Joana Piriquito Santos named managing partner at NLP
Portuguese intellectual property law firm NLP is marking its second anniversary with a restructured leadership model and the formal appointment of founding partner Joana Piriquito Santos as managing partner.
In the governance changes, Beatriz Lima, founding partner, assumes responsibility for the compliance portfolio — encompassing cybersecurity and responsible use of AI tools — as well as the social Responsibility portfolio, with a focus on the Direito Mental project and social impact initiatives. Sara Nazaré, also a founding partner, takes charge of Technology and Legal Product Development, alongside Citizenship and Civic Participation.
The governance restructuring is supported by a human resources consultancy project launched in 2025, aimed at defining structures, processes and practices aligned with market standards, states NLP. “These first two years have confirmed that there was room in the market for a boutique specialised in intellectual property, with a strong transactional and litigation component, and an integrated European vision. We are now entering a phase of consolidation, in which strengthening leadership and clarifying responsibilities is essential to sustain growth”, states Joana Piriquito.
She adds: “At the same time, we want to go beyond the legal obligations in terms of compliance, particularly in the areas of cybersecurity and the responsible use of AI tools, reinforcing our standards of excellence and integrating technological solutions that enhance our work and client service.”
The changes follow the recent integration of Cláudia Freixinho Serrano as a partner in April (here the news), who takes responsibility for business development in the domestic market and participation in specialised associations and sectoral forums, with the objective of consolidating NLP’s European positioning.
The firm also states its intention to go beyond legal compliance obligations, particularly in the areas of cybersecurity and responsible AI use, and to develop technology-driven legal products aimed at improving efficiency and service quality for clients. NLP is additionally reinforcing the involvement of its associate lawyers in business development projects, under a model designed to promote autonomy and professional growth, states the law firm.
