Paula Gomes Freire

Paula Gomes Freire joined VdA in 1996. She is VdA’s Managing Partner, in which capacity she chairs the Executive Committee and is member of the Board of Directors.

Partner of the Banking & Finance practice, Paula has led several transactions, both in Portugal and abroad, mainly focused on the issue and placement of debt instruments, namely Euro Medium Term Notes, commercial paper, preferential shares and hybrids.

She also works in securitisation and other types of asset-backed transactions.

In recent years, Paula has also participated in the recapitalisation of the Portuguese banking sector and on the inaugural application of a resolution measure under the Banking Recovery and Resolution Directive”.

Author of a number of publications and specialised articles in the remit of  her legal practice, Paula also published the book "Sustainable success, the future of technology, leadership and culture", through which she shares her insights on the main challenges of the future with an impact on the sustainability of organisations, a reflection carried out with the contribution of a panel of prestigious academics and renowned specialists from various sectors.

Lawyer of the Year, Best Lawyers - Banking & Finance Law - 2023

InspiraLaw Women, Iberian Lawyer - 2022

In 2011, Paula won the Iberian Lawyer award “40 Under Forty”, which distinguished the top young lawyers in the Iberian Peninsula.

Law Degree, University of Lisbon, Faculty of Law.

Post-graduate studies in English Commercial Law, College of Law, London University.

Before joining the firm she worked as an associate at McKenna&Co, in London and at Azevedo Neves, Benjamim Mendes, Pereira de Miranda&Associados, in Lisbon.

Author or co-author of various books and articles namely:

  • "Securitization in Portugal", Asset Finance International - Março 2000
  • Portuguese Securitisation Market: Diversification of Asset Classes and Legal Context
  • "Portugal ready to embrace new asset classes", IFLR - The 2005 Guide to Structured Finance
  • The Portuguese securitisation market", Global Securitisation Review, 2003/2004 Euromoney publication
  • "2003 a landmark year for Portuguese Securitisation", The 2004 Guide to Structured Finance (International Finance Law Review)
  • "Public Sector Securitisation in Europe", Global Trade and Finance Series - Securitisation of Derivatives and Alternative Asset classes Yearbook 2005
  • "Sovereign Securitisation in Europe", International Banking and Finance Law Series, Innovation in Securitisation Yearbook 2006
  • "Covered Bonds in Portugal - a feasible regime, at last", The 2006 Global Securitisation Guide - 2006
  • "New Treatment for Exposure", The 2008 Global Securitisation Guide - 2008
  • "The current trends and the ECB tools in the Portuguese market", Global Banking and Financial Policy Review - 2009/2010
  • "The fears of a sovereign debt crisis in the euro zone and the role of structured finance", Global Banking and Financial Policy Review - 2010
  • Covered Bonds - resilience in times of uncertainty, Euromoney Handbook - Maio 2011
  • "Times of Crisis: Increased Regulation and New Market Opportunities", Global Banking and Financial Policy Review - 2011/2012
  • "The fears of a sovereign debt crisis in the euro zone and the role of Structured Finance", Global Banking and Financial Policy Review - 2010/2011
  • Global Banking & Finance Policy Review - Portugal, Euromoney yearbooks - 2010/2011
  • The International Comparative Legal Guide to Securitisation 2014 (Portugal)

Admitted to the Portuguese Bar Association and the Law Society of England and Wales.

English, French, Spanish.

Rankings

  • Chambers Europe

    Capital Markets - Band 1

    Eminent Practioner

  • Chambers Global

    Portugal: Banking & Finance - Band 1

    Eminent Practitioner
    "Paula Gomes Freire is a strong leader and commercial lawyer"

    Portugal: Capital Markets - Band 1

    Eminent Practitioner
    "Paula is best known for her advice on securitisation transactions. She routinely advises originator banks on the STS-compliant securitisation of auto loan portfolios."

  • Chambers Europe

    Capital Markets - Band 1

    Eminent Practitioner

    Banking and Finance - Band 1

    Eminent Practitioner
    "Paula Gomes Freire is a strong leader and commercial lawyer."

  • Chambers Global

    Portugal: Capital Markets - Band 1

    Eminent Practitioner

    Portugal: Banking & Finance - Band 1

  • IFLR 1000

    Capital Markets: Equity 2023 - Tier 1

    Capital Markets: Structured finance and securitisation 2023

    IFLR1000 Women Leaders 2023

    Capital Markets: Debt 2023 - Tier 1

  • International Tax Review

    World Tax | General Corporate Tax 2023 - Tier 1

    WT - Highly Regarded

    World Tax | Transactional Tax 2023 - Tier 1

    WT - Highly Regarded

  • Legal 500

    Portugal | Banking and Finance - Tier 1

    Key lawyer

  • Chambers Europe

    Capital Markets - Band 1

    Band 3

    Banking and Finance - Band 1

    Band 3
    "Solid knowledge of the market."

  • Chambers Global

    Portugal: Capital Markets - Band 1

    Band 3

    Portugal: Banking & Finance - Band 1

    Band 3

  • IFLR 1000

    Capital Markets Debt (31st Edition) - Tier 1

    Highly Regarded

    Capital Markets: Structured finance and securitisation (31st Edition)

    Highly regarded

    Capital Markets Equity (31st Edition) - Tier 1

    Highly regarded

    Capital Markets: Structured finance and securitisation 2022

    Highly regarded

    Capital Markets Debt 2022 - Tier 1

    Highly regarded

    Capital Markets Equity 2022 - Tier 1

    Highly Regarded

    IFLR1000 Women Leaders 2022 | 5th edition

    IFLR1000 Women Leader

  • International Tax Review

    World Tax | General Corporate Tax 2022 - Tier 1

    WT - Highly Regarded

    World Tax | Transactional Tax 2022 - Tier 1

    WT - Highly Regarded

  • Legal 500

    Portugal | Banking and Finance - Tier 1

    Recommended

  • Chambers Europe

    Banking and Finance - Band 1

    Band 3
    "Solid knowledge of the market."

    Capital Markets - Band 1

    Band 3
    "In-depth experience"

  • Chambers Global

    Portugal: Banking & Finance - Band 1

    Band 3
    "Solid knowledge of the market."

    Portugal: Capital Markets - Band 1

    Band 3
    "In-depth experience."

  • IFLR 1000

    Capital Markets Debt - Tier 1

    Highly Regarded / IFLR 1000 Women Leaders

    Capital Markets: Structured finance and securitisation

    Highly Regarded / IFLR 1000 Women Leaders

    Capital Markets Equity - Tier 1

    Highly Regarded / IFLR 1000 Women Leaders

    IFLR1000 Women Leaders

    Capital markets: Debt / Capital Markets: Equity / Capital markets: Structured finance and securitisation

  • Legal 500

    Portugal | Banking & Finance - Tier 1

    Recommended Lawyers

  • Chambers Europe

    Banking and Finance - Band 1

    Band 3
    "Very experienced lawyer with a deep knowledge of the area."

    Capital Markets - Band 1

    Band 3

  • Chambers Global

    Portugal: Capital Markets - Band 1

    Band 3

    Portugal: Banking & Finance - Band 1

    Band 3
    "Very experienced lawyer with a deep knowledge of the area."

  • IFLR 1000

    Capital Markets: Structured finance and securitisation

    Highly Regarded | IFLR 1000 Women Leaders

    Capital Markets Debt - Tier 1

    Highly Regarded | IFLR 1000 Women Leaders

    Capital Markets Equity - Tier 1

    Highly Regarded | IFLR 1000 Women Leaders

  • Legal 500

    Portugal | Banking & Finance - Tier 1

    Recommended Lawyer

    Portugal | Capital Markets - Tier 1

    Recommended Lawyer
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