Albuquerque & Almeida Associados

Firm Overview:

The firm is one of the longest established law firms in the field of business law, both domestic and international. The origin of its practice is situated in 1922, continuing a family legal tradition which dates back to the 17th century. The firm was founded by two Cathedratic Law Professors, Professor Ruy de Albuquerque (1933-2007) and Professor Martim de Albuquerque. The experience of about half a century representing clients among the largest.

Main Areas of Practice: Corporate & M&A:

The firm’s vast experience in mergers and acquisitions equips it to deal with numerous large and complex deals. The firm has also provided legal support for some of Portugal’s largest takeovers. Its expertise embraces the planning and execution of all types of corporate operations, such as shareholder agreements, voting agreements, acquisition of corporate majority and minority positions, due diligence, corporate strategic planning through tax optimisation, shareholder protection and corporate governance. The firm has also acted for its clients in some of the most important international joint ventures and strategic alliances that took place in Portugal.

Contact: André Matias de Almeida and António Mendonça Raimundo

Banking, Finance & Capital Markets:

The firm is experienced in advising leading banks and financial and insurance companies both national and European, and large companies with international and domestic operations, in respect of their business in Portugal. The firm also has experience of acting for banks setting up operations in Angola.

Contact: Prof Dr Pedro de Albuquerque

Public/Administrative:

The firm has wide experience in advising clients in administrative law. The services provided include advocacy on behalf of both private and public bodies, with special note for public procurement contracts for the supply of goods and services to the public authorities, public works and concessions of public services, particularly in project finance. The firm’s partners have been involved in drafting a wide range of legislation, relating particularly to public procurement.

Contact: Alexandre de Albuquerque

Employment:

The firm has wide experience in the field of employment law, advising at all stages its clients on the planning and implementation of business and personnel restructurings, on individual and collective negotiations of employment conditions, on the contracts of senior executives and on termination agreements and providing legal support and negotiation of individual and collective dismissal procedures. The firm has experience of human resources management and restructuring, employee transfers and procedures for termination of contracts regarding mergers and acquisitions and closure of companies as well as their installation or downsizing. The firm took part in the three major operations of this kind in Portugal in the last decade. Some of the firm’s lawyers have performed official functions in this field as representatives of the Portuguese state and of employer’s confederations, as well as having published articles regarding labour legislation issues.

Contacts: João Salvador

Litigation & Arbitration:

The firm provides assistance to its clients in the dispute settlement field, based on the permanent defence of their interests. The firm’s Litigation Department guarantees active and permanent assistance and supervision, both remedial and preventive, to hundreds of extremely varied clients, including the prime national finance and insurance groups as well as major national and international industries and investors.

Contact: Inês Domingos

Tax:

The firm has broad experience in tax law, providing full assistance in taxation and tax planning, domestically and internationally, in the fields of corporate and individuals income tax, VAT, stamp duties, and all other fields of tax law. The firm provides tax services in the framework of mergers, acquisitions, company restructurings, corporate finance, asset finance, and foreign investment.

Contact: Henrique Nogueira Nunes

EU & Competition:

A vast amount of the firm’s work relates to the notification of mergers and acquisitions both at national level and before the European authorities, acting for Portuguese as well as international clients. The firm also has experience in analysing the applicability of Article 81 and 82 of the EC Treaty and notifications to competition authorities under both EC and domestic law. The main sectors where the firm has developed expertise in this area of law are telecommunications, chemicals, ports, the motor vehicle industry, media and entertainment, petrochemicals, energy, industrial equipment and cosmetics.

Contact: António Mendonça Raimundo

Shipping & Ports Administration:

Albuquerque & Associates is a leading law firm in Portugal in the area of shipping finance, having as clients the major ship owners in the country (70% of the gross tonnage of the Portuguese merchant market). The shipping finance and maritime law teams are also in charge of general contracting (chartering, time chartering, survey and common arbitration and litigation in Portugal), sales and acquisitions of vessels, liability matters and enforceability matters concerning trade and charter international contracts.

Contacts: João Salvador, Alexandre de Albuquerque

Automotive:

The firm is experienced in assisting automotive companies on the planning and implementation of business as well as on their production, sale, importation and exportation activities.

Contact: João Salvador

Pharmaceuticals:

The firm acts as legal adviser to a number of domestic and international clients, including some of the major international pharmaceutical industries operating in Portugal. The firm’s main pharmaceutical areas of activity are production, distribution, marketing authorisation, clinical trials, public procurement, information, advertising, competition, cosmetics, medical devices and pharmaceutical property.

Contact: António Mendonça Raimundo, João Salvador