Portugal has been consolidating its position as a strategic hub in the European defence and space industries. The national sector comprises over 380 active companies, which employ around 40,000 people. These companies operate in diverse areas such as military technologies, unmanned systems, personal protection, maintenance, operational health, cybersecurity, and space operations. This growth is driven by a strong export focus, technological innovation, and integration into international value chains.
Morais Leitão has followed the evolution of these sectors for over two decades and has extensive experience in providing legal advice to manufacturers, airlines, entities in the space sector, satellite operators, leasing companies, financiers and insurers. We combine legal rigour with strategic vision, taking a cross-cutting, multidisciplinary approach to cover all phases of defence, aviation and aerospace project life cycles — from regulation and financing to structuring business solutions along the supply chain and resolving disputes and facilitating international expansion.
We provide comprehensive legal support in national and international public procurement procedures and have in-depth knowledge of the special regimes applicable to defence and civil aviation. We prepare tenders, structure public–private partnerships, negotiate complex contracts, and interpret NATO, EASA, ICAO, ANAC and European directives. We also assist with the structuring of purchasing centres, including at the Gov2Gov level. We also monitor projects subject to the Military Programming Law, offset regimes, and airport and aerospace infrastructure regulations.
We support export/import licensing operations for military equipment, aircraft, sensitive technologies and dual-use goods. In the aerospace sector, we advise on the regulation of space activities, including orbital launches, satellite operations and orbital rights. We act in compliance with export control regimes, embargoes, sanctions and international technical standards, ensuring the contractual protection of intellectual property and the secure transfer of technology.
We have extensive experience in the legal structuring of financing, acquisition and leasing transactions involving aircraft, satellites and other critical assets. This includes cross-border transactions and public and private financing agreements. We advise on restructuring, refinancing, strategic cooperation models and state aid analysis in the aviation and aerospace sector.
We support the development and commercialisation of emerging aerospace technologies, including very high-resolution Earth observation satellites, sustainable propulsion systems, artificial intelligence, advanced sensors, drones and UAS. We also structure R&D contracts, technology partnerships and the licensing and protection of intangible assets such as trade secrets and patents. We also handle cybersecurity and data protection issues in highly sensitive and regulated environments.
We design compliance programmes and sustainability policies tailored to the defence and aerospace sectors' requirements. We advise on ESG strategies, including emissions offsetting, climate risk management, supply chain traceability and environmental and information security certifications (such as ISO 27001). We also have experience in anti-corruption regimes, money laundering prevention and corporate responsibility.
We represent clients in administrative litigation, international arbitration, and complex commercial disputes within the defence and aviation sectors. We handle matters such as contract cycle management, operational failures, regulatory litigation, and passenger complaints. Our approach is strategic, technical, and risk-mitigation oriented, safeguarding operational continuity.
We support companies in the defence and aerospace sectors with their global expansion, including entering new markets, forming joint ventures, corporate restructuring, and accessing incentive schemes. Regarding incentives, we develop legal solutions to ensure compliance with the eligibility criteria for European funding, including the European Defence Fund, for companies in both the EU and third countries. Through our international network of legal partners, we coordinate and deliver efficient action across multiple jurisdictions, with a particular focus on the rules applicable to industrial cooperation and European defence.
Morais Leitão has a highly qualified team with recognised technical and legal expertise in defence, aviation, and the aerospace sector. Our work is distinguished by our strategic vision, multi-jurisdictional capacity and collaborative approach, ensuring rigorous, close and effective monitoring. We apply our expertise to projects that promote innovation, bolster technological autonomy and enhance the security and competitiveness of the economies and communities in which we operate.