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Vasco Xavier Mesquita
Partner
Vasco Xavier Mesquita is a partner at Morais Leitão since 2025 and co-head of the Public Law department. He has been with the firm since 2007, having started his career in the European & Competition and Tax teams before specialising in Public Law.
His practice focuses on administrative law and public procurement, advising clients on transactions of particular technical and regulatory complexity, as well as on major infrastructure projects co-financed by European funds or in the context of foreign investment transactions in Portugal.
He also maintains extensive contentious practice, representing clients in administrative litigation proceedings and arbitrations, with particular emphasis on disputes arising from construction contracts (including FIDIC contracts). He also has significant experience in projects developed in Portuguese-speaking African countries, advising clients on public procurement and infrastructure transactions in those jurisdictions.
He heads the defence practice at Morais Leitão, one of the few specialised practices in this field in the Portuguese legal market. He advises domestic and international clients on defence procurement, sector regulation and strategic infrastructure projects, operating at the intersection of public law and the specific demands of the contemporary security environment. He actively participates in national and international forums dedicated to defence law, contributing to the debate on the transformation of the legal framework applicable to the sector.
Education
Law Degree (Católica Porto Law School, 2007). Master's Degree in Public and International Law (Católica Porto Law School, 2009). Post-Graduate Course in Public Procurement (University of Coimbra Law School, 2011). Post-Graduate Course in Administrative and Tax Justice (University of Coimbra Law School, 2013). Post-Graduate Course in National Defence Law (University of Lisbon Law School, 2015).
Languages
Portuguese, English and Spanish.
Memberships
Portuguese Bar Association (admitted in 2011). CAAD (Administrative Arbitration Centre). CAA (Administrative Law Lawyers' Circle).
