This traditional Portuguese firm offers the complete range of IP services, with a dedicated team of 13 lawyers. The group acts on innovative, high-value transactions and has a particular focus on patent litigation, representing Pfizer in more than 200 separate proceedings. Besides its pharmaceutical industry work, the team advises clients from the electronics and TMT sectors, and recently acted for Philips on a number of cases relating to the counterfeiting of its products. Sources say: “Whenever I request clarification, the team is excellent at providing a helpful explanation of its points.”

Morais Leitão, Galvão Teles, Soares da Silva & Associados is recommended for IP transactions, and also particularly for patent enforcement and copyright issues. Leading on the transactional side, Tomás Vaz Pinto provides ‘extremely sound and straightforward advice on complex IP issues’. Pinto is advising Euronext Lisbon on copyright and trade mark matters, and advised EDP on patent licensing and IP rights. António Pinto Leite is advising Pfizer in over 150 legal challenges brought against generic drug companies as part of Pfizer’s patent rights protection programme, and is assisting Philips IP in litigation against counterfeiters. Consultant Vasco Stilwell d’Andrade is also recommended.

Team co-head Tomás Vaz Pinto earns praise for the accuracy and thoroughness of his work.