Competition/European Law | Europe

Morais Leitão, Galvão Teles, Soares da Silva & Associados is one of the leading law firms in Portugal for contentious competition law matters. The team is highly esteemed for representing clients in investigations into collusions and no-poach agreements, as well as acting for clients on subsequent appeals against Portuguese Competition Authority decisions and on follow-on damages actions. It is also notably active in contentious and advisory state aid matters, and further assists clients with obtaining competition law clearance for proposed corporate transactions. The firm's client roster comprises companies from diverse industries such as financial services, energy and retail, and includes both public and private entities.

PLMJ continues to be one of the top competition law teams in Portugal, with notable experience in damages claims and class actions. The firm is highly esteemed for its work on Portuguese Competition Authority behavioural investigations, often involving allegations of cartel involvement and other restrictive practices. It additionally represents clients in challenges to fines imposed by the authority. The law firm offers further expertise in merger clearance notifications and state aid mandates. It is a popular choice with clients from the financial services, transportation and FMCG sectors.

SRS Legal maintains its position in the top tier of the rankings. The law firm is particularly strong in contentious competition law matters, representing clients in sector inquiries and antitrust infringement investigations, as well as advising on challenges to fines and follow-on damages actions. The team also acts for clients on merger control mandates, assisting with notifications before the Portuguese and Angolan authorities. It has further experience in state aid matters. The firm often acts for clients from the food and beverage, technology, healthcare and financial services sectors.

VdA maintains its position as one of the leading competition law firms in Portugal. The team stands out for its expertise in behavioural investigations, often in relation to horizontal agreements, and for assisting clients with appeals against Portuguese Competition Authority decisions. The team also has experience in merger clearance filings, including before the Angolan competition authorities, and state aid issues. It is a popular choice with clients from the financial services, sports, telecommunications and transportation sectors.

CMS assists clients with the full gamut of competition law matters. The team has experience in merger clearance notifications and state aid matters. On the contentious side, it represents clients in investigations into allegations of abuse of dominance and cartel involvement, as well as in challenges to fines. The law firm attracts clients from the advertising, transport, and food and beverage industries.

Cuatrecasas is particularly active in merger control filings, often acting alongside the firm's Spanish offices on multinational notifications. The team also represents clients in behavioural investigations, including into allegations of price fixing, bid rigging and no-poach agreements. The law firm also acts for clients on competition law damages claims. It is particularly popular with clients from the healthcare and technology sectors. The team also has experience handling matters before the Angolan Competition Authority.

Linklaters offers notable strength in behavioural matters, frequently representing clients in investigations into allegations of cartel involvement. Its contentious practice further acts for clients on market inquiries, challenges to fines and private enforcement damages actions. The law firm also offers further experience in merger control mandates. It has a number of clients from the technology, healthcare and financial services sectors.

Sérvulo & Associados stands out for its focus on assisting public authorities and financial sector clients with state aid matters. The law firm also handles behavioural investigations and merger clearance filings, including representing third parties in challenges to filings. It has further experience in competition compliance matters and in disputes concerning EU regulations.

Uría Menéndez's team works alongside the firm's highly regarded dispute resolution team to defend clients in high-profile follow-on damages claims, as well as representing them in the initial investigation, leniency applications and challenges to infringement decisions. The law firm also advises clients on merger notifications, as well as assisting with competition compliance mandates. It acts for clients from the financial services, healthcare, leisure and technology sectors.

Cruz Vilaça Advogados assists clients with both competition law and European law matters, often representing energy sector clients before the CJEU in matters based on EU directives. The team also has experience representing clients in contentious competition law matters and state aid mandates.

Garrigues acts for clients on Portuguese Competition Authority investigations into alleged involvement in cartels and represents them in appeals against fines, as well as advising on obtaining competition clearance for corporate transactions. The law firm assists high-profile clients from the technology, private equity and automotive industries. The team additionally acts on state aid disputes and assists with competition compliance matters, including advising on distribution agreements.

Gómez-Acebo & Pombo assists clients with behavioural investigations. The law firm represents clients in follow-on damages claims in Portugal, as well as disputes before the European courts. The team advises on merger control filings and state aid matters. It has further experience in compliance mandates.

Abreu Advogados often assists clients with merger control filings and with competition compliance matters. The law firm also has experience in contentious mandates, defending clients in PCA investigations and representing them in sector inquiries and state aid disputes.

TELLES provides a full service in competition law matters. The law firm represents clients in investigations into allegations of abuse of dominance, as well as in subsequent appeals against fines. The team also assists clients with merger clearance notifications. It also has experience in state aid matters and the competition compliance aspects of distribution agreements.