&A and restructurings, praised for his ‘sophisticated transactional solutions.’ Sofia Bobone frequently advises clients on M&A matters, and dual-qualified Maria Cunha Matos is known for her cross-border expertise with international corporations and private equity firms.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘VdA, with emphasis on its Corporate and M&A department, has highly experienced and technically competent professionals, in addition to having a broad interdisciplinary approach.'

  • ‘I would highlight Jorge Bleck, who demonstrates an encyclopedic knowledge of law and a full command of the most sophisticated transactional solutions, and Phillipa Soares Franco, a young lawyer with high technical skills, organisation and work capacity.'

  • 'Team presents itself aligned and very well organised, without affecting quality and agility of support.'

  • ‘Would point out the outstanding technically quality of Philippa Soares Franco and Jorge Bleck on corporate law, along with somewhat unusual capabilities of being able to elegantly share the stage with our corporate legal team; be sharp and with creative solutions; and have a sound negotiation mindset.'

  • ‘Sofia Bobone did an excellent job leading the team. In negotiations, she was always very constructive in the search for appropriate solutions.'

  • ‘Dedication to the clients; the team is always available and  keen to help. They know our portfolio companies inside-out. We have worked very closely together on a number of opportunities and often feel they are extension of our team.’

  • ‘Cláudia Cruz Almeida - knowledgeable, experienced. Domingos Freire de Andrade - a pleasure to work with him; truly invested in the success of our transactions and businesses.'

  • ‘We were highly satisfied with this law firm, particularly impressed by their exceptional availability and the extensive expertise they brought to our matters. The team's strengths lie in their responsiveness and the broad range of relevant professionals they mobilise for each case, ensuring comprehensive and effective support.'

Key clients

  • Arie Investimentos
  • Codavel, S.A.
  • Diaverum AB
  • Finerge Europe H. SARL
  • Florence Labs, Inc. (now named Fabric Labs, Inc.)
  • Galp Energia, SGPS, S.A.
  • Igneo Infrastructure Partners
  • Key Shareholders of Greenvolt – Energias Renováveis, S.A.
  • Lactogal – Produtos Alimentares S.A
  • Lyntia Networks SAU
  • Novabase – Sociedade Gestora de Participações Sociais, S.A.
  • Menzies Aviation Limited
  • Parpública – Participações Públicas (SGPS), S.A.; Portuguese State
  • Semapa – Sociedade de Investimento e Gestão, SGPS, S.A.
  • Serena Industrial Partners GP S.À R.L.
  • Unilever
  • SAUR SAS

Work highlights

  • Advised Galp on the joint venture with Mitsui (75-25 respectively) for the development and operation of a large-scale unit in the Sines refinery with total investments in the new plant being estimated at c. €400m.
  • Advised the Portuguese State and Parpública – Participações Públicas (SGPS), S.A. in the privatisation of EFACEC Power Solutions SGPS, S.A. in favour of Mutares Iberia, S.L.
  • Advised Menzies Aviation – Portugal – Unipessoal, Lda. in the acquisition of a majority stake (50.1%) in the share capital of SPdH – Serviços Portugueses de Handling, S.A.

Lawyers

Hall of Fame
The lawyers at the very top of the profession, widely known and respected by peers and clients for their longstanding involvement in market-leading work.
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Next Generation Partners
Junior partners with significant recognition from clients and peers in the market and key roles on multiple matters.
Sofia Bobone
VdA

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Cláudia Cruz Almeida

Other key lawyers

Jorge Bleck, Paulo Trindade Costa, Francisco Sá Carneiro, Helena Vaz Pinto, Maria da Conceição Cabaços, Maria Cunha Matos, Sofia Bobone, Phillipa Soares Franco, Domingos Freire de Andrade