Sought after by national and international creditors and debtors in various stages of financial distress, Cuatrecasas‘ ‘multidisciplinary‘ department is well versed in the entire spectrum of restructuring and insolvency mandates. Refinancing, distressed M&A, loan-to-own strategies, and insolvency proceedings are all key areas of activity for the group, which is under the joint leadership of Manuel Requicha Ferreira and Miguel de Almada. Ferreira possesses a strong background in banking, finance, and capital markets, while Almada leads the litigation and arbitration practice with a focus on disputes involving the financial, construction, energy, and telecoms sectors. Maria Raquel Moreira and Diana Simão Lourenço, who joined in January 2023 after the firm’s merger with SLCM, bring added expertise in insolvency, debt restructuring, and recovery.

Linklaters effectively leverages the collective knowledge of its litigation, arbitration, finance, corporate, tax, and employment experts to provide comprehensive guidance on restructuring and insolvency matters. This encompasses debt restructuring, capital raisings, distressed M&A, and formal insolvency procedures, as well as asset tracing and bank loan portfolios refinancing. The team is under the leadership of Nuno Ferreira Lousa, who also spearheads the litigation, arbitration, and investigations department. Manuel De Abreu Castelo Branco further bolsters the team with his experience in both domestic and cross-border insolvency and pre-insolvency proceedings.

The ‘extremely qualified’ lawyers at Morais Leitão, Galvão Teles, Soares da Silva & Associados guide debtors, creditors, investors, and other stakeholders through the intricacies of company restructurings and liquidations. Involved in both judicial and extrajudicial procedures, the team handles litigation cases tied to or arising from insolvency proceedings and excels in out-of-court restructuring scenarios. Nuno Gundar da Cruz, who oversees the group, brings expertise in complex PER and insolvency cases in Portugal, as well as significant distressed investments. Carlos Osório de Castro, Pedro Gorjão Henriques and Filipe Lowndes Marques are noted for their experience in financial restructurings. Key support at associate level is offered by Catarina Martins Morão.

PLMJ boasts a multidisciplinary, 'pragmatic and highly efficient' team that collaborates seamlessly with other practice areas, including banking and finance, tax, corporate and M&A, real estate, and public law, providing industry-specific insights for complex cases. The team is co-headed by Nuno Líbano Monteiro, renowned for handling cross-border insolvency cases, restructuring, and litigation for major companies; and Joaquim Shearman de Macedo, who brings expertise in debt restructuring and insolvency disputes, and often represents investment funds in insolvency proceedings. Showcasing extensive experience in the pharmaceutical sector, Manuela Tavares Morais excels in complex cross-border litigation concerning insolvency and the winding up of credit institutions. Pedro Caetano Nunes is a specialist in corporate and financial litigation, catering to investment funds, distressed corporations, and large insolvent estates.

VdA is highly regarded for its advice to corporate clients on financial restructuring, distressed asset negotiations, voluntary business rescue processes, special revitalisations, and insolvency proceedings. Frederico Gonçalves Pereira, who founded the firm’s litigation and arbitration department, and is a seasoned commercial litigation and corporate restructuring practitioner, oversees the department. Teresa Pitôrra, a key contact for both creditors and debtors, focuses on restructuring and insolvency proceedings in an array of sectors, notably banking and telecoms. Managing associate Catarina Carvalho Cunha has advised clients from the telecoms, banking, and energy spaces in restructuring ad insolvency matters in Portugal and Portuguese-speaking countries in Africa. Former practice co-head Filipa Cotta is no longer at the firm.

Garrigues Portugal’s diverse team, comprising lawyers from the corporate, banking and finance, and dispute resolution departments, excels in debt restructuring and transactions involving distressed assets. The team, which is well versed in domestic and multijurisdictional matters, is jointly managed by João Duarte De Sousa and Diogo Leónidas Rocha: Duarte de Sousa, head of the dispute resolution department, acts for clients in cross-border disputes and insolvency mandates, while Rocha possesses extensive experience in financing arrangements, NPL deals, and distressed debt, assisting various credit institutions and rating agencies. Vasco Rodrigues adds to the team’s strength with his significant expertise in special situations and distressed transactions.

Sérvulo & Associados’s multidisciplinary team, which integrates finance, corporate governance, dispute resolution and corporate and M&A expertise, offers comprehensive advice on complex restructuring, insolvency, and liquidation cases within Portugal and Europe. The team is under the joint leadership of four practitioners: Manuel Magalhães, the managing partner, is a popular choice for insolvent banks; Mafalda Ferreira Santos excels in dispute resolution, often representing creditors and debtors in restructuring and insolvency proceedings; while António Teles and João Saúde specialise in litigation and arbitration matters.

Uría Menéndez offers expert guidance to both debtors and creditors in domestic and international cases, with a particular focus on preventive restructuring mechanisms, insolvency proceedings, related litigation, and the development and implementation of step-in structures. Leading the team are David Sequeira Dinis, who specialises in bankruptcy and corporate restructuring, managing both litigation and out-of-court settlements, and ‘competent, experienced, and results-oriented‘ Nuno Salazar Casanova, who represents clients in insolvency and restructuring proceedings at the national and international level. Luís Bértolo Rosa maintains a broad non-contentious and contentious practice covering litigation, preventive restructuring, loan-to-own strategies, and NPL deals.

Abreu Advogados demonstrates expertise in distressed M&A, corporate restructuring, insolvencies, creditor’s rights, and assets tracing, working in tandem with the firm’s financial, tax, commercial M&A, and labour law teams. Heading the practice, Francisco Patrício is proficient in pre-insolvency, insolvency-related deals, and distressed M&A, representing creditors, board members, and shareholders of insolvent companies. Gonçalo Delicado is routinely engaged in the negotiation and operational phases of corporate restructurings. Also part of the core team, Eduardo Peixoto Gomes specialises in contentious insolvency and restructuring proceedings, serving financial institutions, funds, and companies; he particularly excels in special revitalisation procedures. Joao Marques De Almeida joined from APTS - Alves Pereira & Teixeira de Sousa, S.P., R.L. in October 2024.

Drawing on the firm’s global expertise, CMS effectively serves clients from diverse sectors, including banking, finance, real estate, retail, and telecoms, offering advice on both the transactional and litigation aspects of restructuring and insolvency matters. The leadership of the team is shared by two partner: Nuno Pena, who is proficient in Bank Recovery and Resolution Directive-related issues; and António Payan Martins, who brings substantial expertise in special situations, restructurings, and transactions involving distressed assets and non-performing loans. The team was further reinforced in August 2022 by the addition of Gonçalo Madeira from Cuatrecasas.

SRS Legal is adept at representing distressed companies, diverse creditor classes, and potential buyers in insolvency proceedings. The group is also equipped to assist domestic and international clients from the banking, healthcare, insurance, distribution and real estate sectors with the refinancing and restructuring of their Portuguese portfolios. José Jácome oversees the restructuring and insolvency practice, bringing significant expertise in dispute resolution. Key support is offered by Natália Garcia Alves, who specialises in civil, commercial, and banking litigation, and possesses notable experience in representing credit institutions.

 

APTS - Alves Pereira & Teixeira de Sousa, S.P., R.L. represents both debtors and creditors in restructuring, insolvency, and winding-up proceedings. Complementing the team, João Pedro Alves Pereira, head of the employment practice, acts for Portuguese and multinational companies in a variety of restructuring matters. Joao Marques De Almeida is no longer at the firm.

DLA Piper ABBC is proficient in debt and financial restructurings, and is also well placed to advise on acquisitions and disposals of distressed assets, and formal insolvency proceedings. Collaborating closely with the firm’s banking and finance, tax, real estate, employment, and criminal law practices, the insolvency and restructuring group is led by Nuno Azevedo Neves, João Costa Quinta, and Vanessa Antunes. Azevedo Neves specialises in financial restructurings and distressed investments, Costa Quinta is active in the private equity market, while Antunes focuses on litigation, offering representation to both Portuguese and international clients.

Gómez-Acebo & Pombo is frequently instructed by investors and financial entities, including lenders, and bondholders, in relation to restructuring and insolvency mandates. Mafalda Barreto is adept at advising international corporations and investment funds, working in close collaboration with the firm’s offices in London, New York, Brussels, and Madrid. The department was significantly bolstered by the arrival of the highly regarded Filipa Cotta in January 2024, who previously oversaw VdA‘s insolvency and restructuring practice. Former co-heads Miguel Castro Pereira and Miguel de Avillez Pereira are no longer at the firm.

With a focus on special revitalisation proceedings, PRA-Raposo, Sá Miranda & Associados, Sociedade de Advogados RL predominantly advises major clients from the construction, banking, agriculture, and media industries. Susana Santos Valente leads the firm’s credit recovery and insolvency practice with ‘excellent technical and proactive capabilities’. She is supported by senior associates Andreia Damásio and Paula Magalhães Dos Santos.

Raposo Bernardo offers guidance in restructuring and insolvency proceedings across a variety of sectors including banking, insurance, aviation, and real estate. Heading the team, Ana Cláudia Rangel is well versed in dispute resolution and employment law. She has notably advised clients on the recovery of non-performing loans, particularly in the context of mortgage credit portfolios involving significant assets like hotels, offices, and luxury properties.