João Afonso Fialho
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.
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Chambers Europe
Energy & Natural Resources (International) - Band 2
Spotlight Table"João Afonso Fialho is a very strong and reliable person with significant knowledge and experience; He is an expert in his field and a strong negotiator." -
Chambers Global
Portugal: 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 Practitioner -
International Tax Review
World Tax | Indirect Tax 2023 - Tier 1
WT - Highly Regarded -
Legal 500
Angola | 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 Individuals
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Chambers Europe
Energy & Natural Resources (International) - Band 2
Spotlight Table -
Chambers Global
Portugal: Projects - Band 1
Foreign Expert for AngolaAngola: General Business Law: International Firms - Band 2
Band 1"I enjoy working with him - he is knowledgeable in Angolan law and responsive." -
IFLR 1000
M&A (31st Edition) - Tier 1
Highly RegardedM&A 2022 - Tier 1
Highly Regarded -
International Tax Review
World Tax | Indirect Tax 2022 - Tier 1
WT - Highly Regarded -
Legal 500
Angola | Foreign firms - Tier 1
Recommended"Joao is very responsive."Portugal | Projects and Project Finance - Tier 1
RecommendedMozambique | Foreign firms - Tier 1
Leading Individual
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Chambers Europe
Energy & Natural Resources (International) - Band 2
Spotlight Table -
Chambers Global
Angola: General Business Law: International Firms - Band 2
Band 1"It's hard to find a better set of lawyers that know Angola like they do."Portugal: Projects - Band 1
Foreign Expert for Angola (Spotlight Table) -
IFLR 1000
Mergers and acquisitions - Tier 1
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Legal 500
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 Lawyer
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Chambers Europe
Energy & Natural Resources (International) - Band 2
Spotlight Table -
Chambers Global
Angola: General Business Law Department - Band 2
Band 1"Vast, detailed knowledge of Angolan legislation as well as its standing under international laws." "Expertise in the complexities of mining legislation."Portugal: Projects - Band 1
Foreign Expertise | Angola -
IFLR 1000
M&A - Tier 1
Highly Regarded -
Legal 500
Portugal | Public law - Tier 1
"Raul da Mota Cerveira and João Afonso Fialho have impeccable manners and build a true partnership with clients."Portugal | Energy and Natural Resources - Tier 1
Recommended Lawyers"Extremely competent."Angola | Foreign firms - Tier 1
Recommended Lawyer