This is the largest office in Porto, and perhaps the only team in town which competes at a truly national level. The “extraordinary” full-service group attracts consistently excellent feedback, and clients value its commitment to them, and its common-sense approach to finding solutions and closing deals. Sources highlight the corporate, tax, employment, IP, disputes and competition practices at the firm, and its impressive client list includes Sonae, Mota-Engil and Jerónimo Martins.

It is not surprising that this private equity practice is a strong one, given the firm's premier reputation and pool of excellent lawyers. Clients point to the fact that the lawyers “manage to understand our business and are always completely committed to the project.” The group acts for both companies and funds, with recent mandates including representing a group of financial investors, including ES Concessões and ES Capital, in the EUR451 million joint acquisition (with Group A. Silva & Silva) of Cintra Aparcamientos; the team also advised Orey on the restructuring of its corporate group through the incorporation of a Luxembourg private equity fund.

Much of the momentum behind the strong TMT practice at this Portuguese giant comes from having major telecoms player Sonaecom as one of its principal clients. It also gives ongoing support to Portuguese media group Impresa, which counts television channel SIC amongst its interests. The team is able to provide full-service counsel, being comprised of lawyers from various different legal areas.

This firm's restructuring and insolvency practice centres around creditors' counselling, although it also advises the insolvent and assists with the restructuring of businesses. The sizeable restructuring team is integrated within the firm's litigation department, and includes four partners and ten associates. The group offers specialist expertise in litigation, corporate and tax matters, and has been advising major stakeholders in some of the most high-profile restructuring and insolvency cases in Portugal. Sources Say: “It has great connections in Portugal, which makes the execution of deals and negotiations very easy.” “Extremely professional, excellent client service, great follow-up, high quality of legal advice, fantastic timing: five stars.”

With roots going back to the 1930s, this firm has a solid corporate/M&A practice group that handles an impressive list of annual deals involving prominent clients such as EDP - Energias de Portugal and Banco Comercial Português. Recent work high-lights include advising on the merger between Pfizer and Wyeth, and assisting on Cristiano Ronaldo’s world record-breaking transfer from Manchester United to Real Madrid. Sources Say: “Five-star service – truly focused on clients and their issues, providing excellent follow-up within a swift time frame. One of Portugal’s foremost legal outfits without a doubt”.

This firm is widely considered one of the best in the capital markets arena. The team comprises 11 partners, three senior associates and 34 associates. The group's size enables it to take part in most prominent Portuguese transactions, always maintaining an excellent service. In spite of a slow equity market, the team's recent highlights include advising Banco Comercial Português (Millennium bcp) on its EUR1.3 billion offering of new ordinary shares with preferential rights to shareholders of the bank. Sources Say: “Sensational – experience and service are way above average. It's a very reliable firm, whose lawyers are always available.” “It has the resources and the experience to find simple solutions to complicated matters.”

With roots going back to the 1930s, this firm has a solid corporate/M&A practice group that handles an impressive list of annual deals involving prominent clients such as EDP - Energias de Portugal and Banco Comercial Português. Recent work highlights include advice on the merger between Pfizer and Wyeth, and assisting on Cristiano Ronaldo’s world record-breaking transfer from Manchester United to Real Madrid. Sources Say: “Five-star service – truly focused on clients and their issues, providing excellent follow-up within a swift time frame. One of Portugal's foremost legal outfits without a doubt.”

Morais Leitão, Galvão Teles, Soares da Silva & Associados has an exceptional depth of talent in corporate law and ties with a swathe of the most active domestic corporates and banks, and provides ‘advice of the absolute highest calibre’. This strength has resulted in prominent roles across various regions and industry sectors, including work with Pfizer on the Portuguese aspects of its merger with Wyeth, and advising EDP on the acquisition of gas transmission assets from Gas Natural. Nuno Galvão Teles and recently promoted partner Rui de Oliveira Neves led on this deal, while Segismundo Pinto Basto draws praise for his ‘accuracy and efficiency’. Elsewhere, in practice head João Soares da Silva and Carlos Osório de Castro the firm has two of the market’s leading corporate lawyers.

‘Absolutely gold standard’, Morais Leitão, Galvão Teles, Soares da Silva & Associados is best known for its work for longstanding client EDP, which it represents across a range of transactions. Name partner Nuno Galvão Teles has ‘an incomparable understanding of the energy sector’, and recently led a team which advised EDP on the €330m acquisition of gas assets from Gas Natural. Along with the ‘resourceful and talented’ Rui de Oliveira Neves, the nine-strong team has acted on a swathe of finance, M&A and public law mandates. On environment matters, a group of 12 lawyers, including the ‘reliable’ and ‘pragmatic’ João Pereira Reis, advise clients on a spread of licensing work and administrative offences.

Morais Leitão, Galvão Teles, Soares da Silva & Associados’ cross-practice TMT group advises several leading industry clients, including Impresa and Sonaecom. The team of ‘creative, forward-thinking lawyers’ is headed by António Lobo Xavier, and offers wide-ranging regulatory, transactional and commercial expertise. Tomás Vaz Pinto worked with Impresa on a content supply partnership with PT Group, including the creation of a new TV channel. The group is known for its ‘deep resources and diversity of talent’.

Morais Leitão, Galvão Teles, Soares da Silva & Associados’ Oporto team by size, reach and the scale of work it handles, has an edge over its competitors. Regarded as ‘the complete commercial team’, and replete with ‘strong experience and hands-on skills’, the group works seamlessly with counterparts in other offices on large finance and corporate deals. The ‘deeply knowledgeable’ Carlos Osório de Castro advised Banco Comercial Portugês on a €900m issue of subordinated debt and more widely handles a range of corporate and finance matters. Joaquim Vieira Peres is a prominent figure on competition matters and has advised on competition compliance programmes for several clients. António Lobo Xavier’s tax work marks him out as ‘an exemplary adviser’ and he counts Jerónimo Martins, Mota Engil and Sonaecom among his clients. Eduardo Verde Pinho also draws praise for his ‘intelligence and personal approach’, and in 2008 he advised Laboratório de Patologia Clínica Hílario Lima on the sale of share capital to SwissLab.

Morais Leitão Galvão Teles Soares da Silva & Associados' corporate practice is the most lauded in Portugal, known for its strong banking clients and thriving outpost in the country's industrial north. "If there is to be only one firm in tier one then it would be MLGTS," says one rival. "They have been able to maintain a very strong roster of day-to-day clients, which provides the firm with a good flow of everyday transactions - for example Energias de Portugal (EDP) and BCP bank. But, they are also competing in other transactions where there is a competitive bidding process - and they are doing well." Morais Leitão Galvão Teles Soares da Silva & Associados is also one of the largest practices in Portugal and works a considerable number of deals, though peers credit the firm with being more focused on quality transactions than other large practices. The corporate department is led by João Soares da Silva, but the firm is host to a number of leading lawyers. Carlos Osório de Castro is well regarded by competitors and, according to one commentator, is responsible for bringing in one of the firm's most prestigious clients, the Sonae conglomerate. But de Castro works large deals for a range of clients. In December 2008 he advised Martifer Group on the sale of its stake in the listed German company Repower to the Suzlon Group for €270 million.

Carlos Osório de Castro mainly focuses on corporate/M&A, capital markets and restructuring/insolvency, and clients praise "his ability to find well-supported, swift, outside-the-box solutions.” For some clients he is simply “the best lawyer in the country.”

Tomás Vaz Pinto is also well-respected market player.

Corporate lawyer Nuno Galvão Teles co-ordinates the practice and is recognised for his considerable expertise in the electricity industry, mostly through advising EDP. He builds strong relationships with his "great dedication to clients, unparalleled technical knowledge, negotiating skills and good honest advice on problem resolution."

“Excellent” project finance practitioner Luís Branco is recognised as a player in the energy sector, where he has mainly acted on the side of banks in energy projects.

António Lobo Xavier is the office's tax specialist, and an authority for TMT matters. “He is able to understand both the big picture and the more detailed, complex problems,” sources report.

Clients recommend Eduardo Verde Pinho for his global vision and solid advocacy. He manages the Porto office, focusing on corporate/M&A.

Of counsel Jorge Simões Cortez is valued for his “negotiating skills, understanding of the clients' needs, and pragmatic, rational thinking, which focuses on finding solutions.” He is part of the corporate/M&A team.

Tomás Vaz Pinto stands out for his negotiation skills and “his ability to defend our interests in complicated situations in an intelligent and constructive way," according to clients.

“One of the best lawyers in Portugal” according to an interviewee, Porto-based Carlos Osório de Castro is primarily a renowned corporate practitioner, but is also noted for his telecoms-related activity.

Public law specialist Nuno Peres Alves “has deep knowledge of telecoms regulation, and has also played an important role in some of the sector’s most crucial legal battles,” researchers were told.

Segismundo Pinto Basto and Tomás Vaz Pinto are also well respected market players

João Soares da Silva is a noteworthy individual considered “one of the leaders of the market” by both peers and clients.

The “truly amazing” Carlos Osório de Castro impresses interviewees with his extraordinary corporate expertise

Miguel Galvão Teles is highly recommended for corporate/M&A and dispute resolution matters

Nuno Galvão Teles stands out as a safe pair of hands for corporate and capital market issues

João Soares da Silva is another of the department’s well-known names. Clients recommend him as an expert in this area and highlight his competence and charisma.

Filipe Lowndes Marques is well regarded for his expertise in securitisations. He is also highly rated in banking and finance and projects.

Luisa Soares da Silva is lauded for her efficiency and quick service, and was one of the partners involved in the rights issues of Millennium bcp, together with Osório de Castro and João Soares da Silva.

Practice head João Soares da Silva is a noteworthy individual considered “one of the leaders of the market” by both peers and clients.

The "truly amazing" Carlos Osório de Castro impresses interviewees with his extraordinary corporate expertise.

Miguel Galvão Teles is highly recommended for corporate/M&A and dispute resolution matters.

Nuno Galvão Teles stands out as a safe pair of hands for corporate and capital market issues.

Segismundo Pinto Basto is also well-respected market players.

Tomás Vaz Pinto is also well-respected market players.