DLA Piper opens in Portugal with ABBC merger

DLA Piper has announced a merger with Lisbon law firm ABBC.

ABBC has been closely affiliated with DLA Piper as a “relationship firm” since 2010 – the firm will now trade in the Portuguese market as DLA Piper ABBC.

Founded in Lisbon in 1982, ABBC has a team of more than 60 lawyers. A firm statement said the merger means DLA Piper is now the “largest global law firm operating in the Portuguese market”.

DLA Piper ABBC partner Nuno Azevedo Neves said: “Since 2010, ABBC has maintained a fruitful and successful cooperation relationship with DLA Piper, with whom we share our vision and values. The start of this new phase represents a natural step forward and is in line with our ambition and our vision for the future. The offer of global capabilities in key practice areas, sectors and jurisdictions makes us unique in the Portuguese market and is vital to our ability to create value for our clients.”

He added: “ABBC will respect its legacy – in addition to our experience in the Portuguese market and our service offering, we now have the assurance of a brand and a team of reference on a global level, with knowledge and resources available in all continents. We will be the ideal partner for all companies and entities doing business in multiple jurisdictions.”

Simon Levine, co-global CEO at DLA Piper, said: “With the close economic integration of Spain and Portugal, the Iberian legal market has been increasingly seen by our clients as a single market. We have worked closely with ABBC for many years now and it is a natural evolution for us to join forces, enabling us to present our clients with a single, joined-up offering across the Iberian region.”

Juan Picon, global co-chairman of DLA Piper, added: “Having a DLA Piper office in Portugal will complete our Iberian offering and enable us to service the many global and Spanish clients who need legal advice across Spain and Portugal, Latin America and, increasingly, Africa.”