Caiado Guerreiro, strategy and momentum
Managing partner João Caiado Guerreiro outlines how the firm is expanding core practices, investing in tech-driven areas and responding to the increasingly global nature of legal work
by glória paiva
Quietly but steadily, Caiado Guerreiro has consolidated its standing in Portugal’s legal market. Founded in 1979 by José Franco Caiado and relaunched in 1999 by Tiago Caiado Guerreiro and João Caiado Guerreiro, the firm has since been led by the last one, who also heads the corporate, commercial and capital markets practice. He further works across banking and finance, project finance, arbitration & litigation and foreign direct investment — areas in which the firm has expanded in step with Portugal’s increasingly dynamic, post-pandemic economy. With offices in Lisbon, Porto and Faro, and a network of international partnerships, the firm combines its traditional strengths in corporate, litigation, tax and employment with growing investment in technology, data and artificial intelligence. Outside client work, João Caiado Guerreiro writes a column for A Bola, “Direito ao Golo”, where he links his legal expertise with his passion for football. In this interview with Iberian Lawyer, the managing partner reflects on the firm’s busiest practice areas and the emerging trends shaping the Portuguese legal landscape.
You have been managing partner at Caiado Guerreiro since 1999. What have been the main transformations the firm has undergone in these 26 years?
We have witnessed significant development, both in terms of internal structure and in our position in the market. The firm has grown steadily, becoming a reference not only in Portugal but also internationally. From early on, we committed to the idea of being a one-stop shop for clients and to creating multidisciplinary teams capable of providing integrated and cross-cutting advice, anticipating trends and responding to legislative and regulatory challenges. Continuous training has been one of the cornerstones of our model, enabling us to maintain a high standard of specialisation and a swift and personalised service. Technological evolution has also been decisive: we digitalised processes, adopted document-management and workflow tools, and integrated collaborative platforms, which allowed us to increase internal efficiency and client proximity, even in periods of uncertainty. And we are now integrating Artificial Intelligence.
Caiado Guerreiro has stood out in the field of immigration. What type of work have you been doing in this area and how do you assess the current Portuguese legal framework for immigration?
The work developed in immigration has been particularly relevant at a time when Portugal is establishing itself as a destination of choice for investors, digital nomads and individuals seeking new life opportunities. We have a dedicated team with experience in residence processes — namely investor permits (such as the Golden Visa), D7 and D2 visas, and regularisation of professionals from various fields, as well as nationality proceedings. We work mostly with high net worth individuals, senior executives and companies. The most frequent cases concern citizens from the United States, China, Brazil and other Lusophone countries. The Portuguese legal framework remains competitive, but the high volume of legislative changes, especially in foreign-investment programmes, requires close monitoring and constant updating.
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