Raposo Bernardo & Associados

Managing Partner: Nelson Raposo Bernardo

Number of partners worldwide: 5

Number of other lawyers worldwide: 35

Languages: English, French, Italian, Polish, Portuguese, Spanish

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Firm Overview:

Raposo Bernardo is a full service law firm recognized for its ability to combine the strength of advocacy tradition with the most modern and advanced technology, the aim being to provide the greatest benefit to our clients.

We believe that in order to provide top level legal support it is essential that our lawyers, in addition to high technical skills and an in-depth knowledge and understanding of our clients’ activities and projects, also have a sharp sensitivity to their specific way of conducting business.

The cooperation culture existing between all members of our teams is the same cooperation culture we maintain with our clients. This spirit of collaboration and closeness makes it possible to create strong and trusting relationships, and thus achieve the best outcome. It is also with this purpose in mind we specialize in the matters, projects and the specific activities of each one of our clients.

We are aware of the clients’ needs and what they value most. We do everything in order to exceed their best expectations. That is why we differentiate by making available specific and individualized solutions thus guaranteeing that clients can gain the best benefit from our services. That being the case we make some important commitments such as each client having more than one partner coordinating their issues, and the guarantee of maintaining the same team during the execution of a project without rotation and changes that could harm the continuity and execution of the work. We also know that our clients like to benefit from our services in different jurisdictions.That is why we have put in place a very advantageous system allowing the benefiting of conditions practiced in the jurisdiction with the lower value, independent of the jurisdiction in which the client requests our services.

We maintain permanent and intense internal training and refresher training, which we believe is essential so that our teams are always at the forefront of the most advanced and sophisticated practices in the international legal market.

With full independence we keep working relations with law firms all over the world,and those partnerships provide services for the benefit of our clients’ projects.

After more than 25 years we renew our commitment to combine experience and tradition with innovation, modernity and sophistication through pragmatic advice that adds value for our clients.We always maintain the same ability to respond fast and rigorously and with a culture of full availability and cooperation.

Focus in tailor-made service:For our firm the client is at the heart of our work. To achieve the clients’ satisfaction when dealing with its matters is one of our main objectives. To exceed its best expectations is one of our main goals. That is why we maintain a very close relationship with all our clients and try to know in detail their activity and the market in which they act.

Quality and rigour in the services provided:We provide our clients with top quality services and for that purpose we work with the utmost rigour. The results provided to our clients are the best indicator of this. We are fully aware that the speed of an answer is essential and we are used to working under time pressure and to anticipate the agreed deadlines.

Innovation to the benefit of the clients:Apart from the tradition we are proud of, we seek the most innovating procedures and solutions for the benefit of our clients. For this purpose we permanently invest in training and in technology in order to increase the efficiency of our services.

Professional ethics:All our procedures, practices and culture are based in transparency and ethics. An ethical attitude and behaviour is essential in order to meet clients’ expectations and to ensure the quality of our services. The same ethics are always present in the relationship with our colleagues and the market in general.

Global services:We provide specialized services in all areas of law to all the industry sectors. We also provide services for several other jurisdictions, especially for Portuguese-speaking African countries, either through our network of local partners or our specialized desks.

Diversity and inclusion:We provide legal services with pleasure and for pleasure. We can´t be any different. That is why we need a well-being environment that is at the same time stimulating and non-discriminating. We are a law firm exempt of any type of discrimination. Nevertheless we develop programs and initiatives promoting diversity and inclusion.

Social responsibility and pro bono:We are strongly committed to our social environment. We are aware that everyone will benefit if we have a positive social environment. That is why we do everything within our means to share part of what we receive from the community and try to involve ourselves in pro bono and social responsibility activities.

Main Areas of Practice:

Corporate & M&A: Raposo Bernardo’s lawyers are responsible for conceiving and implementing both the most sophisticated business moves and assisting in the day to day consultancy to innumerous companies. Corporate law is one of the firm’s major fields of practice, providing leading legal advice on M&A, due diligence processes, restructuring operations, private equity, venture capital and corporate financing.

Banking & Finance: The firm’s excellence of service justifies that Raposo Bernardo’s clients require its services for the most sophisticated operations within this area of practice.

Commercial Contracts: Raposo Bernardo gives continuous support in the negotiation of agreements, also in cross-border negotiations, including the preparation, development and legal advising on contractual negotiations, for the most dynamic and demanding industry sectors.

Capital Markets: Raposo Bernardo has acquired a high level of expertise in the capital markets area, by advising in numerous business operations and assisting on the draft of legislative projects.

Project Finance: The accruing complexity of project financing requires the highest standards of quality. When choosing Raposo Bernardo, clients acknowledge the firm’s international level. Raposo Bernardo has been involved in the largest, most complex operations in the country, in the last years.

Employment: In recent years, this practice area has been required to deliver the most efficient solutions in very short delays. The firm has provided its clients with innovative and cost effective solutions.

Energy & Natural Resources: Raposo Bernardo’s energy and natural resources department has been on the lead of the legal consultancy of the process of implementation of renewable energies, in all jurisdictions that the firm operates in.

Real Estate and Construction: Over the years, the firm’s team has advised in the conception and structuring of some of the largest construction projects in sectors such as residential, retail, office and leisure.

Data, Privacy and Cybersecurity: Raposo Bernardo’s global team delivers in-depth and experience in several sectors on the relevant data protection legislation in the jurisdictions it acts in, having been implementing Data Protection Compliance Programs and working with other practice areas to provide integrated, creative and practical advice on the privacy-related concerns faced by its clients.

Dispute Resolution & Arbitration: The department is responsible for representing the firm’s clients in some of the most complex legal disputes, and has acquired top recognition for the quality of the services provided.

Restructuring & Insolvency: The dedicated team deals with national and cross-border matters representing clients in all aspects of restructuring and insolvency. The team represents debtors in different industry sectors, banks and other financial institutions and buyers and sellers of distressed assets.

EU & Competition:

The EU and competition team advises clients on both contentious and non-contentious matters. Advice is specially focused in anti-trust matters and M&A related matters. Lawyers in this team also advise regarding state aids and trade practices.

Compliance & Regulatory: The department works closely with the different departments of the firm in order to help to anticipate the clients’ risk exposure and to advise them regarding procedures and programs that will allow to achieve regulatory compliance.

Health, Pharmaceutical & Life Sciences: A highly regulated sector requires continuous assistance of leading expertise. The firm’s lawyers have a deep knowledge of the industry and its needs thus giving Raposo Bernardo’s clients the best advice they can get.

Tourism: One of the most dynamic industry sectors, requiring tailor made solutions for very specific problems. Raposo Bernardo has been providing them for an increasing number of clients.

Public Law: Raposo Bernardo has been assisting public and private institutions, namely in construction and planning operations and in environmental projects.

Intellectual & Industrial Property: Raposo Bernardo helps clients protect their property, acting on behalf of multinational and national companies to protect brands, patents, logos, industrial models, among others.

Tax: Raposo Bernardo has an experienced team at the client’s service, adding value to their business, regarding complex operations of multi-jurisdictional nature.

Shipping/Insurance: The solid academic and professional backgrounds of the firm’s lawyers grant the firm an excellent reputation and allows Raposo Bernardo to provide top quality services to the firm’s sector-leading clients.

TMT: This is a highly competitive business activity requiring highly experienced, focused and prompt advice. Raposo Bernardo’s services meet the most demanding requirements.

Clients: The firm represents major national and multinational companies, including several of the top ranking Fortune 500 corporations, professional firms, governmental agencies and leading investment banks and other financial and commercial institutions.

International Work: Raposo Bernardo has offices across two continents, where it has developed an extensive experience advising international clients on cross-border commercial and financial services transactions, inward investment matters and other legal requirements. The firm is vastly experienced in the reorganisation of major multinational enterprises and advises clients on investment strategies.

Jurisdictions

Angola, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique, Portugal, Sao Tome and Principe, Spain