Bird & Bird lands in Lisbon
With a founding team of women lawyers, the law firm targets innovation, cross-border transactions, and Lusophone markets
by glória paiva
Bird & Bird has just landed in Lisbon with a sign of the times: an initial team entirely made up of women, comprising eight lawyers and three support staff, covering intellectual property, TMT, life sciences, corporate and M&A, employment, and litigation. Leading the project are partners Ana Rita Paínho, an IP and TMT specialist who takes on the role of head of country, and Sofia Carreiro, a corporate and M&A lawyer, who spoke with Iberian Lawyer.
Both joined from Sérvulo & Associados, bringing substantial experience and a strong client portfolio. The move comes at a point of professional maturity, driven by a desire to broaden horizons and align the local practice with an international structure. “The possibility of offering a service across 34 jurisdictions motivates us. We believe it will be a major benefit for clients”, says Ana Rita Paínho. The idea, she explains, is to create a Bird & Bird office with local DNA: integrated within the network but with its own identity. “We want to build a truly Portuguese law firm, shaped by our culture but with the strength, values and global vision of the network”, she summarises.
According to the partners, Bird & Bird’s choice of Portugal is both logical and strategic. The country combines qualified talent, institutional stability, and a culture of innovation, making it increasingly attractive for foreign investment. “Portugal’s location, coastline, and maritime space place it at the heart of several technology, energy, and even aerospace industries”, explains Ana Rita Paínho. In addition, highly skilled engineers and a sophisticated startup ecosystem reinforce the country as a destination for innovative ventures.
There is also clear value in its connection with Portuguese-speaking countries, an aspect Bird & Bird intends to leverage…
