Manuel Cavaleiro Brandão
Manuel Cavaleiro Brandão joined VdA in 2021. He is Head Partner of the Labour practice.
He is a leading Labour lawyer in Portugal, boasting over 40 years of experience.
Manuel couples his vast experience in Labor Law with a no less significant experience in national and international arbitration, having acted as both counsel and arbitrator in commercial and corporate law, construction and public works, contracts and labor law related arbitration proceedings.
Among other roles, he was a member of the Court of Arbitration of ICC – International Chamber of Commerce (Paris) (2002-2005).
Lawyer of the Year, Best Lawyers - Arbitration and Mediation - 2022
Medal of Honor awarded by the Portuguese Bar Association (2008).
Awarded the Merit Badge by the Austrian Government (2007).
Law Degree, Universidade de Coimbra Law School.
Post-graduate degree in European Studies (attended).
He teaches post-graduate Labor Law courses at Universidade de Lisboa Law School, Universidade Católica (Porto) Law School and Universidade Lusíada Law School, and post-graduate Arbitration courses at Universidade Católica (Porto) Law School and Universidade Nova Law School.
Before joining the firm, he was Partner at PLMJ.
He was one of the founding partners of Cavaleiro Brandão, Pinheiro Torres, Cabral, Sousa e Silva e Associados Law Firm.
Manuel was also a member of Parliament and sat on several parliamentary committees.
He was a member of the Comissão de Análise e Sistematização do Código do Trabalho [Committee for the Review and Systematization of the Labor Code] (2000-2002) and of the Comissão do Livro Branco para as Relações Laborais [Committee of the White Book for Labor Relations] (2006-2007), both while an official at the Ministry of Labor.
He Chaired the Board of the Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe (CCBE) and was a member of the European Economic and Social Committee.
Admitted to the Portuguese Bar Association.
Member of the Associação Portuguesa de Arbitragem [Portuguese Arbitration Association].
Member of APODIT – Associação Portuguesa de Direito do Trabalho [Portuguese Labor Law Association].
French, English, Spanish.
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Chambers Europe
Employment - Band 3
Senior Statespeople"Manuel Cavaleiro Brandão is an excellent lawyer."Porto - General Business Law - Band 2
Senior Statespeople (Employment) -
Legal 500
Portugal | Employment - Tier 2
Leading IndividualPortugal | Porto - Leading commercial firms - Tier 1
Leading Individual"The team, most notably Manuel Cavaleiro Brandão, demonstrates enormous care and attention in analysing the situations presented, as well as important practical and current knowledge, particularly in complex topics such as collective relations and collective dismissals."
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Chambers Europe
General Business Law – Porto - Band 2
Senior Statespeople: EmploymentEmployment - Band 4
Senior Statespeople"Manuel Cavaleiro Brandão is an excellent lawyer." -
Legal 500
Portugal | Porto - Leading commercial firms - Tier 2
Leading IndividualsPortugal | Employment - Tier 2
Leading Individuals"The services provided to us are almost exclusively performed by Manuel Cavaleiro Brandão (...). Excellent quality. I recommend both lawyers to anyone who needs services within the scope of labour matters; Manuel Cavaleiro Brandão (...) are brilliant lawyers and negotiators. I highlight their rigour, professionalism and knowledge. Excellent expertise in all labour matters."
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Chambers Europe
General Business Law – Porto - Band 3
Senior Statespeople: Employment"He has extensive knowledge of labour law, is very experienced and has great business acumen."Employment - Band 4
Senior Statespeople -
Legal 500
Portugal | Porto - Leading commercial firms - Tier 2
Leading individual