Paula Gomes Freire gave an interview to Jornal Económico in which she advocates an increasingly strategic, adaptable legal practice, open to new opportunities, stressing that sustainable growth requires a strong client focus, diversification and the ability to transform in a demanding economic and technological context. She acknowledges that the past year was challenging but highlights positive signs of recovery and reinforces the importance of a clear vision: “the essential thing is to deliver value to our clients and to invest in and enable our people to reach their full potential”.

She points to the dynamism of the market and the gradual recovery of transactional activity as encouraging factors, although she admits that the environment remains demanding and competitive. Even so, she maintains an optimistic outlook: “It is a good sign, without a doubt. This first quarter of 2026 has been marked by a more positive momentum, which seems to me a very encouraging signal”.

Regarding increasing international competition and pressure on margins, Paula Gomes Freire underlines the importance of a clear and differentiated positioning: “We have a clear strategy and a very distinct, well-defined positioning that has enabled us to build our path and to look to the future with great confidence”.

Technological transformation, particularly the impact of artificial intelligence, is seen as inevitable and structural for the sector: “AI will accelerate, from the outset, something that over the years has been one of the key assets of legal practice, which is access to specialised knowledge”.

She also reinforces the need to evolve the business model of law firms, particularly in terms of talent management and organisational structure, advocating greater flexibility and adaptability: “This path is happening because the need to adapt, to be far more efficient, more agile and more capable of responding quickly to challenges, is very much at the forefront for organisations”.

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