Innovation

We challenge the future

What drives us?

A history of innovation.

An inspiring vision.

In our increasingly competitive, challenging and fast-changing world, organisations need to nurture entrepreneurship and creativity to thrive, promoting a constant search for knowledge and adaptability to stay ahead.

We believe in Innovation as a powerful strategy for success, where everyone works together to design solutions in anticipation of clients’ challenges.

Pioneers of Innovation programs in law firms, we nurture creativity and encourage our teams to think outside the box to find novel and improved solutions every day, together with our clients and partners.

VdA’s Innovation-driven approach combines our in-depth knowledge of the different economic sectors with sustained investment in technological development, enabling us to offer effective solutions focused on achieving game-changing results for our clients.

With Innovation in our DNA, we continuously strive to find the best ways to add value to our services.

Knowledge
Collaboration
Convergence
Technology
Creativity
Future

Our
journey

Our Innovation track record is a source of pride for us. VdA was recognised as a case study by Harvard Law School and regularly receives prestigious international awards, including “Most Innovative Law Firm in Continental Europe” awarded five times by the Financial Times in recent years.

VdA made a ground-breaking investment in the development of a structured and integrated Innovation strategy, which reflects the creativity and drive to push boundaries that characterise us.

VdA has also been consistently referenced for the transformative impact Innovation has had on the legal services provided to our clients and how we organise ourselves as a law firm.

Here are some of our most important Innovation accolades:

VdA ranked as one of the most innovative law firms in Europe

VdA ranked by the Financial Times Innovative Lawyers as one of the ten most innovative law firms in Europe, and its Litigation & Arbitration practice as being among the best in Europe, including the UK

Launch of VdA Inovação, with its own dedicated team

Innovation included in VdA’s values matrix given its long history of innovation.

 

VdA shortlisted as the most Innovative Law Firm in Continental Europe

VdA shortlisted by Financial Times Innovative Lawyers for Most Innovative Law Firm in Continental Europe and senior partner António Magalhães Cardoso recognised as one of the ten Most Innovative Individuals of the Year.

Launch of VdA’s annual Innovation Award, the first ever such award in a Portuguese law firm.

VdA lawyers nominated as “Innovative Individuals"

VdA nominated by Financial Times Innovative Lawyers and several of its lawyers nominated as “Innovative Individuals”

VdA voted Game Changing Law Firm in Continental Europe

VdA voted Game Changing Law Firm in Continental Europe and shortlisted for Most Innovative Law Firm in Continental Europe by Financial Times Innovative Lawyers. Harvard Law School recognises VdA as a case study.

VdA voted by Financial Times Innovative Lawyers

VdA voted Most Innovative Law Firm in Continental Europe by Financial Times Innovative Lawyers and partner Magda Cocco nominated for “Legal Innovator of the Year”. VdA launches the LegalClub, a platform for in-house lawyers to share ideas and experiences.

VdA voted "Most Innovative Law Firm in Continental Europe" and Most Innovative Law Firm in Europe in Dispute Resolution

VdA voted “Most Innovative Law Firm in Continental Europe” and Most Innovative Law Firm in Europe in Dispute Resolution by Financial Times Innovative Lawyers.

VdA nominated for “Most Innovative Law Firm in Continental Europe”

VdA nominated for “Most Innovative Law Firm in Continental Europe” by Financial Times Innovative Lawyers for the 6th consecutive year

VdA organizes the first Legal Hackathon in Portugal

VdA is the first Portuguese law firm to launch an internal innovation project incubator and organizes the first Legal Hackathon in Portugal together with Fundação Vasco Vieira de Almeida and VdA Academia

VdA fully restructured its internal and external innovation network

VdA fully restructured its internal and external innovation network in the face of an unprecedented and challenging year, thus reinforcing the importance of this value in the firm’s culture.

VdA shortlisted once again by Financial Times Innovative Lawyers for Most Innovative Law Firm in Continental Europe and participates in the FT Global Legal Hackathon with its co-authored I-Dial solution.

VdA shortlisted for the FT Collaborative Award

VdA’s SafeShare project was shortlisted for the FT Collaborative Award and the firm was nominated by the Financial Times Innovative Lawyers for the “Most Innovative Law Firms in Europe” award.

VdA also launched an internship programme for students from the fields of management, economics and engineering with the aim of bolstering the firm’s innovation projects.  

VdA recognised by Financial Times Innovative Lawyers

VdA was recognised in the FT Innovative Lawyers Awards 2022 with the “Innovation in Long Term Strategies for Success” award, having also been nominated in the following categories: “Most Innovative Law Firm (Outside UK)”, “Practice of Law: Market Firsts” and “Strategic Approach to Innovation”.

VdA nominated by Financial Times Innovative Lawyers

VdA is nominated by the Financial Times Innovative Lawyers Awards 2023, in the categories: "Innovative Lawyers in Digital Assets and Blockchain", "Innovative Lawyers in Impact and ESG" and "Most innovative law firm in Europe (headquartered outside UK)".

VdA nominated "Most Innovative Law Firm" by FT Innovative Lawyers Awards 2024

VdA was nominated "Most Innovative Law Firm" in Continental Europe by the FT Innovative Lawyers Awards 2024.

VdA is also nominated in the categories of "Innovation in Skills Development", "Innovation in Talent Management", "Innovative Lawyers in Dispute Resolution" and "Intrapreneur".

Over the years, VdA has been consistently recognized as "Most Innovative Law Firm", being the only Portuguese firm with this distinction. It has also been honored by the FT Innovative Lawyers Awards in specific practice areas.

A Culture
Of Innovation

Throughout each year, VdA Inovação organises several initiatives to foster the firm’s culture of Innovation and to support the development and implementation of new projects.

These initiatives have high levels of internal participation, promoting the generation of new ideas, the launch of projects and the discussion of novel challenges and possible solutions. We also rely on our countless partners to help make our vision a reality, placing VdA at the forefront of innovation in Portugal’s legal sector.

We encourage the sharing of knowledge and ideas to boost internal innovation and call on our lawyers and staff to reflect on the most varied challenges.

Group dynamics are a constant at VdA. By putting our team to the test, we enhance their creativity and capacity for innovation.

We launched the first Legal Hackathon in Portugal together with Fundação Vasco Vieira de Almeida and VdA Academia. This initiative was sponsored by Startup Lisboa, Microsoft and OutSystems, as well as several Portuguese universities and professional associations.

For thirty-six hours, the Hackathon teams were challenged to find innovative solutions, in an intense, fast-paced, creative and collaborative environment, to bring the law closer to citizens through technology.

Our idea management system challenges our lawyers and staff to push further in the search for new solutions and business models. Through idea campaigns and Open Storms, we ensure the involvement of most of the firm in this process.

Our bootcamps bring junior and senior team members together to design innovative solutions, exploring methods that spark creativity.

We set up the first incubator focused on developing innovation projects designed by our team members. Our accelerator programme helps transform their ideas into action.

Every year, VdA presents this award to the team member who most contributed to Innovation. First awarded back in 2013, the accolade has recognised many lawyers and staff who have developed noteworthy innovative solutions over the years.

Focus

VdA Inovação works on three main fronts:

New legal products

We support and encourage the creation of new legal solutions designed to provide a bespoke response to our clients’ challenges.

Service

We regularly rethink how we provide legal services, thus guaranteeing an innovative service of excellence.

New technologies

We foster the use of technology as a key tool of VdA’s present and future development of original products and new platforms that help improve our services.

Vision & Innovation

the key to the FUTURE, the driver for SUSTAINABILITY

We want Innovation to continue to be the driving force of  VdA’s strategy and to be our differentiating factor.

VdA invests heavily in new technologies and digital transformation, focusing on the development of innovative products and business models alongside new work methods to streamline proposed solutions.

VdA is committed to pursuing its path of internal innovation and acting as a bridge to the outside world, by promoting close collaboration between the firm and its clients and stakeholders across different sectors and fields of activity.

Always placing our clients first, we will continue to provide services of excellence and to offer innovative solutions that bring true added value to your business and help you navigate the digital future ahead.

Contact Us to Know More

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