Dispute Resolution: The Elite | Europe

Linklaters has a wide-ranging practice covering a variety of civil and public law disputes. The firm is well placed to advise on highly complex multi-jurisdictional disputes in the banking sector as well as administrative law proceedings. This elite department has further experience representing clients against the Portuguese state. Its client list comprises key market players from the financial, health and public sectors. The team is also well adept at assisting with arbitration proceedings, as well as compensation claims, patent infringements and breach of commercial agreements.

Morais Leitão is an elite Portuguese powerhouse covering the full range of corporate, financial and commercial litigation. The firm is active in varied disputes arising for clients in the banking, telecommunications and pharmaceutical sectors. It handles commercial arbitration relating to post-M&A disputes or failed construction contracts, including standout ICC cases that have a key link to lusophone jurisdictions. The firm has additional expertise in criminal litigation.

PLMJ boasts a top-tier team advising on high-value commercial litigation, with further experience in international arbitration relating to construction contracts for projects in Portugal and in countries in Africa. This elite firm has experience on the defendant side of competition damages and product liability cases that have given rise to litigation in multiple jurisdictions across Europe. The team offers strong geographical coverage with offices in Lisbon, Porto and the Algarve, in addition to branches in Portuguese-speaking countries in Africa.

Uría Menéndez is a sophisticated practice covering a wide range of contentious matters. The firm represents domestic and international banking institutions in civil and administrative proceedings, including competition law appeals or the defence of regulatory enforcement actions. It acts on high-value shareholder disputes and complex group restructuring cases. The team has experience in international arbitration flowing from the breach of contracts for the construction of major infrastructure in Latin America. The team acts for clients in the textile, banking and aviation sectors, as well as private individuals.

VdA has a sizeable and multidisciplinary practice with the capacity to handle varied commercial disputes, including international arbitration. The team advises on debt recovery proceedings, corporate disputes and claims arising from the termination of distribution agreements. It has further experience in the enforcement of arbitral awards in Portugal. The lawyers provide support across Portuguese-speaking jurisdictions including Angola, Mozambique and São Tomé and Príncipe, assisting with diverse matters ranging from environmental claims to investor-state arbitration.

CMS has a well-regarded elite team with a broad coverage of corporate, commercial and administrative litigation. The firm assists Portuguese and international banks with civil and administrative proceedings, with further activity representing clients in international and domestic arbitrations. The lawyers are experienced in corporate litigation, damages claims and shareholder disputes. The team offers additional expertise in litigations arising from concession agreements.

Cuatrecasas has a dedicated dispute resolution practice which frequently handles cases involving banking and commercial issues. The elite firm offers support in post-M&A disputes, competition damages claims and enforcement claims. It assists with international arbitration proceedings arising in relation to the termination of commercial agreements and concession contracts. Clients include major banks, state-owned companies and private individuals.

DLA Piper team advises a variety of domestic and international clients, notably within the banking, finance and transportation sectors. It has a strong arbitration practice, with key lawyers acting either as counsel or as arbitrator in international disputes relating to M&A transactions, construction contracts and the termination of distribution agreements. The firm also handles insurance disputes.

Garrigues has a highly experienced team representing key clients in the insurance, banking, construction and energy sectors in a wide scope of litigation matters. It frequently acts for clients on corporate and commercial litigations, as well as IP infringement, unfair competition and product liability. The firm also acts on international arbitration mandates, including disputes relating to Portuguese infrastructure projects or failed M&A transactions. Clients benefit from the firm's extensive international offices, with branches spanning the Iberian peninsula and the Americas.

Sérvulo & Associados is an elite firm that offers comprehensive service in litigation and arbitration. It has acted for the insolvency estates of several Portuguese banks on cases brought by creditors. It assists banks, funds and public bodies with high-value debt recovery actions. The firm has experience in the defence of civil liability claims, including within the context of environmental disasters or medical malpractice. It advises major domestic clients with activity in various industry sectors, including natural resources, life sciences, real estate and sport.

Abreu Advogados offers a strong team that handles all manner of commercial and civil litigation including damage claims, debt recovery and unfair competition matters. The lawyers offer further expertise in international arbitration. The client roster includes household names in the energy and sports sectors. The team additionally represents companies in a wide range of industries including real estate, healthcare and banking.

CS'Associados offers expertise in commercial and administrative proceedings. The team is noted for its capacity to handle financial services regulatory, media sector regulatory or environmental disputes. The team also assists clients with domestic and international arbitrations.

Miranda & Associados has a solid team with an impressive client list consisting of public bodies and major companies in the energy and finance sectors. The firm acts on international arbitration that often relates to planned energy or infrastructure projects. It assists with reimbursement claims arising from PPAs. The firm boasts strong cross-border disputes capabilities, particularly in cases involving African countries such as Cabo Verde and Mozambique.

SRS Legal handles a diverse caseload consisting both of commercial and public law disputes, including several high-value cases. The elite firm advises on arbitration mandates relating to breaches of construction contracts, lease agreements and M&A contracts. It is well placed to advise clients from the construction, banking and real estate sectors. The firm's wider commercial litigation practice includes work on IP cases and shareholder disputes and claims arising under real estate contracts.

TELLES earns market recognition for its skill in civil litigation and arbitration proceedings, particularly in the north of Portugal. It frequently represents clients operating in the healthcare, real estate and energy sectors in a range of contractual disputes. The firm assists with disputes arising under shareholders' agreements, supply contracts or construction contracts.