Abreu announces partner promotions and welcomes new talent

Abreu Advogados enhances its team with the addition of Miguel Rodrigues Leal as a professional partner in the Banking and Finance practice and Catarina Mascarenhas as a of counsel in the Intellectual Property and Technology practice. Leal joins from Uría Menéndez, while Mascarenhas joins from PwC Legal, where she was head of digital law. The firm also announces the promotion of four new professional partners: André Modesto Pinheiro, Isabel Pinheiro Torres, Guilherme Mata da Silva and Paulo Amaral Basílio.

This expansion reflects Abreu’s ongoing investment in strategic areas and a commitment to recognizing legal excellence and merit in high-impact practice areas, states the firm. According to Inês Sequeira Mendes, managing partner, “the addition of Miguel Rodrigues Leal and Catarina Mascarenhas enhances our teams in two crucial areas for our business development. These are sectors of significant relevance in the market, and these additions are expected to create new opportunities and provide clients with more tailored support. Miguel and Catarina align with the firm’s values and culture and will complement the work being done by our teams”, she says.

On the promotions, Inês Sequeira Mendes adds: “Recognizing young talent and promoting based on merit and performance has always been central to Abreu’s strategy. The promotion of André, Isabel, Guilherme and Paulo is fully aligned with our internal growth model. They are highly qualified professionals, with broad, multidisciplinary expertise, who consistently demonstrate rigor, dedication and excellence throughout every stage of the legal process, particularly in their close engagement with clients”.

The new professional partners

André Modesto Pinheiro joined Abreu in 2019 and focuses on Banking and Finance Law and Venture Capital, with experience in acquisition finance, real estate finance, start-up investments, fundraising rounds, private equity, and venture capital transactions.

Guilherme Mata da Silva joined the firm in 2022 and works primarily in Public and Environmental Law, with experience in environmental licensing, impact assessments, water and waste systems, waste management, regulatory compliance, M&A due diligence, and other public law matters.

Isabel Pinheiro Torres has been with Abreu since 2010 and works mainly in Banking and Corporate Law, focusing on financing transactions and regulatory matters, including licensing processes with supervisory authorities, banking services, financial instruments, payment services, and insurance law.

Paulo Amaral Basílio joined in 2008 and has worked extensively in Dispute Resolution and Arbitration, managing teams and representing both national and international clients across sectors such as banking, insurance, infrastructure, media, advertising, energy, consumer rights, and telecoms.

The new joiners

Miguel Rodrigues Leal brings significant experience advising investors, debtors, and lenders in a wide range of financing activities, including real estate finance, corporate finance, project finance, private debt, restructurings, NPL acquisitions, and debt issuances. He has also worked on M&A transactions and partnerships in regulated sectors and regularly advises financial institutions on regulatory matters across financial services, investment services, funds, and securities markets. Previously, he was a senior member of a leading law firm’s Banking and Finance practice, working in both Lisbon and London.

Catarina Mascarenhas has advised clients across industries such as telecoms, banking, energy, health, media, and infrastructure. She is particularly experienced in areas including cybersecurity, privacy, personal data, digital markets, advertising, and media & entertainment – both in Portugal and internationally. She has led multidisciplinary teams in transactional projects and day-to-day legal support, audits, and compliance initiatives. She also advises on IP transactions and compliance programs involving DORA, NIS2, AI and accessibility legislation, and works closely with corporate teams to align regulatory requirements and governance best practices. Catarina is also a member of the Board of the Portuguese Lawyers’ Welfare Fund (Caixa de Previdência dos Advogados).

On the picture, from left to right: Miguel Leal, Catarina Mascarenhas, André Pinheiro, Guilherme Silva, Paulo Basílio, Isabel Torres.