Cuatrecasas and CS’Associados on Airbus-Critical Software JV

Cuatrecasas in Portugal has advised Airbus on the structuring, negotiation and completion of the joint venture with Critical Software for the incorporation of a new company – Critical FlyTech – which will be dedicated to the development of integrated software and services for aerospace applications for Airbus and its affiliates. CS’Associados has provided legal advice to Critical Software.

The joint venture is 51% owned by Airbus and 49% by Critical Software. This project will support Airbus’s activities in the aerospace sector through the design and development of solutions and certifiable software across several domains, including avionics, cabin systems and connectivity.

The joint venture aims to strengthen Airbus’s investment in Portugal. Critical FlyTech, headquartered in Coimbra, is expected to begin operations with more than 100 employees, with this number projected to grow to around 300 by the end of 2028.

The Cuatrecasas advisory team was led by corporate and M&A coordinating partner Mariana Norton dos Reis (partner) and included Sofia Alves and Megan Hackney, from the same practice area; José Maria Cabral Sacadura, from tax; Pedro Marques Bom and António Souto Moura, from competition and European Union law; Joana Mota Agostinho, from intellectual property, technologies and telecommunications; and Sandra Lima da Silveira, from labour.

CS’Associados’ team was led by partner Maria Castelos and, in M&A, also included Mariana Terra da Motta, João Tomás and Maria Borges da Fonseca; from tax, António Rocha Mendes; from competition, Gonçalo Machado Borges; and from labour, Maria Barbosa.

Pictured, from left to right, Mariana Norton dos Reis and Maria Castelos.