José Luís Da Cruz Vilaça
Europe Guide 2024
Senior Statespeople : Competition/European Law
Senior Statespeople
About
Provided by José Luís Da Cruz Vilaça
Practice Areas
Over 40 years of experience. He advises national, European and world-wide clients, in matters of EU, competition and fundamental rights law, represents clients before the EU Courts, the European Commission, the European Court of Human Rights, the Portuguese Competition Authority and the Portuguese courts.
Career
Founding and Managing Partner, Cruz Vilaça Advogados (2019-present).
Visiting professor, University of Florida (2022-present) and Lusíada University (2020-present).
Judge, Court of Justice of the European Union (2012-2018).
Partner and head of EU and Competition Law, PLMJ (1996-2000).
President, Court of First Instance of the European Communities (1989-1995).
Advocate General, Court of Justice of the European Communities (1986-1988).
PhD, International Economics, Paris I - Panthéon Sorbonne
Masters, Political Economy and Law Degree, University of Coimbra
Professional Memberships
President of APDEN – Portuguese Association of Energy Law (2019-present).
President of FIDE – International Federation of European Law (2016-2018).
President of APDE – Portuguese Association for European Law (2006-2018).
Founding member of Portuguese Competition Lawyers Circle (2009-present).
Member of Portuguese Bar Association. European and Competition Law specialist.
Publications
Coordinator and author of numerous publications, including, “EU Law and Integration: Twenty years of judicial application of EU law”, Hart Publishing, 2014
Personal
Decorated by the Heads of State of Portugal, France, Italy and Luxembourg
Chambers Review
Europe
José Luís Da Cruz Vilaça is particularly known for his notable experience in European Union law. He offers further expertise in challenges to Portuguese Competition Authority decisions, follow-on damages actions and competition compliance.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
"He is a simply amazing competition lawyer."
"He is the best place to go for legal opinions about EU law and competition law."
"He demonstrates a special care in the processes and a very deep knowledge of the matters in question, as a result of his long, diversified and recognised experience."
"He is a very nice person to work with, very knowledgeable and pleasant."
"He is a simply amazing competition lawyer."
"He is the best place to go for legal opinions about EU law and competition law."
"He demonstrates a special care in the processes and a very deep knowledge of the matters in question, as a result of his long, diversified and recognised experience."
"He is a very nice person to work with, very knowledgeable and pleasant."