João Vieira de Almeida
João Vieira de Almeida
João Vieira de Almeida
back

João Vieira de Almeida

Senior Partner Corporate and M&A

Download CV

João Vieira de Almeida

João Vieira de Almeida is VdA’s Senior Partner, in which capacity he chairs the Board of Directors.

Recognized as a leading high-end Corporate and M&A Partner, he has a stellar reputation as trusted adviser for large organisations on many of the Portuguese market’s most significant transactions. João is a member of various Boards of Directors, and is Chair of Shareholders’ Meetings of several companies.

He is credited for developing VdA from a small 6 lawyers’ office into a 550+ people firm with a large international footprint, and widely recognized for his unparalleled leadership style, with an acute awareness of where the industry is heading. Proactively anticipating future challenges to the legal business, the willingness to move forward is always accompanied by a fierce commitment to the firms’ culture and values, driven by a strict “One Firm Firm” concept. Fostering a culture of teamwork, innovation and entrepreneurship is at the heart of João’s thinking, where all people across the firm feel they belong and have a fair and equal opportunity to reach their full potential, through a collaborative mindset towards the team, clients and the community.

Named in 2018, by The Lawyer, as European Managing Partner of the Year, João’s singular vision on continuous and agile transformation, consistently implementing international best practices to the firm’s management, operation, client and business-building initiatives, has become a case study at Harvard Law and been attested by successive domestic and international awards, including various FT Most Innovative Law Firm in Continental Europe Award.

Recognised by the Financial Times as one of the most influential figures in the legal practice over the last two decades.

Lawyer of the Year, Best Lawyers - Mergers and Acquisitions Law - 2021

European Managing Partner of the Year, The Lawyer European Awards - 2019

Lawyer of the Year, Best Lawyers - Corporate Law - 2017

Law Degree, Catholic University, Faculty of Law.

Admitted to the Portuguese Bar Association and the Brazilian Bar.

Admitted to the Timor-Leste Bar Association (Conselho de Gestão e Disciplina).

English, French, Spanish.

Rankings
  • Chambers Europe

    Corporate/M&A - Band 1

    Senior Statespeople
  • Chambers Global

    Portugal: Corporate/M&A | The Elite - Band 1

    Senior Statespeople
  • Chambers Europe

    Corporate/M&A - Band 1

    Senior Statespeople
  • Chambers Global

    Portugal: Corporate/M&A - Band 1

  • IFLR 1000

    M&A 2025 - Tier 1

    Highly regarded

    Private Equity 2025 - Tier 1

    Highly regarded
  • Chambers Europe

    Corporate/M&A - Band 1

    Senior Statespeople
  • Chambers Global

    Portugal: Corporate/M&A - Band 1

    Senior Statespeople
    "João Vieira de Almeida is a recognised lawyer in the corporate sphere, with experience acting on joint ventures and cross-border transactions."
  • IFLR 1000

    M&A 2024 - Tier 1

    Highly Regarded
    "Recognized as a leading high-end Corporate and M&A Partner, he has a stellar reputation as trusted adviser for large organisations on many of the Portuguese market’s most significant transactions. "
  • Chambers Europe

    Corporate/M&A - Band 1

    Senior Statespeople
  • Chambers Global

    Portugal: Corporate/M&A - Band 1

    Senior Statespeople
  • IFLR 1000

    M&A 2023 - Tier 1

  • Legal 500

    Portugal | Commercial, Corporate and M&A - Tier 1

    Key lawyer
  • Chambers Europe

    Corporate/M&A - Band 1

    Eminent Practitioner
  • Chambers Global

    Portugal: Corporate/M&A - Band 1

    Eminent Practitioner
  • IFLR 1000

    Private Equity 2022 -

    Highly regarded

    M&A (31st Edition) - Tier 1

    Highly Regarded

    Private Equity (31st Edition) -

    Highly Regarded
  • Legal 500

    Portugal | Commercial, Corporate and M&A - Tier 1

    Hall of Fame
  • Chambers Europe

    Corporate/M&A - Band 1

    Eminent Practitioner
  • Chambers Global

    Portugal: Corporate/M&A - Band 1

    Eminent Practitioner
  • IFLR 1000

    Mergers and acquisitions - Tier 1

    Highly Regarded

    Private Equity -

    Highly Regarded
  • Legal 500

    Portugal | Hall of Fame - Hall of Fame

    Commercial, corporate and M&A

    Portugal | Commercial, Corporate and M&A - Tier 1

    Leading individuals / Hall of Fame / Recommended Lawyer
  • Chambers Europe

    Corporate/M&A - Band 1

    Eminent Practitioner
  • Chambers Global

    Leading Regional Law Firm Networks in Africa-wide - Band 1

    Notable Practitioner

    Portugal: Corporate/M&A - Band 1

    Eminent Practitioner
  • IFLR 1000

    M&A - Tier 1

    Highly Regarded

    Private Equity -

    Highly Regarded
  • Legal 500

    Portugal | Commercial, Corporate and M&A - Tier 1

    Leading Lawyer / Recommended Lawyer

    Portugal | Hall of Fame - Hall of Fame

    Commercial, corporate and M&A
Related Communication
publications media
back