This group covers national and international arbitration, commercial and corporate litigation and corporate crime. The size and scope of its practice means that it often handles some of the most complex, high-value and innovative disputes in the market. It boasts specialist litigators in areas such as TMT, labour, IP and sports, and regularly represents clients in the ICC arbitration courts in Paris. It recently acted for Lusoponte on an ICC international arbitration against the Portuguese state concerning the concession agreements entered into on two major bridge projects. Large multinationals including Philips, BP and Santander make up a substantial percentage of the team's client base. In a major recent highlight, it represented Pfizer in more than 150 separate proceedings surrounding patents. Sources say: “The firm is top-class - it is very well organised, with excellent lawyers who possess a variety of skills and are able to help their clients across several industries.”

The restructuring and insolvency team at this Portuguese giant incorporates lawyers from other practice areas such as tax, corporate and banking, depending on the nature of the work. The team of 12 represents a number of multinationals in a variety of industries, including finance, energy and pharmaceuticals, on both in-court and out-of-court restructurings. Recent highlights include advising several creditors on the Banco Privado Português insolvency, and representing a syndicate of creditor banks in the Fadesa Portugal insolvency. Sources say: “If we throw a large amount of work at them, they have the manpower and ability to do it quickly and accurately.”

Morais Leitão, Galvão Teles, Soares da Silva & Associados advises on insolvency and insolvency avoidance, and the team has related expertise in employment and tax, and cases involving criminal law. Senior lawyer and litigator Helena Soares de Moura is advising Shinsei Bank and JER as creditors seeking to recover €246m from the Fadesa Portugal insolvency, and is also advising EDP on Entigere’s insolvency. Carlos Osório de Castro is also recommended.

One of the firms at the ‘top of the league’, Morais Leitão, Galvão Teles, Soares da Silva & Associados provides ‘outstanding advice’ and representation in employment, civil, commercial and criminal disputes. This ‘excellent team’ includes Miguel Galvão Teles and António Sampaio Caramelo, as well as António Pinto Leite, who is assisting Pfizer in 150 IP-related lawsuits, and successfully represented Lusoponte in an ICC arbitration against the Portuguese state regarding concession agreements for two Lisbon bridges. José Manuel Galvão Teles and the ‘strong and analytical’ Miguel de Almada are advising Santander in a €23m case against Marinha Guincho. Francisco Cortez is advising Gestifute, Cristiano Ronaldo and José Mourinho in litigation relating to image rights, as well as media, contract, and transfer disputes. Criminal expert Rui Patrício is recommended for ‘clarity, incisiveness and wins-to-losses ratio’. Luís Miguel Monteiro leads in labour cases, and counts Mondial Assistance and BP Portugal as clients.

The market continues to recognise Miguel Galvão Teles as a star lawyer “who sees things nobody else sees.”

Highly regarded practice head António Pinto Leite is “a very clever and reasonable guy, who manages cases well and quickly understands the principal issues,” say sources.

Rui Patrício is a key member of the team working on both civil and criminal matters.

Observers point out that corporate litigation team head Francisco Cortez “is very accurate and knows exactly when something should be done. We always get the best possible result with him.”

Senior statesman José Manuel Galvão Teles continues to work on complex disputes.

Carlos Osório de Castro is a prestigious and experienced lawyer who is recognised by his peers for his role in formulating the Portuguese Insolvency Code.

Sources describe senior associate Helena Soares de Moura as "highly analytical and a strong negotiator with great contacts."

Highly regarded practice head António Pinto Leite is “a very clever and reasonable guy, who manages cases well and quickly understands the principal issues,” say sources.

Rui Patrício is a key member of the team working on both civil and criminal matters.

Observers point out that corporate litigation team head Francisco Cortez “is very accurate and knows exactly when something should be done. We always get the best possible result with him.”

The market continues to recognise Miguel Galvão Teles as a star lawyer “who sees things nobody else sees.”

Senior statesman José Manuel Galvão Teles continues to work on complex disputes.