Rato, Ling, Lei & Cortés – Advogados (Lektou)

Firm Details:
Managing Partner: Pedro Cortés
Senior Partners: Frederico Rato, Paula Ling, Lei Wun Kong, Chang San Chi
Partners: Calvin Tinlop Chui, Óscar Alberto Madureira, Bernardo Leong
Number of partners: 8
Number of fee-earners: 25
Languages: Chinese (Mandarin and Cantonese), English, French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese

Firm Overview:
Rato, Ling, Lei & Cortés – Advogados | LEKTOU is a law office located in the Macau Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China which began operations in 1985. With more than 30 years of legal practice in Macau, the strong professional and academic profile, together with the long experience and full integration within the Region, is a guarantee of the quality of the services offered.

Additionally, the permanent update and specialization, combined with the proven professional practice in the different areas of law, allows the firm to offer a prompt, effective and efficient response to its clients. The office is part of a joint legal venture in China’s Guangdong Macau In-depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin and Shenzhen - ZLF Law Office, which is focused on corporate, M&A as well as banking and finance as its primary areas of practice, bringing together over 2,000 lawyers. Besides the mainland China, Lektou also opened an office in Portugal, aiming to become a legal player in the platform between PRC and the Portuguese-speaking countries. Recently, the firm has joined the Miranda Alliance as part of the firm's strategy to provide continuous legal services of high quality to its Asia Pacific Region Clients, particularly in China, and an important factor to connect the bridge between China and the Portuguese Speaking Countries and other jurisdictions where the Alliance is present.

Main Areas of Practice 

Capital Markets and Securities:
The office has been involved in numerous projects of successful Initial Public Offerings in Hong Kong, Singapore, New York, London and Kuala Lumpur. In Hong Kong, it has acted as legal advisers for Macau law for either the listing applicant or the sponsor, with listings occurring in both the Growth Enterprise Market and the Main Board of the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited.

Recently, the firm has advised issuers and underwriters in the issuance of bonds in the Chongwa (Macau) Financial Asset Exchange co (MOX)

Contacts: Frederico Rato, Pedro Cortés and Calvin Chui

Banking & Insurance:
Consulting and legal support to banks, insurers and other financial institutions, by providing legal advice in transactions in Macau, including public offers of sale and takeover bids, syndicated loans and other types of loans.

Contacts: Pedro Cortés and Calvin Chui

IT & Telecom:
Consulting and legal support to global operators with a presence in Macau, including regulatory approvals and licensing.

Contacts: Paula Ling and Calvin Chui

Corporate & M&A:
Provides assistance in all aspects of the corporate and M&A transaction. Recently, it has advised the buyer in the acquisition of a technologic Macau-based start-up by a multinational European entity.

Contacts: Frederico Rato and Pedro Cortés

Gaming :
The firm has a strong gaming and regulatory practice and advises on several areas of the industry

Contacts: Pedro Cortés

Other Practices:
■ Permanent legal support to foreign investors, as well as constant legal advice to a number of local subsidiaries of foreign companies listed on stock markets around the world
■ Preparing and monitoring the acquisition and sale of businesses, M&As, due diligence procedures and legal audits, advising on the scope and structure of operations and transactions, as well as preparing all types of contracts and documents relevant to this area of law, namely in cross-border transactions
■ Provision of legal services for international operators in the gaming sector willing to invest in Macau, China and Portugal
■ Legal advice to companies and joint ventures on how to best operate, regulate and develop their businesses, how to form alliances and expand into Macau, China and Portugal, and how to deal with various aspects of negotiation procedures, preparation and monitoring of different types of international contracts