VdA Vieira de Almeida

VdA reasserts its leading position in the Chambers Global Ranking VdA Vieira de Almeida reinforces its leadership position by being recognised as a Leading Firm in the Chambers Global ranking, while retaining the distinction in all the categories analysed in Portugal. All of the practice areas analysed - Banking & Finance, Capital Markets, Corporate/M&A, Dispute Resolution and Projects - were recognised as Band 1, with VdA also being recognised as the firm with the highest number of lawyers in the Banking & Finance, Capital Markets, Corporate/M&A and Projects practice areas. In addition, VdA has 38 individual recognitions in eight jurisdictions, covering Portugal, Africa Wide, Angola, Guinea-Bissau, Equatorial Guinea, Mozambique, São Tomé and Príncipe and East Timor. In the international context, VdA has reaffirmed its position as the Portuguese firm with the highest number of recognitions in the ‘Africa Wide’ categories. Through the VdA Legal Partners network, it is recognised in the areas of Corporate/M&A & Private Equity, Projects & Energy, TMT and Dispute Resolution. In the ‘Africa Wide’ category, and specifically in the TMT area, it has the only Portuguese lawyer recognised. Chambers and Partners is one of the most prestigious and comprehensive international directories in the legal market, annually evaluating the performance of firms and recognising those that stand out in each jurisdiction, offering a global service of excellence. For further information access Awards and Rankings (https://lnkd.in/dV_iaeC) #VdA #ChambersandPartners #ChambersGlobal

VdA takes part in the ‘Vozes Circulares’ podcast Assunção Cristas took part in the ‘Vozes Circulares’ podcast, an initiative promoted by the Smart Waste Portugal Association in partnership with Rádio Observador. In this episode, together with Jorge Araújo, executive director of the CVR - Centro para a Valorização de Resíduos, they addressed the topic "How can we extend the lifespan of products?". In response to this question, the speakers explained the importance of eco-design and the right to reparation as strategies for extending the life cycle of products, covering techniques, legislation and the problem of planned obsolescence. Assunção Cristas emphasised that the legislative framework in this area is constantly evolving. ‘At the moment we have a fairly robust legislative framework, which is still under development, but every quarter or six months there are new laws passed or being implemented, in line with the European Union's Circular Economy Action Plan and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs),’ she explained. Throughout the episode, they stressed the importance of the circular economy in maximising the lifespan of materials, through strategies that extend the products' functionality. In this context, the VdA lawyer emphasised the need to promote durability, repairability and reuse, reducing waste and the extraction of new raw materials. This episode is available here (https://lnkd.in/d8xYdPY3) #VdA #CircularEconomy #Sustainability #EnvironmentalLaw #SustainableDevelopment

For this year's Annual Gathering of Innov.Club, you explored the innovation process of one of the most creative chefs in Portugal, Grupo Chef Kiko. Innovation and cuisine have a lot in common - both require experimentation, creativity, and a willingness to challenge the status quo. So we took our members to La Dos Manos Restaurant, where Chef Kiko crafted an exclusive menu while offering a behind-the-scenes look at how great dishes are invented. From bold flavor combinations to the artistry of plating, this experience was the perfect blend of haute cuisine and the innovative mindset that defines Innov.Club. #innovclub #innovation

VdA participates in event on ‘Regulation as a Promoter of Investment in Submarine Cables’ Tiago Bessa and Rui Gordete Almeida participate at the Digital Union webinar, dedicated to the debate ‘Submarine Cables and the Opportunities for Portugal: Regulation and Strategy’, which will take place on 18 February at 09:30. Portugal, strategically located, can consolidate itself as a data centre in Europe by strengthening the connection with America and Africa. The event will address the opportunity that regulation and environmental policies offer to attract investment in the submarine cable industry, as well as exploring the impact of current regulatory conditions and the perspectives of different stakeholders. Tiago Bessa is responsible for the event's welcome session, together with Sandra Fazenda de Almeida from APDC, and will moderate the final debate with Cindy Barardo from APDC, with the participation of Ana Carla Sousa (MEO Empresas), Augusto Fragoso (ANACOM - Autoridade Nacional de Comunicações) and Robert Marshall (Vodafone Group). Rui Gordete Almeida is a speaker at the session entitled ‘Submarine Cables and Opportunities for Portugal: Regulation and Strategy’. For further information access here (https://lnkd.in/d6D-mCPf) #VdA #APDC #SubmarineCables #digitalbusinesscommunity #digitalunion #NIS2 #UE

VdA takes part in the 2nd edition of Real Estate Shapers 2025 Miguel Marques dos Santos takes part in the 2nd edition of the ‘Real Estate Shapers’ conference, an event organised by Magazine Imobiliário. This conference aims to discuss property markets, investor profiles and capital flows. During the event, Miguel Marques dos Santos will moderate the session entitled ‘Portugal Real Estate Investment: Traditional or alternative investment drivers and major changes in the coming years’, which aims to analyse the main drivers of real estate investment in Portugal and future developments for the sector. Miguel Marques dos Santos is also responsible for the event's closing session. #VdA #RealEstate #Investment #InvestmentinPortugal

VdA shortlisted at the Managing IP EMEA Awards 2025 VdA is shortlisted in the Managing IP EMEA Awards 2025, with nominations in the ‘Patent Disputes’, ‘Trademark Disputes “ and ”Copyright & Design’ categories. In the individual category, Marta Alves Vieira is nominated for Practitioner of the Year, while Joana Reis Barata is nominated for Rising Star of the Year. The Managing IP Awards are recognised as one of the most prestigious awards in the field of intellectual property, honouring legal excellence and innovation in more than 50 jurisdictions for 20 years. The awards ceremony will take place on 10 April in London. #VdA #ManagingIPAwards #IntellectualProperty #Patent #Trademark #Copyright

Taxpayers will be able to recover guarantees in stalled cases Joaquim Pedro Lampreia is quoted in an article in the Jornal de Negócios, entitled ‘Taxpayers will be able to recover guarantees in stalled cases’, which enforces the rule allowing guarantee withdrawals in tax cases pending for over four years in Administrative and Tax Courts. This amendment to the Code of Procedure and Tax Procedure (CPPT), introduced in 2021, is only now taking effect, allowing taxpayers to request the cancellation of guarantees provided, such as bonds or bank guarantees, in order to avoid tax foreclosures. The measure aims to reduce the delay in resolving tax cases, allowing taxpayers to recover amounts withheld while awaiting a court decision. Joaquim Pedro Lampreia emphasises that the first step is up to the taxpayer, who must submit a well-founded request to the court, and the Tax Authority (AT) will have the opportunity to comment. However, the VdA lawyer warns that the courts may be reluctant to automatically grant all requests: The judge can refuse to allow the guarantee to lapse if they believe there is a ‘serious risk of harm to the state, but this decision will have to be duly substantiated’, he explains. A significant increase in the number of applications is expected from 28 February, which could pose an additional challenge in managing the volume of cases. In addition, the question remains as to whether this new reality could contribute to a faster resolution of disputes that have been awaiting a decision for several years. This article is available here (https://lnkd.in/dqZYWa_J) #VdA #JornaldeNegocios #TaxLaw #TaxDisputes

Magda Cocco has been recognised as a 𝗚𝗹𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗹 𝗘𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗧𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿 in the Transports 2025 – 𝗦𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗲 & 𝗦𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗲𝘀 ranking by 𝗟𝗲𝘅𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘆 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗲𝘅, being the 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝗣𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗴𝘂𝗲𝘀𝗲 𝗹𝗮𝘄𝘆𝗲𝗿 featured in the ranking. This ranking highlights the lawyers who have excelled in their fields, based on recommendations from their peers and clients. Click here (https://lnkd.in/dXgcuJjQ) for further information. #VdA #lexolyindex #thoughtleader #space #satellites

Companies adopt strategies to retain talent and avoid losing out to competitors Américo Oliveira Fragoso is quoted in an article in Expresso entitled ‘Paid not to work: how companies try to protect themselves from workers fleeing to the competition’, which deals with the use of non-compete agreements in the labour market. This method, established in the Labour Code, prohibits workers from joining competing companies for a certain period of time, in return for payment of financial compensation. Although traditionally applied to top managers, these agreements have been increasingly used to cover other strategic functions in different sectors. Américo Oliveira Fragoso explains that ‘these agreements can only be applied to activities whose exercise could cause harm to the employer’. In addition, he emphasises that the limitation imposed on the worker ‘can only be valid for two years, and can be extended to three years in the case of roles involving a trust relationship or access to sensitive information in terms of competition’. The VdA lawyer also points out that the validity of these pacts depends on the fulfilment of specific legal requirements, such as the existence of a fair and proportional financial compensation. The absence of this compensation, or of a clear criterion for calculating it, can invalidate the agreement. The growing adoption of this clause by technology, financial and industrial companies reflects on the importance of competition protection, but also generates debate about its limits and effects on career progression. This article is available here (https://lnkd.in/dW3U5gze) #VdA #EmploymentLaw #WorkplaceRegulations #TalentRetention

VdA coorganiza conferência sobre Tax Insurance A VdA Vieira de Almeida, em parceria com a Aon, a Ryan Transactional Risk, a APGEI e a Porto Business School, promoveu a conferência Tax Insurance, dedicada à discussão das oportunidades e desafios associados ao seguro de cobertura de riscos fiscais. O evento contou com a intervenção de Luís Garrido Marques (Porto Business School) e Maria do Carmo Oliveira (APGEI), seguida de uma mesa-redonda sobre as tipologias e procedimentos deste tipo de seguro. O debate reuniu Helena Vaz Pinto, Miguel C. Reis e Miguel Gonzalez Amado (VdA), Rosario Cuadra Espinar (Aon) e Rafael Gimenez-Reyna Blanco (Ryan). O Tax Insurance pode ser um instrumento estratégico para reduzir ou eliminar a exposição das empresas a riscos fiscais identificados, seja no âmbito de auditorias, seja no tratamento de transações passadas ou futuras. Sendo ainda pouco difundido em Portugal, este evento pioneiro permitiu esclarecer o seu papel na mitigação de contingências fiscais em processos de compra e venda de sociedades, bem como na promoção de uma maior segurança e previsibilidade nas transações. Para além disso, destacou-se a relevância desta solução também na atividade regular das empresas e em contextos distintos de operações de M&A. Saiba mais aqui (https://lnkd.in/dKj4iDZE) #VdA #Tax #TaxInsurance #Fiscalidade #MergersAndAcquisitions