ML promotes eight new partners

Morais Leitão has confirmed the promotion of eight associates to the partnership

Morais Leitão has announced the promotion of eight lawyers to its partnership.

The four new equity partners (pictured from left to right) are Francisco Mendes da Silva, Diana Ribeiro Duarte, Maria Soares do Lago and Nuno Gundar da Cruz. 

Diana Ribeiro Duarte has developed her professional activity in the areas of M&A and Private Equity. She advises corporate and private equity buyers and sellers in transactions in sectors such as health, infrastructure, energy and financial services. Her work in these areas has been increasingly focused on advising private equity investors and M&A strategic players, ranging from traditional buyouts players (including “take privates”), infrastructure funds, pension funds, family offices and other alternative asset managers, in private transactions (investments and exits), joint ventures and minority acquisitions.

Francisco Mendes da Silva works on Tax matters in general, with particular emphasis on highly complex litigation at administrative, judicial, arbitration, constitutional and European levels. In the exercise of this activity, he advises some of the largest companies in the most prominent sectors of the Portuguese economy, such as energy, retail, telecommunications, gaming, construction and public works.

Maria Soares do Lago specialises in Banking and Finance Law. She has extensive experience in banking and finance transactions including bank finance, project finance, debt issues (including medium term note programs and covered bonds), hybrid securities issues, securitisation and derivatives. Recently, she has been recognised as a pioneer in debt issues and securitisations, frequently advising frequently advising on “firsts” in the Portuguese market such as the first green bond issue and the first green and STS.

Nuno Gundar da Cruz coordinates the Restructuring and Insolvency team. He is recognised in the market for his activity in the areas of restructuring and insolvency, in its various aspects, including his intervention in complex matters related to the recovery of companies in difficult situations and investment in crisis situations (distressed acquisition and investing). He is a lawyer with extensive experience in relevant cases related to insolvency, civil, commercial and criminal litigation.

The four new non-equity partners are specialists in Banking and Finance/Oil&Gas/Shipping, Commercial and Corporate/International Law, Corporate and Private Equity, and Intellectual Property:

Claudia Santos Cruz is a member of the international Banking & Finance department and coordinates the international Oil&Gas team and Shipping practice at Morais Leitão. Claudia is specialist in areas such as Energy and Mineral Resources (Oil & Gas/Mining), international aspects of foreign investment into Lusophone Africa jurisdictions, Banking and Finance, Corporate and Shipping.

Irina Neves Ferreira is a lawyer with considerable international experience, providing personalised day-to-day assistance to clients on matters involving the jurisdictions of the Portuguese-speaking African countries in the areas of commercial and corporate law, with great focus on private investment, real estate and insurance. She also assists in the negotiation of investment contracts and advises several clients on mining law.

Luís Roquette Geraldes advises on corporate/commercial matters, mergers and acquisitions and private equity/venture capital transactions. Luís heads Team Genesis, where he works daily alongside founders and national and international scalable emerging companies (notably, tech and life sciences). The advice provided covers the full life cycle: fundraising (convertibles, preferred rounds, venture debt, performance warrants), growth/scaling and exits.

Vasco Stilwell d’Andrade is co-coordinator of the intellectual property team as well as co-coordinator of Team Genesis. Vasco works mainly in the intellectual property field, namely in protection strategy and implementation, licensing, assignments, valuation and litigation, frequently assisting in the resolution of disputes involving trademarks, patents, copyright and trade secrets.