João Velez de Lima, Tax Partner, gives an interview to Jornal de Negócios in which he highlights the consolidation of VdA’s presence in Porto and across the entire Northern region, following the inauguration of the firm’s new facilities at the ICON Tower. Throughout the conversation, the Head of the Porto office emphasises that nearly 20 years of continuous presence in the city 'have been marked by sustained growth, close ties with the business community, and a firm commitment to the region'. According to him, the evolution of the office has made it possible to 'closely follow the development of Northern Portuguese companies, contributing to transformative projects across strategic sectors'.

In the interview, João Velez de Lima stresses that the new location symbolises VdA’s commitment to innovation, internationalisation and the creation of value for clients and for the Northern business ecosystem. He underlines that the new office was designed as a space where teams and clients can 'create, share and develop innovative solutions', adding that proximity to the region’s academic, technological and research hubs is essential for attracting talent and strengthening ties with the community. 'From Porto, we combine deep knowledge of the regional context with a global perspective, applying this experience to strategic sectors such as energy, industry and technology, as well as to international operations and leadership in growth and innovation trends', he states.

He also highlights the ability of Porto and the wider Northern region to attract investment and export-driven projects, reaffirming that VdA seeks to combine local insight with an international outlook. As he notes, this combination enables the firm to 'anticipate trends, stand by clients at decisive moments, and contribute to the region’s competitiveness and transformation'. The integration of artificial intelligence and digitalisation into legal services, he adds, is among the office’s main priorities to respond to the current and future challenges faced by businesses.

In the interview, the Partner further reinforces VdA’s ambition to deepen its presence in the North, addressing the needs of the region’s most dynamic sectors, promoting innovation and closely following the developments that shape both the local and international economy. The inauguration of the new office therefore represents a renewed commitment to the future and to generating value.

'The Porto and Northern regions are dynamic, with strong attractiveness and an export-oriented profile, and VdA is committed to remaining present, growing and contributing to this momentum.'

• This interview is available here.