The ‘top-notch’ team at Garrigues Portugal is praised for its ability to offer ‘innovative solutions that meet the client’s needs’. Boasting a longstanding presence in Porto, the practice is regularly engaged by national and international clients on a host of matters, ranging from corporate and M&A and banking and finance, to employment, tax and dispute resolution. The group is particularly active in the automotive, manufacturing, real estate, IT and retail sectors, earning additional acclaim for its adept handling of cross-border matters. Rui Valente and João Soares Almeida spearhead the employment and social security practice, offering guidance in significant matters such as collective dismissals and lay off proceedings. Leading the corporate and M&A team is Tomás Pessanha, who is a key port of call for several multinational companies in high-value corporate, private equity and venture capital deals; counsel Manuel Liberal Jerónimo assists Pessanha on these matters. Principal associate André de Oliveira Correia is recommended for his employment law expertise.

Variously praised for its ‘great knowledge’ and ‘in-depth understanding of the legal framework’, Morais Leitão, Galvão Teles, Soares da Silva & Associados houses a sizeable team which is well placed to provide comprehensive legal services, encompassing corporate and M&A, employment, dispute resolution, tax and public law. Managing partner Bernardo Lobo Xavier steers the corporate practice and stands out for his notable contributions to real estate transactions, where he has served as lead counsel to major supermarket and distribution chains, as well as for construction companies. Joaquim Vieira Peres focuses on competition law, both on a domestic and European level, while Luis Gagliardini Graca is active in the area of public concessions. Tax expert António Pedro Braga focuses on national and international corporate taxation of finance, and Nuno Peres Alves is recommended for his public law expertise. Paula Ponces Camanho handles labour litigation and social security matters, Carlos Osório de Castro is well versed in capital markets transactions, and João Anacoreta Correia coordinates the litigation and arbitration team. A key contact for sports clients, Paulo Rendeiro maintains an impressive transactional workload. António Lobo Xavier recently left the firm to become the chairman of EDP's General and Supervisory Board.

VdA fields a robust Porto-based team, enriched with extensive expertise in ‘several areas of law’, spanning corporate and M&A, tax, employment, public law, dispute resolution, white-collar crime, TMT, data privacy, and real estate. The team is active across the manufacturing, energy, automotive, telecoms and technology sectors, and earns further praise for its cross-border capabilities. Focused on tax law, practice head João Velez de Lima regularly acts for clients in judicial and administrative tax litigation, international taxation issues and compliance work. Labour and employment specialist Manuel Cavaleiro Brandão is noted for his experience in contentious matters, including arbitration. Miguel Reis excels in domestic and international taxation issues, while Isabel Gião de Andrade works closely with clients in corporate governance issues and M&A deals. Recently promoted partner Benedita Gonçalves undertakes a range of labour and social security law work.

Described as the ‘most well-prepared firm in Porto’, Abreu Advogados draws considerable praise from clients, who turn to the team for its ‘strong experience in corporate law’. Operating with a significant presence in Porto, the team is notably active in the real estate, life sciences and manufacturing sectors, focusing on core practice areas such as tax, corporate, employment, dispute resolution and banking. Maria Dulce Soares oversees the firm’s tax group, showcasing particular strength in contentious matters. Arbitration expert Paulo de Tarso Domingues is also skilled in litigation proceedings and corporate and commercial law mandates, while Rui Peixoto Duarte is singled out for his expertise in real estate and corporate law. Maria Santa Martha focuses on large-scale real estate deals, and José Carlos Vasconcelos is adept at negotiating complex commercial contracts. Corporate and M&A expert Maria de Deus Botelho is also recommended.

PLMJ stands out as a strong choice for a diverse range of clients, who turn to the team for its wide-ranging capabilities in corporate and M&A, public law, employment, tax, and dispute resolution matters. Noted for its ‘pragmatism and efficiency’, the team is adept at navigating complex cross-border deals. The practice is led by Filipe Avides Moreira, a key contact for companies from the infrastructure and construction sectors. Public law expert Diogo Duarte Campos, lauded for his ‘professionalism’, regularly handles contentious and non-contentious mandates. José Pedro Anacoreta assists companies with all employment and social security issues, particularly those related to employment regulation, litigation and restructuring processes. Senior consultant Raquel Freitas is noted for her expertise in environmental law.

Well-regarded for its ability to marry a ‘strong theoretical’ approach with ‘practical knowledge’, PRA-Raposo, Sá Miranda & Associados, Sociedade de Advogados SP RL stands out for its comprehensive service offering in Porto, covering corporate and M&A, dispute resolution, tax, competition law, employment and public law. The practice is steered by Pedro Sá, a corporate law expert who is regularly engaged in high-profile and complex transactions. Miguel Miranda oversees the EU and competition team, and advises on the gamut of antitrust mandates. Public law expert Noel Gomes and Joana de Sá, who specialises in employment matters, are other names to note.

Rated for providing an ‘excellent’ service, the team at Cavaleiro & Associados is noted for its ‘strong knowledge of a range of matters’. The firm maintains a strong specialism in public law and energy, and advises a diverse roster of clients across the real estate, energy, healthcare, engineering and fashion spaces. The team is jointly led by the 'very experienced' João Quintela Cavaleiro, who stands out for his strong capabilities in public law, energy and corporate matters, and Pedro Seixas Silva, who focuses on corporate, finance, labour and IP mandates.

Cuatrecasas fields an ‘excellent’ team, highlighted by clients for its ‘high technical competence’. The practice, which is continuously expanding, excels in a diverse range of matters, including corporate and M&A, public law, dispute resolution, tax, employment and data protection. At the helm sits Vasco Moura Ramos, who is an expert in public and administrative law. The ‘diligent’ Samantha Cyrne focuses on commercial and M&A matters, cross-border investments and real estate transactions, while Alexandra Sequeira specialises in employment and social security law, and is regularly involved in disciplinary proceedings. Dispute resolution is a core specialism for Mónica Azevedo.

Counting banks, domestic and international companies, high-net-worth individuals and family offices among its key clients, boutique law firm Durham Agrellos is well positioned to advise on tax planning, tax litigation and wealth management matters. The practice is jointly steered by Miguel Durham Agrellos, who focuses on wealth management, international tax and inheritance planning, family governance, corporate restructuring and contentious tax, and Paulo da Rocha Pichel, a key port of call for family-owned groups, international family’s estates, and charities.

Noted its ‘great attention to detail’, the team at Miranda & Associados delivers comprehensive services to clients, with a primary focus on public law disputes, corporate restructurings and insolvencies, M&A, and labour matters. A reference for public law matters, Tiago Amorim demonstrates strength in resolving complex cross-border commercial and contractual contentious matters. He oversees the team alongside João Coelho De Pinho, who is sought by a multitude of Portuguese and international clients for his expertise in cross-border transactions and disputes. Susana Rios de Oliveira is a name to note for commercial, sports and employment law mandates.

Singled out for its ‘professionalism, skills and diligence’, TELLES is adept at assisting clients with M&A and corporate matters, including multijurisdictional transactions. Esteemed as trusted advisers to domestic and international companies, private equity funds, venture capital firms and banks, the team acts across an array of sectors. With a wealth of experience in major M&A deals, Carlos Lucena is singled out for his corporate law expertise. Francisco Espregueira Mendes, also a corporate law expert, focuses on venture capital and private equity deals. Pedro Almeida e Sousa  is the name to note for real estate, construction and public procurement mandates, while Miguel Torres heads up the tax team.

Roundly praised for its ‘great technical knowledge’ and ‘efficiency’, the team at Andersen is regularly engaged by domestic and international companies with operations in the north and centre of the country. The team’s expertise spans crucial areas such as corporate and M&A, employment, tax litigation and planning. Ana Reis specialises in national and international tax structuring, corporate reorganisations and internationalisation projects, while Carla Malhão boasts considerable experience in tax disputes. Corporate expert Luísa Curado advises on M&A transactions and joint ventures at the national and international levels, and Teresa Nogueira is a key port of call for international clients seeking assistance with their inbound investments.

Cerejeira Namora, Marinho Falcão houses a sizeable Porto-based team that brings together lawyers specialised in corporate, litigation, labour, tax, real estate, IP, TMT, and public law matters. Founding partner Nuno Cerejeria Namora stands out for his in-depth knowledge of employment law, while fellow co-founder Pedro Marinho Falcão specialises in tax mandates. Corporate and M&A specialist Pedro da Costa Mendes, who joined the team from TELLES in January 2023, is also recommended for distribution agreements, corporate contracts, and M&A. Principal associate Gonçalo Cerejeira Namora heads up the privacy, digital and technology sub-group.

Highlighted for its ‘remarkable technical rigour’, the team at Eversheds Sutherland is frequently instructed by leading domestic and international clients in a wide range of matters, notably civil and commercial litigation, arbitration cases and M&A transactions. Leading the practice is João Robles, who boasts vast experience in the energy and real estate sectors in both Portugal and Angola. He is supported by Ana Guerra Aguiar, who is noted for her focus on corporate and real estate matters.