Banking and finance - Tier 1
Vieira de Almeida & Associados remains a leading player in the market and continues to advise an impressive roster of clients (...). The team, led by ‘finance expert’ and ‘valuable adviser’ Pedro Cassiano Santos (...). With ‘a real commitment to the highest standards of service’, the team also includes Pedro Simões Coelho (...).
Corporate and M&A - Tier 1
"‘Vieira de Almeida & Associados' highly commercial’ team continues to act on market-leading deals both in and out of Portugal. Name partner João Vieira de Almeida advised on the latter and is ‘business savvy and technically gifted’. The ‘experienced and intelligent’ Paulo Olavo Cunha and Helena Vaz Pinto are also recommended. "
Capital markets - Tier 2
"Responsive’, ‘highly organised’ and renowned for its structured finance and securitisation excellence, Vieira de Almeida & Associados’ expertise in high-end debt issuance matters has been a particular feature of the practice. ‘The best lawyers acting in the Portuguese capital markets’, Pedro Cassiano Santos and Pedro Simões Coelho (...). The team also frequently acts for issuers in raising capital, with Helen Vaz Pinto (...). "
Dispute resolution - Tier 2
"Adept at even the most tricky techniques and areas of law’, Vieira de Almeida & Associados is able to provide a ‘highly satisfactory service at every stage’ to an impressive array of financial institutions. Led by Frederico Gonçalves Pereira (...). Insolvency-related disputes and debt recovery continue to be areas of focus, as well as international arbitration."
EU and competition - Tier 1
"Vieira de Almeida & Associados’ Nuno Ruiz provides ‘very strong support to his clients’ and ‘premium service standards’. He leads an eight-lawyer team that offers a mix of experience in merger control, antitrust and state-aid programs, with a particularly strong track record in the energy and TMT sectors. While Ruiz is recognised as ‘the best name available to work with on competition matters’, his team is praised for its ‘sharp and precise’ approach, and ‘abundance of skills’."
Employment - Tier 3
"Working closely with the firm’s leading corporate and finance practices, Vieira de Almeida & Associados’ employment group has built on its capacity to act on employment issues arising from transactions to offer a broader service. Frederico Gonçalves Pereira and senior associate Tiago Piló co-head a practice that picked up a number of restructuring and collective dismissal-related mandates over 2008/09."
Energy and environment - Tier 2
"Particularly noted for its renewables expertise, Vieira de Almeida & Associados frequently assembles diverse teams of ‘very experienced lawyers’ to act on complex financing and M&A deals (...). ‘Fantastic’ projects partner Manuel Protásio (...). Pedro Ferreirinha leads in ongoing environmental (...).
Insolvency and restructuring - Tier 2
"‘Strategically very strong’, Vieira de Almeida & Associados’ insolvency capabilities are closely aligned to its highly respected dispute resolution practice, and disputes practice head Frederico Gonçalves Pereira is recognised for his role on several prominent cases during the year. (...) and has ‘probably the most well-established record in insolvency cases of any of the major firms’. "
Intellectual property - Tier 2
"Vieira de Almeida & Associados continues to derive a strong reputation from its expertise in patent litigation, particularly in the pharmaceutical sector (..). Ana Falcão Afonso and António Magalhães Cardoso head a team which is ‘among the top names for pharmaceutical IP’, and is ‘highly recommended for litigation on complex and sensitive matters’."
Oporto: Leading commercial firms - Tier 4
"Closely integrated with its Lisbon offering, Vieira de Almeida & Associados’ Oporto office has frequently played important roles on leading deals and has particular strength in litigation."
Project finance - Tier 1
"Project finance is one of Vieira de Almeida & Associados’ strongest suits and the team is ‘particularly talented at advising on renewable energy, PPP and road projects’. Lead partner Manuel Protásio is ‘one of the most experienced and sophisticated lawyers in Portugal’ and has instructed sponsors on a series of wind-farm and power-plant financings in recent years. (...) Vanda Cascão is ‘a technically gifted lawyer’, while Paulo de Barros Baptista’s PPP practice is also well regarded."
Public law - Tier 2
"The ‘public law gurus’ at Vieira de Almeida & Associados act for a wide range of highly active public sector clients (...). ‘Highly revered’ department head Mário Esteves de Oliveira (...)"
Real estate - Tier 2
"Vieira de Almeida & Associados continues to take the leading role on real estate matters both for lenders and developers across an eclectic array of mandates. (...) Pedro Ferreirinha leads the 12-strong group, which includes Sofia Galvão (‘an excellent choice for complex commercial affairs’)."
TMT - Tier 1
"Vieira de Almeida & Associados is regarded as ‘the outstanding law firm in acting for telecoms operators’. (...) the ‘technically adept’ Margarida Couto and Magda Cocco advised on bids for the public tender for digital television licensing. Elsewhere, the three-partner team’s recent activity has encompassed outsourcing, regulatory, finance and licensing matters (...). Fernando Resina da Silva provides ‘punctual and precise work of the highest calibre’.
Tax - Tier 2
‘A young but very competitive practice’, Vieira de Almeida & Associados is led by ‘efficient and creative’ tax expert Tiago Marreiros Moreira. Managing associate Conceiçao Gamito is also a key member of the team, providing indirect tax expertise and offering ‘a very sensible and commercially orientated approach’. Amid a series of roles advising arrangers on tax issues in securitisations and several roles structuring the tax component of M&A deals (...)."
