Valadas Coriel & Associados

Managing Partner: João Valadas Coriel

Number of partners: 7

Number of lawyers: 30

Languages:Portuguese, English, French, Spanish, Italian, Russian, Ukrainian, Dutch, Hindi, Urdu and Gurjati

Firm Overview:

VCA – Valadas Coriel & Associados was established in 2001. Today it is seen as a lean versatile full-service firm. The firm has a very energetic team of partners and associates who combine experience, expertise and innovation in all sorts of litigation and dispute resolution, labour, real estate, corporate, energy, oil & gas, finance and international projects for firms of all sizes both domestic and international.

VCA also has a very strong practice focused on private clients and the art world. The firm assists countless individuals in investing or relocating to Portugal.

VCA works in litigation matters for two of the largest Portuguese listed companies on a permanent basis, side by side with a practice group focused on SME and private clients. The firm is able to effectively respond to clients across the spectrum of legal, regulatory and tax issues.

The dynamic, yet informal, work environment of VCA has attracted several skilful lawyers from major law firms and the ‘big four’ audit firms. Alliances and ‘best friends’ agreements, allowed VCA to gather resources and expertise both in Portugal and in many other European, Middle-East, African, North and South American and Asian jurisdictions.

Due to its commitment and activism, VCA has been voted Member of the year 2018 by its peers at IR Global, a network of 900-plus firms across 155 jurisdictions. More recently, VCA has joined Grimaldi Alliance, a network created by Grimaldi Studio Legale, a leading Italian law firm based in Milan, with offices and associated law firms in 44 jurisdictions across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Americas and Asia. VCA contributes to these alliances with its own international practice with a strong international project practice. VCA Africa works in several African jurisdictions, Brazil and East Timor. VCA Africa has established an association with a prestigious local law firm in Ivory Coast and has expatriated to its economic capital Abidjan its partner Vera Chalaça.

VCA’s concept remains unaltered: the firm lawyers are “combat lawyers”. For VCA – now with seven partners and 30 lawyers – each case is a project, a battle to be fought and won through shrewdness, strategy, setting specific and measurable targets, performing a cost-benefit analysis bearing in mind time constraints and focusing on the client’s interests. Strategically, such battles are to be won when possible preventively by anticipating legal, regulatory and tax risks and advising the best way to design clients’ corporate structures and transactions. VCA aims to be part of the solution contributing with value-added to clients’ objectives with a clear structure of fees on a transparent cost-benefit basis.

Main Areas Of Practice:

Private Wealth:

VCA has a team of lawyers dedicated to Private Clients who focus on services in the fields of planning and implementation of tax schemes, management of estates, including wills and donations, inheritance lawsuits, assets management, and family businesses.

Dispute Resolution:

The firm’s very experienced team is led by partners with over 25 years of experience. We act in various disputes, from civil actions, corporate, and commercial litigation, to maritime, labour, tax, and white-collar crime.

Immigration:

VCA has a deep knowledge of Foreigners and Immigration Law and extensive experience and know-how to advise on any Visa application process, providing legal and practical guidance on the best route for investment for each specific case. The firm also deals with the popular NHR program.

Labour Law:

VCA's team is composed of lawyers with distinct capabilities and solid knowledge in Labour Law, offering consulting and litigation services to many companies in many different industries.They also assist, on a regular basis, international companies on matters relating to their employees in Portugal.

Tax Law:

The firm's Tax team has played a part in mergers, acquisitions, restructuring, and financial and foreign investment transactions in Portugal as well as outbound, providing legal support for their clients’ projects from evaluation to implementation.

Corporate Law:

The Corporate team provides day-to-day legal support to many Portuguese and international companies, business groups, investors and funds, and SMEs. Through a multidisciplinary method, when needed, VCA works with lawyers from other practice areas, in particular, tax, real estate, labour, commercial litigation and arbitration.

Real Estate:

From the initial project to sales, going through all the procedural issues, licensing, and construction, VCA covers all stages of any real estate project. VCA assists its clients in the purchases, sales and leases of the property ensuring maximum legal security for the parties involved. Specialists in tourism and leisure projects.

Other Areas of Practice:

■ Projects, Energy and Mining

■ Maritime Law

■ Art Law

■ Fund Management

■ Public Procurement and Access to European Funds