Pedro Cassiano Santos
Pedro Cassiano Santos joined VdA in 1989. He is the head partner in charge at the Banking & Finance area of practice taking responsibility for clients and transactions of the financial sector. He is regularly involved in the provision of legal advice in banking and capital markets’ regulatory matters as well as in the structuring of several financing transactions, such as the issue and placement (both national and international) of debt, hybrid and equity instruments, and the issue and placement of warrants and both cash and synthetic financial products. He has also been actively working in securitization transactions and other types of asset-backed transactions, together with the preparation of structured finance transactions, matters in respect of which he is a regular speaker in conferences and a guest teacher of many Masters and Post-Graduate courses organized by distinct Institutes and Universities.
Pedro has been seconded to an international financial institution operating in Portugal for a total of 5 years, operating as the in-house legal department thereof.
"Outstanding Contribution", Chambers and Partners Portugal Awards 2019
Lawyer of the Year, Best Lawyers - Finance Law - 2017
Lawyer of the Year, Best Lawyers - Capital Markets Law - 2016
Lawyer of the Year, Best Lawyers - 2015
International Law Office (ILO), Clients Choice Awards - Banking - 2011, 2013, 2014
Law Degree, University of Lisbon, Faculty of Law.
Post-graduation in European Legal Studies, College of Europe, Bruges, Belgium.
Guest Professor/Lecturer at the Catholic University of Lisbon and at the Institute for Banking Management (Instituto Superior de Gestão Bancária).
Guest Professor/Lecturer at the Research Centre for Private Law (Centro de Investigação de Direito Privado).
Author and co-author of various publications on matters within his fields of expertise, namely:
- Portugal Expert – Banking Regulation 2025, Chambers and Partners
- The Securitisation & Structured Finance Handbook 2025, Capital Markets Intelligence
- Banking Regulation 2025, Chambers Global Practice Guides
- European Securitisation: A Practioner’s Guide to Principles and Jurisdictions, 2024, Globe Law Online
- The Securitisation & Structured Finance Handbook 2024, Capital Markets Intelligence
- Banking Regulation – Portugal, 2023, Lexology-In-Depth
Admitted to the Portuguese Bar Association and admitted as specialist in financial law.
Admitted to the Timor-Leste Law Society (Conselho de Gestão e Disciplina da Advocacia de Timor-Leste).
English, French, Spanish.
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Chambers Europe
Banking & Finance - Band 1
Star IndividualCapital Markets - Band 1
Band 1 -
Chambers Global
Portugal: Banking & Finance - Band 1
Portugal: Capital Markets - Band 1
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Legal 500
Portugal | Banking and Finance - Tier 1
Hall of FamePortugal | Capital Markets - Tier 1
Hall of Fame
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Chambers Europe
Capital Markets - Band 1
Band 1Banking and Finance - Band 1
Star Individual"It is great working with Pedro, he displays great knowledge and experience dealing with complex matters." -
Chambers Global
Portugal: Capital Markets - Band 1
Band 1"Pedro Cassiano Santos is top-notch."Portugal: Banking & Finance - Band 1
Star Individual"Pedro has a deep knowledge of the Portuguese market." -
IFLR 1000
Capital Markets: Debt 2024 - Tier 1
Market LeaderCapital Markets: Structured finance and securitisation 2024 - Tier 1
Market Leader"Pedro is regularly involved in the provision of legal advice in banking and capital markets' regulatory matters as well as in the structuring of several financing transactions, such as the issue and placement (both national and international) of debt, hybrid and equity instruments, and the issue and placement of warrants and both cash and synthetic financial products."Banking / Banking and Finance 2024 - Tier 1
Market Leader -
Legal 500
Portugal | Banking and Finance - Tier 1
Hall Of FamePortugal | Capital Markets - Tier 1
Hall Of Fame
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Chambers Europe
Capital Markets - Band 1
Band 1Banking and Finance - Band 1
Star Individual"Pedro Cassiano Santos is a great lawyer, very knowledgeable and easy to interact with; Pedro has a deep knowledge of the Portuguese market." -
Chambers Global
Portugal: Banking & Finance - Band 1
Portugal: Capital Markets - Band 1
Band 1 -
IFLR 1000
Banking / Banking and Finance - Tier 1
Market Leader"Excellent legal knowledge and problem-solving ability in order to find innovative solutions and achieve results."Capital Markets: Structured finance and securitisation 2023 -
Capital Markets: Debt 2023 - Tier 1
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Legal 500
Portugal | Capital Markets - Tier 1
Hall of FamePortugal | Banking and Finance - Tier 1
Hall of Fame
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Chambers Europe
Banking and Finance - Band 1
Star IndividualCapital Markets - Band 1
Band 1"He is very well known and respected." -
Chambers Global
Portugal: Banking & Finance - Band 1
Star Individual"Very knowledgeable, engaging and experienced."Portugal: Capital Markets - Band 1
Band 1"He is very well known and respected." -
IFLR 1000
Capital Markets: Structured finance and securitisation 2022 -
Market leaderBanking / Banking and Finance 2022 - Tier 1
Market leaderCapital Markets Debt 2022 - Tier 1
Market leaderCapital Markets Debt (31st Edition) - Tier 1
Market LeaderCapital Markets: Structured finance and securitisation (31st Edition) -
Market Leader -
Legal 500
Portugal | Banking and Finance - Tier 1
Hall of Fame"Pedro Cassiano Santos is a very experienced lawyer, who quickly finds the best solution to the problem. He can easily get into the client’s shoes, and be part of the team; Pedro Cassiano Santos (...) are recommended."Portugal | Capital Markets - Tier 1
Hall of Fame
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Chambers Europe
Capital Markets - Band 1
Band 1Banking and Finance - Band 1
Star Individual -
Chambers Global
Portugal: Capital Markets - Band 1
Band 1Portugal: Banking & Finance - Band 1
Star Individuals -
IFLR 1000
Capital Markets Debt - Tier 1
Highly RegardedCapital Markets: Structured finance and securitisation -
Highly Regarded -
Legal 500
Portugal | Capital Markets - Tier 1
Leading Individuals / Recommended LawyerPortugal | Banking & Finance - Tier 1
Hall of Fame / Leading Individuals / Recommended LawyersPortugal | Hall of Fame - Hall of Fame
Banking and finance
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Chambers Europe
Banking and Finance - Band 1
Star Individual"Pioneer of banking in Portugal."Capital Markets - Band 1
Band 1"Always available in cases that are difficult to resolve." -
Chambers Global
Portugal: Banking & Finance - Band 1
Star Individual"Pioneer of banking in Portugal"Portugal: Capital Markets - Band 1
Band 1"Always available in cases that are difficult to resolve." -
IFLR 1000
Other highlights -
"A very knowledgeable lawyer with many years of experience in the market and with an innovative approach to complex solutions." "Second to none in Portugal in the field of finance."Capital Markets Debt - Tier 1
Highly RegardedCapital Markets: Structured finance and securitisation -
Highly Regarded -
Legal 500
Portugal | Banking & Finance - Tier 1
Leading Individuals / Recommended LawyerMozambique | Foreign firms - Tier 1
Recommended LawyersPortugal | Capital Markets - Tier 1
Leading Individuals / Recommended LawyerPortugal | Hall of Fame - Hall of Fame
Banking and finance