DLA Piper ABBC leverages its global footprint to advise on complex cross-border employment matters, including M&A due diligence, restructuring processes and collective bargaining negotiations for leading national and international companies. Praised for its ‘responsiveness’ and wide industry knowledge, the team also has a strong track record in contentious matters. The practice is jointly led by Benjamim Mendes, renowned for his experience in individual and collective dismissals, collective bargaining and restructurings, and the ’fantastic’ João Guedes, who also advises on compliance, outsourcing and employment aspects of M&A. Catarina Santos Ferreira handles the full scope of employment matters in the IT sector, while Sara Leitão brings expertise in disciplinary procedures, collective dismissals and litigation.
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Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- The lawyers have in-depth knowledge of the issues, communicate fluently and effectively on all topics, are ethical, empathetic, and always up-to-date with regard to Portuguese and European law on various matters.
- ‘The firm distinguishes itself through a client-centric approach, offering rigorous, strategic, and results-oriented legal advice. Their priority is to ensure clear and practical solutions that combine technical depth with an understanding of each client's industry.’
- ‘What makes the work of DLA Piper unique in Portugal is their enormous competence, excellent technical knowledge and continuous availability. They always work hard to find the best solutions for us. And in court, when needed, they are great professionals.’
- ‘As an HR Manager, knowing that I can rely on a team like the one DLA provides is a competitive advantage. From the first days of working with DLA, they sought to understand the reality of our organisation and what our needs are in order to provide the best possible support. Combining this basic knowledge with the extraordinary technical expertise they possess is effectively a combination that allows our HR department to meet the demands of a very demanding sector without any problems.’
- ‘A clear highlight is Benjamim Mendes; his experience and ability to analyse and deliver the best solutions for the client are a plus. Benjamim is a highly ethical professional who demonstrates an excellent balance between the commercial aspect, the client, and people.’
- ‘We work with João Guedes, who is a fantastic lawyer. His really deep knowledge of employment law and practice is priceless. João is a very intelligent lawyer and can always find the best solutions for our problems. We have the greatest confidence in him, and he never disappoints. ’
- ‘Catarina Santos Ferreira and Sara Leitão are highly professional and consistently provide practical advice and effective solutions.’
- ‘I would like to highlight the excellent work of Catarina Santos Ferreira, whose availability in promptly attending to inquiries and the assertiveness of her responses conveyed security and confidence throughout the entire process.’
- ‘What we value most is the ability of the DLA employment team to respond quickly and provide immediate, actionable solutions. In situations where timing is critical, the responsiveness and clarity have been key in helping us move forward with confidence.’
Lawyers
Hall of Fame
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Next Generation Partners
Junior partners with significant recognition from clients and peers in the market and key roles on multiple matters.
Leading associates
Leading associates with regular involvement in their team's key work, and recognition from peers or clients as being ones to watch.
Practice head
Benjamim Mendes; João Guedes
Other key lawyers
Sara Leitão; Catarina Santos Ferreira; Daniela Rosa; Henrique Pereira Lourenço