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PLMJ

PLMJ

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Portugal

1

Projects and project finance

Led by Maria Zagallo, the projects team at PLMJ advises clients across the energy, transport, healthcare, airport, and construction sectors on the full range of projects and project finance matters. Zagallo is widely recognised for her extensive experience leading complex mandates involving public and private stakeholders, including large-scale infrastructure projects across the roads, railways, airports, ports, healthcare, water and waste sectors. Joana Brandão plays a key role in energy, infrastructure, and real estate projects, and showcases significant expertise in urban concessions and public works. Diogo Perestrelo is skilled in large-scale transport, energy and other infrastructure projects, while Elsa Pizarro Pardal routinely advises on the financing of road and rail infrastructure projects.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘Pedro Siza Vieira is valued for his constructive stance, seeking consensus and viable solutions even in highly complex contexts, always maintaining a focus on reasonableness and balance between the parties. In turn, Maria Zagallo stands out for her availability and approachability, qualities that prove critical in complex project finance operations. She has demonstrated a remarkable ability to listen to and understand the concerns of all stakeholders, ensuring that each party felt heard and respected.'
  • 'What differentiates PLMJ is its integrated vision with the involvement of multidisciplinary teams, strong coordination capacity, and continuous investment in innovation, including project management methodologies and solutions that increase transparency and reduce risks. PLMJ combines legal excellence with a culture of collaboration and modernisation, positioning itself as a strategic partner for highly complex operations.’
  • ‘PLMJ stands out in the national legal landscape for its ability to articulate and its solution-oriented approach, which allows for fluidity in complex project finance and infrastructure operations. The team combines consolidated experience in infrastructure sectors such as transport and PPPs with a collaborative and available stance, ensuring that all parties feel supported and that processes move forward efficiently, even in the face of critical challenges.'
  • 'Joana Brandão, with her vast experience in public and private construction, complements this crucial vector and completes a unique team in the current landscape.’
  • ‘Maria Zagallo, Pedro Siza Vieira, and Diogo Perestrelo are indispensable names in the project management sector, with accumulated experience in concessions, PPPs, and project finance unmatched by any other team in the country, encompassing the entire Portuguese experience. Each of them, with their specific background of many years in this area—whether on the promoter's, financier's, or public entity's side, across a wide variety of sectors—brings decisive value not only in terms of legal and contractual know-how but also strategic vision and problem-solving, with out-of-the-box solutions that are always balanced and promote partnership.'
  • ‘PLMJ currently distinguishes itself as the most comprehensive projects team in the market, with a 360-degree view of all possible aspects of PPPs and concessions.'

Key clients

  • NOAE Investments, S.A.
  • LHEA
  • RyanAir
  • Ardian
  • DIF Capital Partners
  • Strategic Value Partners
  • Government of Cape Verde
  • Aer Rianta International CPT
  • Eco Wave Power
  • Ecoslops
  • Enerparc
  • Engie Group

Work highlights

Advised the new management of the Futebol Clube do Porto group companies on the renegotiation of the agreement signed with Ithaka by the prior management, which had governed the joint venture operating the Dragão stadium for 25 years.
Assisted Optimal Mountain with the drafting and negotiation of a works contract to build a 4-star hotel, with 132 accommodation units (and a capacity for 256 beds/guests), in the Corpus Christi Convent, located in Lisbon.
Advising the Government of Cape Verde and its Special Projects Management Unit (UGPE) on developing an ambitious project to deliver the first specialist hospital – the Cabo Verde Hospital.

Lawyers

Next Generation Partners

Junior partners with significant recognition from clients and peers in the market and key roles on multiple matters.

Practice head

Maria Zagallo

Other key lawyers

Joana Brandão; Diogo Perestrelo; Pedro Siza Vieira; Elsa Pizarro Pardal

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