PLMJ leads the 2017 rankings of Chambers Europe and The Legal 500

The leading international directories that assess the work done by lawyers across the spectrum of practice areas have recognised PLMJ as the most consistent and best positioned full-service law firm in Portugal. PLMJ has been recognised because it demonstrates the greatest coherence in its experience and in the legal services it provides to clients in all practice areas, and it has achieved excellent rankings in all the areas analysed.

In Chambers Europe, PLMJ is the Portuguese law firm ranked in the largest number of practice areas – 20 of the areas analysed. In The Legal 500, the firm is ranked in all 18 areas analysed by the directory. Chambers Europe and The Legal 500 are the leading international rankings in the legal sector, and both evaluate the work of Europe’s leading law firms by collecting information on the deals and matters handled by each firm, and by analysing feedback of clients and peers in each market.

In Chambers Europe:

- PLMJ has 11 practice areas ranked in Band 1, eight in Band 2 and one in Band 3.
- PLMJ is the only 100% Portuguese law firm ranked # 1 in the area of real estate.
- PLMJ’s tax practice is also ranked # 1.
- This year, the directory has introduced a new sub-area for Intellectual Property: Life Sciences and PLMJ’s team is ranked # 2.
- PLMJ was the only law firm to maintain its Band 2 ranking for Energy and Natural Resources, and this places it ahead of competitor law firms which saw their rankings reduced.
 
José Miguel Júdice, the partner who heads PLMJ Arbitration, continues to be ranked as a Star Individual. Luís Sáragga Leal, partner and co-head of PLMJ International Projects, and Pedro Sáragga Leal, a partner in PLMJ Real Estate and Construction both maintained their positions as Senior Statesmen. Abel Mesquita, the partner who heads PLMJ Employment and Labour, continues to be ranked as an Eminent Practitioner in the area of employment law.
 
This year, seven PLMJ lawyers have risen in the rankings and they include the partner who heads PLMJ’s European law and competition practice, Ricardo Oliveira, who is now ranked # 1 in this practice area.
 
PLMJ also has four newly ranked lawyers: André Figueiredo in Capital Markets, Bruno Ferreira in Banking and finance, Gonçalo Reis Martins in Capital Markets, and Ana Graça Remondes in Projects.
 
In The Legal 500 ranking, PLMJ is recommended as a Top-Tier Firm in 11 practice areas and, this year, Planning Law has risen to Band 2. PLMJ’s lawyers have 70 individual rankings, including Angola and Mozambique, which are also analysed by this directory. Nine lawyers were recognised as Leading Individuals in six practice areas and, this year, the directory has created a new category, Next Generation Lawyers, and for PLMJ lawyers are featured here (Rodrigo Formigal, Filipa Cansado Carvalho, Sara Blanco de Morais and Sara Estima Martins).

According to PLMJ managing partner, Luís Pais Antunes, "PLMJ’s leadership in the rankings confirms our position among the best-recognised law firms in Europe. This international recognition motivates us to maintain our ambition but, above all, to continue with our work. And we want that work to be characterised by constant attention to the needs of our clients, and by excellence, rigour and innovation, both in Portugal and in the nine other countries where we have a presence".

These results cement PLMJ’s position as the leading and most experienced full-service law firm in Portugal and in the Portuguese-speaking African countries where we are present. The rankings also highlight the outstanding service PLMJ provides to its clients, with a particular focus on its management of complex domestic and international matters, and innovative, cross-border deals.