Pérez-Llorca is home to a public law team capable of advising on complex matters involving public administration, regulation and administrative litigation. Both public and private sector clients turn to the practice for assistance with administrative concessions, PPPs, licensing, State aid and public procurement. The team is co-led by Adolfo Mesquita Nunes, who combines deep regulatory and public law knowledge with strategic insight into government and corporate governance, and Débora Melo Fernandes, who has extensive experience in administrative law, advising on energy, mobility, life sciences, and TMT-related matters, as well as public procurement, concessions, and regulatory disputes.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Accolades
Client satisfaction: Lawyer & team quality
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- ‘The handling and treatment of any matter are personalised, competent, professional, and effective.’
- ‘Excellent team and excellent collaboration with clients.’
- ‘Adolfo Mesquita and Mariana Cabana are excellent professionals who master their field and the topics of litigation.’
- ‘The public law department at PL is small but very strong. Débora Melo Fernandes is a young leader, yet a solid, efficient lawyer with deep knowledge of this area of law. She maintains excellent relationships and ensures that her team delivers efficient and legally robust responses.’
- ‘Débora Melo Fernandes, who co-leads the department, is an excellent lawyer with a pragmatic yet legally sound approach to complex issues.'
- 'Gonçalo Bargado is one of the best of his generation, with significant experience and solid legal expertise, making him a key asset in the firm’s public law practice.’
- ‘The firm carried out the study with great professionalism, providing essential knowledge to support regulatory activities in the mobility and transport sector.’
- ‘I would highlight Adolfo Mesquita Nunes for his deep expertise in artificial intelligence and the relationship between law and new technologies.’
- They are an internationally recognized firm that is now taking its first steps in Portugal. The Public Law team consists of highly qualified and recognized professionals in the market, with experience, knowledge, pragmatism, and innovation.
- Débora Melo Fernandes is a great lawyer, very client-oriented. Gonçalo Bargado, who came from Sérvulo, was a great acquisition for the team.
Key clients
- ## INSERTED START: 26-08-2025 04:33:18 Aquila Capital Corporate Services Portugal Autonomous Region of the Azores (Região Autónoma dos Açores) Mobi.E Sunshining Valorsul Município da Figueira da Foz Bolt Support Services PT Unipessoal Lda Transdev EGF - Empresa Geral do Fomento World Aviation Volkswagen Financial Services JCDecaux Atlante Sword Health Autoridade de Mobilidade e Transportes Ernst & Young
Work highlights
Represented Município da Figueira da Foz in proceedings challenging the cancellation of Public Tender/Contract No. E.CPI.75/2024 concerning the Bridge over the River Mondego – Eurovelo 1 Atlantic Coast Route, brought by competitor Alexandre Barbosa Borges.
Advised Mobi.E on regulatory and public law matters relating to its role as the Electric Mobility Network Managing Entity in Portugal, responsible for managing and monitoring the national electric charging network.
Advised the Regional Secretariat for Finance, Planning and Public Administration of the Government of the Autonomous Region of the Azores on the launch of the public tender for the concession to operate and develop the São Miguel Stadium and adjacent areas.
Practice head
Adolfo Mesquita Nunes; Débora Melo Fernandes
Other key lawyers
Mariana Cabana; Gonçalo Bargado