General Business Law | Europe

Morais Leitão, Galvão Teles, Soares da Silva & Associados is a renowned firm with a sizeable team based in Porto. It is well equipped to advise international corporates, high-profile domestic clients and local businesses on an array of mandates. The team has the proven capacity to handle major M&A transactions and corporate restructurings on behalf of telecoms operators and construction groups. Its tax specialists assist with the structuring of corporate transactions and real estate projects. The firm's top-ranked competition law practice is led from Porto, while more generalist public law practitioners advise on contentious and non-contentious issues arising in relation to telecoms, ports and public infrastructure concessions. The Porto office also benefits from a strong employment law team which attracts attention for its handling of complex standalone topics, including collective dismissals.

Garrigues has an impressive employment practice in Porto, advising on collective redundancies and the employment aspects of M&A operations. It assists with employment disputes in which employees claim significant amounts for backdated shift allowance. High-profile individuals working in the firm's Porto office have significant experience in M&A deals and joint venture agreements, advising also on real estate transactions. The team attracts further praise for its capacity to handle varied commercial disputes.

PLMJ has superb public and administrative law capabilities based in Porto, with an impressive client list which consists of both public entities and major private companies. The firm advises on disputes arising in relation to public concessions for the construction of energy and infrastructure projects. Key lawyers are known for their specific understanding of environment law topics. The firm's tax team appeals adverse decisions made by the Portuguese tax authority and advises on the direct and indirect tax implications of corporate transactions. PLMJ has further strengths in the employment area, assisting clients with contentious and non-contentious mandates.

TELLES has a well-respected and sizeable team with a strong presence in the Porto market. It stands out for its handling of corporate law topics, with additional notable strength in tax structuring mandates. It is a popular choice for local clients and multinational companies. Its skill set extends to work on insurance disputes and a broader range of commercial litigation and arbitration proceedings.

VdA houses solid teams that are able to assist clients with a diverse range of matters. The firm boasts a highly experienced tax team with considerable experience in tax structuring matters. Its employment law team has the capacity to handle collective changes to working conditions, collective redundancies and litigation relating to individual dismissals. The firm's corporate lawyers have experience in significant restructuring processes, while individuals focusing on public law matters advise on disputes over construction contracts.

Abreu Advogados earns praise from clients for its handling of a range of corporate, commercial and tax matters. It assists international companies with varied issues relating to their expansion into Portugal, including the acquisition of premises and the drafting of employment contracts. It acts on the lender and borrower side of project finance agreements. The tax team also has notable experience in the appeal of tax assessments.

Cerejeira Namora, Marinho Falcão handles a wide range of commercial, regulatory and disputes mandates for domestic Portuguese companies and for foreign corporates seeking to set up operations in Portugal. It advises employers on collective dismissals as well as public municipalities and bodies on administrative claims. Its tax lawyers assist with tax appeals or the structuring of transactions. The firm has further experience in data protection compliance topics.

Cuatrecasas' Porto office stands out for its public law offering, with notable strength defending public bodies in appeals against the award of concession contracts. The team advises Portuguese companies on corporate and commercial matters, including M&A deals and real estate acquisitions. It also advises on employment law and tax issues arising from corporate transactions.

Miranda & Associados has a superb reputation for its public law capabilities. It advises important Portuguese construction and transport sector companies on their preparation of public tender bids and on disputes arising in the course of their fulfilment of public contracts. Key team members increasingly attract attention for their handling of M&A and corporate restructuring mandates. The firm has additional standout experience in sports law matters, advising football clubs and well-known football players on varied issues.

PRA - Raposo, Sá Miranda & Associados is a well-respected law firm based in Porto. The team advises on M&A transactions, including venture capital investments. It assists with the drafting and termination of commercial contracts. The firm acts for employers and employees on contentious mandates and issues flowing from transactions. It advises on merger control filings and has experience in cartel follow-on damages claims.