Market leader with an exceptional reputation across a wide range of banking and finance matters including private equity financing, structured finance, investment funds and covered bonds as well as regulatory issues. Advises major national and international banking institutions on domestic and cross-border transactions involving Portuguese-speaking jurisdictions such as Angola and Brazil.
"As a firm, I consider them to be on an excellent level in terms of market presence and expertise."
"It is my favourite firm, because it provides good advice, delivers on time and has great understanding of its clients' needs."
Morais Leitão, Galvão Teles, Soares da Silva & Associados is experienced in bank lending, derivatives, regulatory issues and restructuring. Recent instructions include representing the lender in the refinancing of senior and mezzanine debt. Luís Branco is a ‘star’ and Filipe Lowndes Marques and Pedro Gorjão Henriques are also recommended. The firm recently recruited a Macau-based partner to enhance its international offering.
Morais Leitão, Galvão Teles, Soares da Silva & Associados’ experience includes advising on energy projects, road and rail concessions, water and sanitation concessions as well as the construction of football stadiums. Practice head Luís Branco, Filipe Lowndes Marques and Pedro Gorjão Henriques are the key figures.
The team also received various mandates for the Portuguese Treasury and Debt Management Agency (IGCP) relating to derivatives matters and regular project finance and bank refinancing instructions from Banco Espírito Santo de Investimento throughout 2013 and 2014.
A projects client says the firm provides “good quality, permanent availability, senior staff involvement in the process, good relationship and a capacity to give tactical advice”.
Morais Leitão Galvão Teles Soares da Silva & Associados (MLGTS) has maintained a solid team and keeps its rankings across the board. A projects client says the firm provides “good quality, permanent availability, senior staff involvement in the process, good relationship and a capacity to give tactical advice”. “Exceptional,” says another for a refinancing, while a restructuring client says the firm gave “excellent service in an extremely complex and tough negotiation”. “I consider them as the best law firm in Portugal,” says a debt capital markets client.
Over 2013-14 the firm won numerous instructions from domestic and foreign Portuguese banks, in some examples advising a syndicate on the restructuring of the debt of a wine producer, a Portuguese bank on the €117 million debt restructuring of a Portuguese media company and two Portuguese banks on the restructuring of a football club.
The team also received various mandates for the Portuguese Treasury and Debt Management Agency (IGCP) relating to derivatives matters and regular project finance and bank refinancing instructions from Banco Espírito Santo de Investimento throughout 2013 and 2014.
The firm was very active on the debt capital markets side and in some representative deals it advised Banco Santander Totta on the issue of €1 billion 1.5% covered bonds due 2017 within its covered bonds programme, Brisa Concessao Rodoviaria on its €350 million issue of 3.875% fixed rate notes under its EMTN programme and Energías de Portugal (EDP) on its €200 million floating rate instruments due December 2014. One notable mandate saw the firm advise JPMorgan Securities and other dealers in the structuring and implementation of Galp Energia €5 billion EMTN programme.