João Afonso Fialho joined VdA in 2015. Partner and Head of Practice Oil&Gas, João has been involved in the last 20 years in all sort of oil&gas projects and transactions in various jurisdictions, such as Timor-Leste, Angola, Portugal, Mozambique, Republic of Congo, DRC, Guinea Bissau and São Tomé and Príncipe. He is mainly focused on the energy (oil&gas upstream/downstream and power projects) and mining industries.
Frequent speaker in international oil&gas upstream and downstream events, he has a detailed and comprehensive understanding of all typical projects and transactions of the industry, from production sharing agreements, participating agreements, JOAs, operating agreements, field unitisation agreements, the full range of service contracts, FPSO contracts, pipeline transportation agreements, storage, gathering and interconnection agreements, engineering, construction and procurement agreements, to distribution and sale and purchase agreements. In particular as concerns the oil&gas sector, he has been involved in the abovementioned jurisdictions on behalf of both operators and a wide-range of drilling and oilfield service companies.
Law Degree, Lisbon University Law School.
Attended the curricular program of the Master degree in International Commercial Law by the Lisbon University Law School.
Prior to joining VdA, he spent his legal career at "Tomáz Rocha Law Office" (1993-1997) and "Miranda Correia Amendoeira & Associados" (1997-2015) where he assisted may oil companies in the downstream business and was one of the members of the oil & gas upstream and downstream practice, respectively.
He served as board member in various terms between 2007 and 2015.
Author or co-author of several articles on legal issues and trends impacting in the area of Energy, Mining and Private Investment, namely, amongst others, Petroleum Africa, Minerals & Mining, The Mining Law Review (three editions), AIPN publications, Getting the Deal Through Mining (2011 to 2014).
Admitted to the Portuguese Bar Association.
Association of International Petroleum Negotiators.
Admitted to the Timor-Leste Bar Association (Conselho de Gestão e Disciplina).
Board Member of World Initiative of Mining Lawyers (2014-2018).
Chairman of Portuguese Law Firms Association (2014-2019).
English, French, Spanish.
Energy & Natural Resources (International) - Band 2
Spotlight TablePortugal: Projects - Band 1
Foreign Expert for AngolaEquatorial Guinea: General Business Law - Band 1
Notable PractitionerAngola: General Business Law: International Firms - Band 2
Expertise based abroad in PortugalGuinea-Bissau: General Business Law: International Firms - Spotlight
Notable PractitionerWorld Tax | Indirect Tax 2023 - Tier 1
WT - Highly RegardedAngola | Foreign firms - Tier 1
Practice headPortugal | Projects and Project Finance - Tier 1
Key lawyerPortugal | Energy and Natural Resources - Tier 1
Practice headMozambique | Foreign firms - Tier 1
Leading IndividualsEnergy & Natural Resources (International) - Band 2
Spotlight TablePortugal: Projects - Band 1
Foreign Expert for AngolaAngola: General Business Law: International Firms - Band 2
Band 1M&A (31st Edition) - Tier 1
Highly RegardedM&A 2022 - Tier 1
Highly RegardedWorld Tax | Indirect Tax 2022 - Tier 1
WT - Highly RegardedAngola | Foreign firms - Tier 1
RecommendedPortugal | Projects and Project Finance - Tier 1
RecommendedMozambique | Foreign firms - Tier 1
Leading IndividualEnergy & Natural Resources (International) - Band 2
Spotlight TableAngola: General Business Law: International Firms - Band 2
Band 1Portugal: Projects - Band 1
Foreign Expert for Angola (Spotlight Table)Mergers and acquisitions - Tier 1
Portugal | Energy and Natural Resources - Tier 1
Recommended LawyersMozambique | Foreign firms - Tier 1
Recommended LawyerPortugal | Projects and Project Finance - Tier 1
Recommended LawyersAngola | Foreign firms - Tier 1
Recommended LawyerEnergy & Natural Resources (International) - Band 2
Spotlight TableAngola: General Business Law Department - Band 2
Band 1Portugal: Projects - Band 1
Foreign Expertise | AngolaM&A - Tier 1
Highly RegardedPortugal | Public law - Tier 1
Portugal | Energy and Natural Resources - Tier 1
Recommended LawyersAngola | Foreign firms - Tier 1
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