MFA Legal strengthens team with 5 new members
MFA Legal has announced the strengthening of its team with the integration of five new members, bringing the total to 15 lawyers.
Miguel Coutinho joins MFA Legal as senior counsel and head of the compliance and internal investigations services, after 20 years at Cuatrecasas Portugal. He holds a law degree from the Faculty of Law of the Catholic University of Portugal, a Specialization Course in Economic and European Criminal Law from the Institute of Economic and European Criminal Law, and an Intensive Professional Training Course in Trial Advocacy Technique and Strategy from the National Institute for Trial Advocacy (Colorado, USA).
António Mendes joins as a senior consultant in the tax team. António is a lawyer with extensive experience in advising high-net-worth individuals and families on complex international tax and succession planning matters. He is a qualified Trust and Estate Practitioner (TEP) and serves as a fiduciary, including in roles such as Trust Protector. His career includes time at Garrigues Portugal and Kore Partners, where he was a partner. He holds a law degree from Lusíada University of Lisbon, an executive course in EU Law from King’s College (London), and a postgraduate degree in tax law from the Catholic University of Portugal.
Catarina Correia tranits from SRS Legal and joins the tax litigation team as a senior associate. She has been an arbitrator judge at the Administrative Arbitration Center (CAAD Portugal)for tax matters since July 2021 and a senior researcher at Nova Tax Research Lab since January 2022. Since May this year, she has been an author and correspondent for Portugal at the IBFD – International Bureau of Fiscal Documentation (Netherlands) and an Author, Contributor, and Researcher for O Informador Fiscal (Portugal). Prior to joining SRS, she worked at Garrigues Portugal from 2014 to 2021. She holds a law degree and a master’s in tax law from the Faculty of Law of the University of Lisbon, as well as a postgraduate degree in tax management from INDEG – ISCTE and an advanced professional certificate in international taxation from IBFD (Netherlands).
Madalena Parca moves from Vieira de Almeida to join MFA Legal’s criminal team. Her professional career has primarily focused on criminal law and administrative offenses, with involvement in high-profile, complex criminal cases (“BES Case,” “Rui Pinto Case,” among others) and frequent collaboration in administrative offense cases, particularly in competition law, online gambling, and health advertising practices. She holds a law degree from the Faculty of Law of the Catholic University of Portugal – Lisbon School and is currently pursuing a master’s in forensic law at the same institution.
Gonçalo Caldas holds a law degree from Lusíada University of Lisbon. Before joining MFA Legal as a trainee lawyer, he worked as an assistant to Paulo Simão Caldas, a solo practicing lawyer.
Increasing capacity
According to Samuel Fernandes de Almeida, managing partner of MFA Legal and coordinator of the tax law area: “It is a great satisfaction to have such recognized professionals in our team, which is a testament to the strength and appeal of our project, aligned with our foundational commitment to attracting the best talent.” He adds, “It is also significant that we have more than doubled our headcount in less than a year, increasing our capacity and positioning as a boutique firm with deep expertise in its areas of practice.”
For João Medeiros, senior partner and founder of MFA Legal and head of the firm’s criminal, administrative offenses, and compliance areas: “We are experiencing a moment of growth and expansion. In this sense, we felt the need to strengthen our capabilities and responsiveness to ensure the high standards that characterize us.”
Pictured, from left to right: Gonçalo Caldas, Miguel Coutinho, Madalena Parca, Samuel Fernandes de Almeida, Catarina Correia, and António Mendes.
