Top 30 lawyers in Portugal for 2026
As law firms expand, new competitors arrive and transactions reshape the market, Iberian Lawyer names 30 lawyers making their mark on the Portuguese legal sector
by glória paiva
When I interview or speak to lawyers, I often hear the same observation: “Portugal is a small market”. And yet, for whatever reason – and fortunately for Iberian Lawyer – news continues to emerge of new ventures built around small but sharp young teams working in cutting-edge areas such as technology and intellectual property, as well as foreign entrants arriving to compete in the country’s business law market.
2026 was no exception. A slowdown in transactional activity did little to dampen the appetite of those who believe in the market’s potential to generate business. Examples include the launch of Deloitte Legal Telles, bringing together one of the Big Four with a longestablished Porto firm to create a significant new player in Lisbon; the arrival of KPMG Law and Grant Thornton Legal in Portugal; expansion plans at firms such as DLA Piper and SRS Legal, which will soon move into new or refurbished headquarters; Andersen’s continued investment in the country through the integration of firms and new partners; and the expansion of Garrigues and others in the dynamic Porto region.
Meanwhile, established Portuguese firms have continued to consolidate their positions, investing in innovation, developing new practice areas and expanding internationally, particularly into Portuguese-speaking markets. Morais Leitão, Vieira de Almeida, PLMJ and Abreu Advogados are among those pursuing this path, showing that Portugal’s legal market is not only adapting to change but also building ambitions beyond its borders. Taken together, these developments bring to mind a Portuguese saying: tamanho não é documento, or size isn’t everything.
To reflect the breadth of this activity, we have decided, for the first time, to expand our annual list from 20 to 30 names. And speaking of names, here they are. As in previous years, Iberian Lawyer seeks to identify the faces behind the headlines: the people driving the key developments, moves, projects and transactions shaping Portugal’s legal market. After all, the market as an abstract “entity” is nothing more than the sum of the work of individuals and teams – people who dedicate themselves every day to what they do and, in the process, help create new realities.
The selection is based on four criteria: track record, leadership, popularity and career trajectory.
