José Manuel Galvão Teles

José Manuel Galvão Teles was a senior partner of Morais Leitão, the firm he founded. He practiced law since 1961.

In a permanent commitment to the political and social reality of the country where he was born, Galvão Teles has always chosen to actively intervene on behalf of the construction of a democratic Portugal, as a politician, as a lawyer and as an individual.

In the 60s, already a lawyer, he was elected National President of the Catholic Youth, founder and leader of the "Pragma Cooperative" (later dissolved by PIDE), editor of "Cadernos GEDOC", President of the "Centro Nacional de Cultura" and contributor to the magazine "O Tempo e o Modo" (and consequently interrogated by the regime regarding the activities developed), a candidate to stand as Member of Parliament for the Opposition (CDE) in the 1969 elections and defence lawyer in important political cases, such as the defence of the architect Nuno Teotónio Pereira. José Manuel Galvão Teles was a strong opposer to the colonial war, with a very active voice, intervening and publicly alerting to the national political situation.

After the Revolution of April 25, Galvão Teles continued to practice law as one of the most brilliant lawyers of his generation, without relinquishing his active participation in the country's political life, namely as a founder and leader of GIS, Socialist Intervention Group, having remained until the mid-1990s as national leader of the Socialist Party. 

Also, in 1974 and 1975, within the scope of decolonization, he was head of the Portuguese Government delegation in several missions of political and economic-financial nature, namely in Angola and Mozambique, negotiating with the different factions. 

Following this appointment, Galvão Teles took up the post of Portuguese Ambassador to the United Nations in New York in 1975/76. From this period, we highlight his fundamental role in the decolonization negotiation process, as well as his opposition to the occupation of East Timor, arguing for its independence. 

In the 70s and 80s, he was nominated member of the International Court for the Prosecution of Apartheid Crimes.

From 1996 to 2006, he was a member of the Council of State, appointed by the President of the Republic, Jorge Sampaio. In 2005 Galvão Teles was awarded the Grand Cross of the Military Order of Christ by the President of the Republic. In 2022 Galvão Teles was decorated with the Grand Cross of the Order of Liberty by the President of the Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa.

 

Throughout his life as a lawyer, he has sponsored some of the largest civil actions tried in Portuguese courts. He has also successfully defended clients in some of the most important and high-profile criminal cases. At the same time, in recognition of his experience and relevance to the development of Civil and Corporate Law, José Manuel Galvão Teles has held numerous executive and non-executive positions on the governing bodies of the most relevant national and foreign companies operating in Portugal. In 2010 he received the Medal of Honour from the Portuguese Bar Association and in 2022 he was awarded the Career Prize in Corporate Law by the Association of Portuguese Law Firms (ASAP).

Passionate about the arts, he founded several private associations and foundations linked to culture, such as the Serralves Foundation, the Mário Soares Foundation, the Casas de Fronteira e Alorna Foundation and the Júlio Pomar Foundation.