Magda Cocco
Head of Practice Partner Information, Communication & Technology, Head of Practice Partner Digital Frontiers
Magda Cocco
Magda joined VdA in 1994. Head of the Information, Communication and Technology practice, the Digital Frontiers practice and also head of the firm's aerospace sector. Magda has in-depth knowledge and experience with innovative technological projects in the electronic communications industry and across several jurisdictions and regions, notably Europe and Africa.
She has led multidisciplinary teams in different ICT projects & transactions and assisted Governments and Regulatory Entities in connection with the definition of regulatory policies and legislative drafting, having also advised various international organizations such as International Telecommunications Union, the World Bank and the European Investment Bank.
Magda has provided expert advice to companies and public entities across different industries on several digital economy legal issues, from electronic and postal communications to information and emerging technologies, such as AI, robotics, blockchain, nanotechnology, Big Data and IoT.
She also advises clients on Data Protection & Cybersecurity. In this context, she has assisted several entities in connection with governance matters and data related strategies, coordinated several GDPR compliance programs and assisted public and private entities in connection with Cybersecurity threats.
Magda has been involved in various Space sector projects, including negotiating contracts for satellite construction and launch and for the installation of ground stations, and assisted Governments in connection with the definition and drafting of Space-related strategies and legislation.
She has penned or co-authored several articles published in national and international specialized publications and was a featured speaker at various ICT conferences. Magda is a visiting teacher in several national and international universities in her fields of expertise.
She is VdA’s representative at the International Astronautic Federation (IAF) and responsible for liaising with The Alliance for Affordable Internet (A4AI).
She participates in several Space sector-related forums, namely the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA).
Lawyer of the year - IP&TMT Awards 2022
Lawyer of the year TMT - IP&TMT Awards 2022
Lawyer of the year Information Technology - IP&TMT Awards 2022
Lawyer of the Year, Best Lawyers - Media Law - 2022
Lawyer of the Year TMT - IP & TMT Awards 2021
Lawyer of the Year, Best Lawyers - Technology Law (Lisbon) - 2020
Lawyer of the Year, Best Lawyers - Media Law (Lisbon) - 2019
Lawyer of the Year, Best Lawyers - Technology Law – 2017
Lawyer of the Year, Best Lawyers – 2015
“40 Under Forty”, Iberian Lawyer - 2007
In 2016, Magda was nominated for the Financial Times’ Legal Innovator of the Year award, along with the top ten most innovative European lawyers.
Law Degree - Lisbon University Law School.
Lecturer - Space Law Course jointly organized by the ELSA (“European Law Students’ Association”) of the Portuguese Catholic University, Vieira de Almeida & Associados and VdAcademia.
Lecturer - Telecommunications Law and Regulation and Data Protection and Privacy Post-Graduate course at the Lisbon Catholic University.
Lecturer - Telecommunications Law course as part of the LLM in Public Law of the Lisbon Administration School.
Lecturer - e-communications course, Lisbon New University Law School.
Assistant Professor at the University of Lisbon Law School.
She has penned or co-authored several articles published in national and international specialized publications, notably:
- Estudo sobre o Serviço Universal de Telecomunicações na Comunidade dos Países de Língua Portuguesa e em Macau, China, União Internacional das Comunicações Electrónicas (2017)
- "International Laws Regulating Satellite Communications" - Annals of Air and Space Law - Institute of Air and Space, McGill University Law School (2016)
- “O impacto da decisão ‘safe harbour’ do Tribunal de Justiça Europeu sobre a Comissão Nacional de Proteção de Dados”, Iberian Lawyer (Jan. 2016)
- “Laws running after outer space: legal changes lie ahead”, blog Space Innovation Congress (2016)
- “The Privacy, Data Protection and Cybersecurity”, The Law Review (2015)
- “Global Privacy and Security Law Book ” (Portugal Chapter), Aspen Publishers (updated in 2014)
- PLC Cross - Border Handbooks (Data Protection, updated in 2014)
Admitted to the Portuguese Bar Association.
Admitted to the Timor-Leste Bar Association (Conselho de Gestão e Disciplina).
Communications Law Committee Officer at the International Bar Association (IBA).
English, French, Spanish.
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Chambers Europe
TMT - Band 1
Band 1"I would say that Magda is the best TMT lawyer in Portugal. She is very senior and has an incredible executive approach. She is clearly the go-to person in complex matters." -
Chambers Global
Africa Wide: TMT - Band 2
Band 3"Magda's reputation affords her immense credibility among our partners, members and stakeholders, who hold her input in high regard." -
Legal 500
Portugal | Data privacy and data protection - Tier 1
Leading Individual"I highlight Magda Cocco and Inês Antas de Barros for the incredible work they do with their team(s). I consider and testify to their enormous skills and sense of responsibility, making them a great reference in the market for me and, thus, justifying my loyalty as a client."Mozambique | Foreign firms - Tier 1
Key LawyerPortugal | TMT - Tier 1
Hall Of Fame"I would like to mention Magda Cocco for her incredible work. I testify to her enormous skills and sense of responsibility, making her a great reference in the market."
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Chambers Europe
TMT - Band 1
Band 1"Magda Cocco is an inspiration for her assertiveness and vision." -
Legal 500
Mozambique | Foreign firms - Tier 1
Key lawyerPortugal | Data privacy and data protection - Tier 1
Leading Individuals"Magda Cocco (...), in addition to the excellent reputation they have in the market, provide excellent service, demonstrating assertive and pragmatic leadership. They seek to understand the client’s business, providing opinions and legal advice of excellent quality. My experience with both continues to be absolutely exceptional; I emphasise the quality of Magda Coco(...); Magda Cocco, (...) are recommended; Magda Coco for her technical competence."Portugal | TMT - Tier 1
Hall of Fame"I don’t know anyone in the market who beats Magda Cocco and her strategic vision."Angola | Foreign firms - Tier 1
Key lawyer
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Chambers Europe
TMT - Band 1
Band 1"Has very strong experience in telecommunication sector, operators and regulators." "She has in-depth knowledge of the sector and is confident dealing with any aspect." "Her experience and vision make her a reference in the market." -
Legal 500
Portugal | Data privacy and data protection - Tier 1
Leading Individual"The seniority of the partner Magda Cocco (...) continues to impress me very positively, for their experience, resilience and organisational capacity, even in highly complex processes; Magda Cocco who has enormous knowledge and accumulated experience; Magda Cocco leads the team, with extensive knowledge of the matter, availability for dialogue and effective materialisation of solutions to legal problems, considering different angles."Portugal | TMT - Tier 1
Hall of Fame"Magda Cocco (...) are both partners with extensive experience and expertise in legal consultancy in the telecoms sector. They have the particularity of being a very natural part of multi-disciplinary consulting teams."
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Chambers Europe
TMT - Band 1
Band 1 -
Chambers Global
Africa Wide: TMT - Band 3
Notable practitioner -
Legal 500
Portugal | Data privacy and data protection - Tier 1
Leading Individuals; Recommended Lawyer"An extraordinary lawyer with a tremendous ability to understand clients."Portugal | Hall of Fame - Hall of Fame
TMTPortugal | TMT - Tier 1
Hall of Fame / Recommended Lawyer
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Chambers Europe
TMT - Band 1
Band 1"Adaptable and flexible to the clients' needs." -
Legal 500
Portugal | Data privacy and data protection - Tier 1
Leading Individuals / Recommended Lawyer / Recommended LawyerPortugal | TMT - Tier 1
Leading Individuals / Recommended Lawyers"Always available to the client and to brainstorm on new and innovative ways to deal with clients' issues." "An outspoken expert in the telecommunications law market."Portugal | Hall of Fame - Hall of Fame
TMTMozambique | Foreign firms - Tier 1
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