We act for public and private bodies in all areas of public law. However, we have a particular focus on the fields of public procurement and public contracts, of regulatory, administrative, and constitutional litigation, of the environment, and of construction.
Our Public Law team has worked on the most important infrastructure-related transactions carried out in Portugal and in Portuguese-speaking countries, and we have solid experience in arbitration and in drafting legal opinions.
We support our clients in setting up and negotiating operations, and throughout the lifetime of their contracts. The support provided by our team also extends to disputes, whether in administrative litigation, in constitutional litigation, or in domestic and international arbitration cases. In cases where we do not directly represent the parties, we are called on to provide legal opinions or to act as arbitrator. This demand reflects the strong academic background of our team.
We play an important role in the main concession and privatisation operations, and in the most significant awards of public works contracts and public-private partnerships. We advise private companies and public decision-makers such as governments, institutes, state companies and local authorities.
Our team has handled international infrastructure projects, particularly in Angola, Mozambique, Senegal, Cape Verde, Guinea and São Tomé and Príncipe. In these projects, we have acted for Portuguese and international companies in different types of procurement and in a wide range of areas such as transport, energy, water, and sanitation.
In the construction segment, we have assisted public bodies in drafting procedural programmes, contractual specifications, and other tender documents. We have also advised private promoters and, in particular, our team has consolidated experience in international construction contracts, including under the FIDIC framework.
We keep a close track of market developments and the diversification of legal structures. This approach enables us to act effectively in planning and restructuring higher education institutions, and in litigation in regulated sectors such as finance, pharmaceuticals, energy, and transport. We are also specialists in dealing with the Court of Auditors and the Constitutional Court.
We have extensive experience in advising on environmental issues for Portuguese and international clients in various industries and sectors, including pulp, food, forestry, chemical, packaging, tourism, waste management, textiles, healthcare and catering.
Our in-depth experience also covers the analysis of environmental issues related to the energy sector.
We advise major corporations and businesses on their risks, responsibilities, regulatory concerns and damage limitation, and we defend them in the event of litigation.
PLMJ keeps abreast of and assists clients with the increasing liberalisation and technological evolution of the sector. It also provides day-to-day regulatory and corporate advice on mergers and acquisitions, from a bespoke perspective for the client, always with the goal of efficiently protecting your interests.
Our economic regulation practice is made up of a highly specialised team working across a range of economic regulation sectors, both at national and EU level. These sectors include energy, telecommunications, transport, financial services, healthcare and even environmental regulation.
Our multidisciplinary approach allows us to combine knowledge from different dimensions. We offer a full range of services, from the drafting of regulations, supported by the legal expertise of PLMJ academics, to the development of compliance programmes and internal corporate policies. We also represent clients in administrative and judicial regulatory matters, defending companies against allegations of anti-competitive practices, litigating compliance disputes and challenging penalties imposed by regulators.
We have extensive experience in the procedural and practical areas of the Court of Auditors in relation to audit proceedings, successive audits and proceedings relating to liability for financial offences.
We advise public and private organisations and their managers on issues relating to these audits and proceedings, and our team has in-depth knowledge of the particular procedural features of this jurisdiction, taking into account the strong academic links of our team.
We are involved in the most important transactions, investments and infrastructure operations in the energy, mining and industrial sectors, and in the implementation of PPPs. We act not only in Portugal, but also in Portuguese-speaking countries and internationally, advising investors, concessionaires and grantors.
Our team has been engaged in the most important concession and privatisation transactions, including airport, railway, port and motorway concessions. We have also worked on the most important public works contracts and public-private partnerships. Our clients include private companies and public decision makers such as governments, institutions, public companies and local authorities.
In the infrastructure sector, we advise developers, banks and investment funds at the project assembly and structuring stage. We also advise on debt restructuring and step-in operations in PPPs, which are absolutely ground-breaking in Portugal.
We possess in-depth knowledge of all the sectors in which we work, in particular public law, public procurement, regulation, construction, environment and restructuring. This allows us to have a unique view of the legal and regulatory framework applicable to each project and to provide you with comprehensive support.
PLMJ's planning team is specifically geared to dealing with matters directly relating to town and country planning in both the public and private sectors. Reflecting its multidisciplinary nature, the team's experience covers a wide range of areas. These include the handling of procedures for the approval of town planning operations such as land subdivision, urban development and construction. Our experience also covers the administrative activity of urban planning and redevelopment, including defining procedures and drafting the normative content of plans. We also advise on project structuring, planning litigation and the implementation of various land management instruments. To better meet the growing demands of the Portuguese and international markets, our planning team includes lawyers with extensive academic and professional experience in all areas directly related to toen and country planning law: administrative law, real estate law, litigation and arbitration.
We advise public and private organisations on all aspects of public law, in particular public procurement, public procurement procedures and public contracts.
We work closely with our clients at the various stages of the contractual process, in setting up and negotiating operations, and in the performance of contracts.
We also represent our clients in disputes. Our team handles administrative and constitutional litigation, as well as domestic and international arbitration. We have extensive experience in this area and also provide legal opinions.
Our team has been involved in the most important public law transactions and the most important public tenders. We advise private companies as well as public decision-makers such as governments, institutions, public companies and local authorities.
In cases where we do not directly represent the parties, we are called on to provide legal opinions or to act as arbitrator. This demand reflects the strong academic background of our team.
Our Administrative and Constitutional Litigation practice comprises a highly specialised team that handles a wide range of litigation, arbitration and other alternative dispute resolution matters. We act for clients in a wide range of sectors.
Our multidisciplinary approach allows us to have a team of specialists who combine expertise in areas as diverse as public procurement, construction, energy, urban planning, constitutional law, spatial planning and all administrative disputes in general, with solid experience in domestic and international litigation and arbitration.
We are involved in the most important administrative disputes and have represented our clients in the defence of the most important actions for annulment and class actions.
In addition, we have extensive experience in litigation before the Constitutional Court and our team has in-depth knowledge of the procedural peculiarities of this jurisdiction, taking into account the strong academic links of our team.
"Outstanding full-service outfit equipped to provide corporate, tax and employment advice, further to advice on administrative law and representation in disputes. Active in cross-border M&A and private equity transactions. Has a diverse client portfolio covering both domestic and multinational companies from an array of sectors such as retail, technology and energy."
"The team is known for maintains a strong presence in the market, able to provide comprehensive advice through its substantial team. Notable practice in concession agreements, public tenders and public procurement procedures"
"The team is known for maintains a strong presence in the market, able to provide comprehensive advice through its substantial team. Notable practice in concession agreements, public tenders and public procurement procedures"
"Outstanding full-service outfit equipped to provide corporate, tax and employment advice, further to advice on administrative law and representation in disputes. Active in cross-border M&A and private equity transactions. Has a diverse client portfolio covering both domestic and multinational companies from an array of sectors such as retail, technology and energy."
"Clients report that the department's "degree of dedication to the customer is impressive and also underline team members' "in-depth knowledge of the applicable legislation and full understanding of the procedures.""
"The team maintains a strong presence in the market, able to provide comprehensive advice with its substantial team. Notable practice in concession agreements and public tenders."
"Their knowledge in public concessions is fundamental. Also the focus and experience shown are excellent assets that give confidence to the client."