Cuatrecasas boasts a ‘deep knowledge’ of the aviation industry, complemented by its proficiency in corporate, commercial, competition, and regulatory affairs across the rail, motor, and maritime segments. Leading the aviation division, Luís Soares De Sousa excels in the establishment and licensing of charter air transport companies, cross-border leasing matters, aviation finance, and M&A transactions. Lourenço Vilhena De Freitas steers the road, rail, regulatory, and public law practices, offering expertise in concessions, privatisations, and related dispute resolution. Additionally, banking and finance partner Maria João Ricou takes the lead on project finance work.

DLA Piper ABBC provides a variety of legal services to clients operating in the aviation sector, encompassing aviation finance, acquisitions, maintenance agreements and registrations. Regulatory compliance and litigation are other areas of activity for the department, which is steered by António Moura Portugal, a reference for prominent airlines operating in Portugal. The team was strengthened by the arrival of Stéphanie Sá Silva from TAP Air Portugal in September 2022, a 'committed and competent' practitioner who brings significant aviation industry insights. Catarina Portela Morais is especially active in litigation, showcasing particular strength in passenger claims, while Inês Teixeira and Francisco Alves Dias advise on aviation regulatory matters.

Morais Leitão, Galvão Teles, Soares da Silva & Associados is home to a team of industry specialists well placed to advise on a wide range of mandates within the aviation, shipping, and wider transport sectors. With a strong track record in financing, insurance, tax, and litigation matters, the group is especially noted for its proficiency in ship finance, registrations and leasing contracts. The practice is under the joint leadership of four partners: Segismundo Pinto Basto, the main point of contact for transactions in the aviation segment; Manuel de Freitas Pita, who focuses on international agreements and other matters related to the International Shipping Registry of Madeira; Claudia Santos Cruz, an authority on ship finance and arrest, who is trusted by major banks, shipowners, and charterers; and Bruno Xavier de Pina, who possesses in-depth knowledge Angola’s legal landscape.

Clients in the aviation, maritime, and wider transport industries routinely turn to Abreu Advogados for assistance in a wide range of matters, from corporate and financing transactions, to trade and environmental issues. The ‘prompt and capable’ team is co-led by dispute resolution specialist Guilherme Santos Silva, Pedro Alves Da Silva, and Nuno Luís Sapateiro. Alves da Silva’s strength lies in M&A, corporate law, and commercial contracts, while Luís Sapateiro possesses over 15 years’ experience of acting for insurance companies and airlines aviation in major domestic and international transactions. Joao Marques De Almeida joined from APTS - Alves Pereira & Teixeira de Sousa, S.P., R.L. in October 2024.

PLMJ boasts substantial expertise in aviation, shipping and road-related matters, servicing a diverse client roster featuring airlines, financiers, aircraft producers, and sovereign entities. Diogo Perestrelo is adept in transport-related transactions - including M&A and private equity deals in the aviation segment - and road concessions. Perestrelo heads the transport department alongside Pedro Lomba, who possesses notable expertise in transport and urban mobility law, especially concerning roads and railways. Saul Fonseca brings ‘great knowledge of the aviation sector’, ensuring carriers and other stakeholders meet regulatory standards.

Raposo Bernardo attracts regular instructions from cruise, aviation, and shipping players, notably on related financing and insurance matters. Joana Andrade Correia, who oversees the transport practice, excels in corporate restructurings and M&A, and is also skilled in the financing of railway and airport infrastructure projects. Showcasing extensive experience in the leasing and purchase of aircraft, Júlio Martins Júnior is regularly sought out by airlines and aircraft financiers.

Primarily focused on the rail, road and maritime industries, SRS Legal's transport department is a popular destination for advice on financing and licensing matters, procurement, dispute resolution and regulatory issues. Department leader José Luís Moreira da Silva advises public and private entities on critical transport projects, concessions, and related disputes. Alexandre Roque draws on his public law background to assist transport sector clients with public procurement and administrative litigation.

Bringing together expertise in project finance, regulatory issues, PPP and dispute resolution, VdA offers a comprehensive service offering to clients operating in the shipping, aviation, rail and road sectors. At the helm of the practice, Paulo de Barros Baptista focuses on infrastructure and mobility matters, playing a key role in transactions involving the road segment. Specialised in public law, Catarina Pinto Correia is noted for her expertise in procurement, PPPs and concessions in the transport sector. José Miguel Oliveira leverages deep maritime industry expertise, particularly in African markets, to assist shipowners, brokers, and operators with various wet and dry shipping matters.

Singled out for its 'extensive experience in maritime, ports and logistics', Albuquerque & Almeida is often engaged by shipping operators and container carriers seeking assistance in concessions, public procurement, and contractual matters. Alexandre De Albuquerque, who focuses on public law, and João Salvador, who provides advice on employment and corporate law issues, jointly lead the department.

With a keen focus on the aviation industry, APTS - Alves Pereira & Teixeira de Sousa, S.P., R.L.‘s transport group serves a clientele that includes insurers, airlines, and airport operators. Aircraft financing, liability claims and insurance disputes are core areas of expertise for the department. José Alves Pereira possesses a wealth of experience in contentious and non-contentious aviation matters. Joao Marques De Almeida is no longer at the firm.

Miranda & Associados provides expert legal guidance to aviation sector clients, including financiers, insurers, air carriers and manufacturers, who regularly instruct the team in aircraft financing, leasing, registration, transactional and contentious matters. Mafalda Oliveira Monteiro heads up the aviation practice, showcasing experience in asset-based lending deals involving Portugal and Portuguese-speaking countries in Africa. Bruno Sampaio Santos is another name to note for transactions within the civil aviation sector. Both practitioners 'are insightful and helpful in sorting through complex issues in aviation matters in Portugal'.

Best known for its strong public law credentials, Sérvulo & Associados excels in guiding clients through the intricacies of large-scale public projects, from national transport networks to essential public-sector facilities. The department is under the leadership of Mark Kirkby, whose expertise lies in advising private and public entities on concessions and PPPs in the road and rail segments. Ana Luísa Guimarães left the firm in February 2024.