Europe Portugal Employment

DLA Piper ABBC is a market-leading employment group with an outstanding reputation. The law firm offers a broad spectrum of expertise, including support on the employment aspects of transactions, as well as standalone advice. It demonstrates particular strength in complex processes, including collective bargaining agreements, collective dismissals, lay-offs and outsourcing procedures. The firm also maintains a strong contentious team, acting on disputes around dismissals and pensions. DLA Piper ABBC represents blue-chip international companies in the insurance, automotive and aviation industries.

Morais Leitão, Galvão Teles, Soares da Silva & Associados has an outstanding team that maintains a vanguard position by providing a broad employment service, which includes restructuring processes, collective and individual terminations and disciplinary proceedings. The law firm represents clients in contractual disputes and the negotiation of collective bargaining agreements, as well as advising on post-M&A employee integration matters. The law firm represents an array of clients, with strong presence in the banking, technology and pharmaceutical industries.

PLMJ has an outstanding practice that offers advice on the full spectrum of employment law. The law firm has a sizeable team experienced in collective agreements, TUPE proceedings, collective dismissals and restructurings. The team also offers strong capabilities in harassment claims, working time issues, strikes and furlough schemes. It has a broad client base, including domestic and international clients from the aviation, banking and retail sectors.

SRS Legal has a dedicated team adept at taking on employment-related litigation, restructurings, collective and individual dismissals, TUPE proceedings and strikes, as well as advising on employment issues related to domestic and cross-border M&A transactions. The law firm further acts on contractual and social security issues. It assists major multinational companies and offers sector-specific strength, with a notable focus on financial institutions and on the consumer goods sector.

CMS has a strong practice with a solid track record in restructurings and trade union negotiations, as well as collective dismissal procedures. It boasts further capabilities in negotiating collective agreements and employment contracts and TUPE proceedings. The law firm is also experienced in employment issues arising in the pharmaceutical, finance and retail sectors.

pbbr - Sociedade de Advogados has a compact team with a wide presence on standalone employment law and HR-related matters. The law firm is well placed to advise international clients and participate in cross-border labour issues, supported by an affiliation with the Ius Laboris network. The team is experienced in collective bargaining, collective dismissals, the transfer of employees, outsourcing matters and litigious mandates. Its activity spans a range of industrial sectors, including consumer goods, life sciences and transport.

Abreu Advogados offers a sizeable team adept at assisting clients with restructuring, collective and individual dismissals, transactional support and employment-related litigation, advising employers and employees on unfair dismissal claims. The law firm is also experienced in social security mandates, lay-offs and issues related to disciplinary procedures.

CS´Associados is an active domestic firm with a compact but specialised team offering assistance across the full range of employment mandates, including advice on the employment aspects of transactions and on contract terminations, as well as advising on pension and social security matters. The law firm also handles employment-related litigation, including collective bargaining disputes and issues around flexible working.

Cuatrecasas has an experienced team providing comprehensive advice on labour law issues related to M&A transactions and corporate restructurings. The law firm also advises on the termination of employment, disciplinary actions, collective bargaining agreements and lay-off procedures. Cuatrecasas further represents clients in a broad range of litigation matters, including disputes around pay and allegations of harassment. Its clients are present in a broad range of sectors, including retail, finance and logistics. The law firm strengthened capacity following the integration of Serra Lopes, Cortes Martins & Associados into Cuatrecasas in January 2023.

Garrigues has a well-reputed team based between Lisbon and Porto that offers experience in collective dismissals and litigation mandates around unfair dismissals and payment issues. The law firm also offers advice on restructurings, the transfer of undertakings and lay-off procedures, with a highly active team in employment issues related to M&A transactions. Garrigues regularly assists multinational companies in the technology, energy and automotive sectors.

Uría Menéndez has a visible practice with experience in the employment aspects of large M&A transactions and corporate restructurings, including the transfer of employees. The team is adept at advising on negotiating collective bargaining agreements, collective dismissals, pensions and social security matters, as well as lay-off procedures. Furthermore, it also represents clients in diverse litigation proceedings. The law firm frequently acts for clients from the financial and insurance sectors.

Linklaters is known for advising on the employment aspects of major corporate and M&A transactions, including assistance with transfers of undertakings and employee transfers as part of internal reorganisations. The law firm also advises on contentious mandates, further to acting on lay-off procedures and executive terminations. The team maintains a large roster of international clients as well as assisting key Portuguese corporates, working on several cross-border matters.

Miranda & Associados offers a consolidated team that regularly advises on disciplinary proceedings, dismissals and the employment aspects of transactions. The law firm notably assists with employment disputes relating to terminations and allegations of harassment. It additionally advises multinational clients on the employment aspects of establishing new branches in Portugal.

Sérvulo & Associados is a public law-focused boutique with prominent activity in the employment sphere. The law firm regularly assists with the employment aspects of transactions, restructuring and compliance procedures, offering further advice on collective bargaining agreements, the employment aspects of public service contracts, redundancy processes and employment-related litigation.

VdA handles a wide range of employment matters, assisting clients with collective redundancy procedures and the labour ramifications of corporate transactions. The law firm's further strengths include restructuring and issues around pension funds, as well as contract terminations and lay-offs. It also represents companies in contentious cases around unfair dismissals and disciplinary proceedings. VdA is notably active in the energy sector.