Garrigues Portugal delivers an ‘excellent service’ to privately held corporates, listed companies, private equity sponsors and institutional investors navigating multijurisdictional transactions across regulated sectors. Combining ’deep legal expertise’ with ‘commercial understanding’, the team is led by Mário Lino Dias, who frequently advises private equity funds and represents founders in venture capital rounds. Tomás Pessanha is a go-to adviser for high-stakes M&A and private equity deals, while Manuel Liberal Jerónimo, recognised for his ’enormous calibre’, brings strong corporate and M&A experience.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Accolades
Client satisfaction: Lawyer & team quality
Client satisfaction: Billing & efficiency
Client satisfaction: Sector knowledge
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- ‘Excellent service with great analysis and good commercial judgement.’
- ‘This practice stands out for its combination of deep legal expertise, commercial understanding, and responsiveness. The team delivers clear, pragmatic advice and works seamlessly across departments to provide well-rounded solutions.'
- ‘The individuals I work with stand out for their professionalism, responsiveness, and ability to combine legal precision with practical judgment. They consistently show deep commitment, clear communication, and a genuine interest in understanding the client’s objectives.'
- ‘What makes this practice unique is its ability to deeply understand our business segment and fully grasp the complexity of the transaction. They don’t just execute. They anticipate key issues and potential risks, which gives us confidence that matters are handled proactively and strategically.'
- 'One of their greatest strengths is collaboration. The team works seamlessly with all stakeholders, ensuring clarity and alignment throughout the process. This is a team that combines deep industry knowledge, strong transactional expertise, and outstanding collaboration, supported by useful tools and a commitment to continuous improvement. The overall experience was exceptional.’
- ‘High quality and legal expertise of its lawyers. Quick and practical response capacity, with knowledge of the sector. Special mention to Manuel Liberal Jerónimo, capable of being a partner and not just a mere external lawyer.’
- ‘Manuel Liberal Jerónimo: A lawyer of enormous calibre, always available and with the ability to get his hands dirty. He is not a distant partner, but very close to his clients and with a very keen sense of practicality and business acumen.’
- ‘I want to highlight the outstanding work delivered by Tomás Pessanha and his team throughout the process. Their expertise, attention to detail, and ability to anticipate challenges were instrumental in achieving a successful outcome. The team demonstrated exceptional collaboration and responsiveness, making the entire experience absolutely efficient.'
Key clients
- Bosch
- Feedzai
- BUPA
- Climate Asset Management (HSBC Group)
- Henko Partners
- TagEnergy
- Dukes Education Group
- Altri
- Sociedade Praia da Figueira
- Viva Aqua Service Spain
- Deutsche Post International BV (DHL)
- Mercan Capital
- MCH Capital
- Halma Plc
- Explorer Investments
- Atena Capital Partners
Work highlights
Assisted Portugal’s fintech unicorn Feedzai in the acquisition of Demyst, an Australian-based fintech, in a multijurisdictional transaction (US, Australia, Singapore and Cayman Islands) for an aggregate consideration of €100m.
Advised Sociedade Figueira Praia on the joint-venture with CIRSA for the joint operation of the (land-based) Figueira da Foz Casino.
Advised the Portuguese listed company Altri on the acquisition of a stake in AeoniQ Holding AG, which owns technology for the production of man-made cellulosic fibres.
Lawyers
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Tomás Pessanha
Next Generation Partners
Junior partners with significant recognition from clients and peers in the market and key roles on multiple matters.
Manuel Liberal Jerónimo
Practice head
Mário Lino Dias
Other key lawyers
Manuel Liberal Jerónimo; Tomás Pessanha; Susana Pimenta de Sousa