Fieldfisher targeting the top 10
The British firm launches in Portugal with André Miranda Associados. Its goals: boost tech, hire top talent, and grow in key sectors
by glória paiva
Fieldfisher arrived in Portugal on July 1st (click here to read the news) with a clear objective: to position itself among the top 10 law firms in the country. To achieve this, it chose André Miranda Associados (AMA) as its partner – a firm with which it shares values and ambitions. In 2024, AMA recorded a 20% increase in turnover – the same growth reported by Fieldfisher in Spain. The integration took place through AMA’s offices in Lisbon and Porto, fully absorbing its structure of 68 professionals, including 45 lawyers. “We aim to be among the 10 most recognised law firms in Portugal and to sustain this pace of growth”, say managing partners André Miranda and João André Antunes interviewed by Iberian Lawyer.
The selection and negotiation process with the British firm lasted around two years and involved a detailed mapping of potential candidate firms, they explain. AMA was founded in 2014 through the combination of Miranda’s experience in public law and Antunes’ in corporate and M&A – both having worked at Cuatrecasas. Since then, the firm has invested in infrastructure, management and professionalisation, achieving remarkable growth in terms of revenue and professionals. Its recent move to a new headquarters in Avenidas Novas, Lisbon, reflects this evolution.
For Fieldfisher, which currently has 27 offices in 14 countries, expanding into Portugal was a logical move, explain André Miranda. The firm has expanded its European presence with recent openings in Austria, Italy and Poland, and has been operating in Spain since 2018. Portugal now emerges as a market with strong growth potential in sectors that are strategic for the network: innovation, technology, financial services and energy. “After the financial crisis of 2011, Portugal succeeded in attracting significant foreign investment and establishing itself as a dynamic economy. In addition, it serves as a platform for other geographies such as Africa, Asia and Brazil,” notes Miranda.
According to Miranda, integration into an international network comes at a strategic moment for both the economy and the legal sector in Portugal. “The market is becoming increasingly competitive — both in attracting clients and retaining talent. Joining a network of 1,800 lawyers was a natural next step after ten years”, he explains.
…
