PLMJ Strengthens Teams

▪ JOÃO TIAGO MORAIS ANTUNES JOINS DISPUTE RESOLUTION AND ARBITRATION

▪ FILIPE AVIDES MOREIRA JOINS THE TEAM IN PORTO AND JOÃO LAMY DA FONTOURA JOINS THE PUBLIC LAW PRACTICE

▪ EIGHT NEW PARTNERS SINCE 2018

As part of the process of change that began a year ago, PLMJ continues to strengthen its teams. This process of change at PLMJ implies a more strategic focus on corporate and institutional clients, changes in management procedures and the reorganisation of the firm’s structure.

Eight new partners, a strengthening of the provision of services to companies and financial institutions, selectiveness in the services PLMJ provides and in its client base, and investment in new talent: “The change that is taking place is unstoppable. We are the first major Portuguese law firm to begin a process of transformation of the high-quality legal services we provide to our increasingly demanding clients. A year later, we are greater, stronger and better prepared”, says the firm’s managing, Luís Pais Antunes.

João Tiago Morais Antunes is PLMJ’s newest partner and brings with him Rita Folhadela and Beatriz Madruga. The well-known litigation and arbitration expert graduated from Universidade Católica, where he lectures in the law of obligations. It was also at the Faculty of Law of the same university that he completed a master's degree in civil legal sciences in 2005. Morais Antunes was a partner at the law firm SLCM. For the last five years, he worked in the firm’s litigation and arbitration representing institutional clients from the banking and financial sector.

The hiring of Morais Antunes is latest in a long line of lawyers who have joined PLMJ. “We are hiring the best people in the areas we want to focus on in pursuing a new strategy”, says managing partner, Luís Pais Antunes.

“PLMJ’s strategy and vision require not only the strengthening of its capacity to attract and retain talent to provide high added value legal services, but also a clear commitment to adopting the best institutional and governance practices, founded on a solid reputation”, Pais Antunes added.

In 2019, PLMJ promoted two lawyers to partner. The first was Pedro Lomba (Healthcare, Life Sciences and Pharmaceuticals), who recently completed his doctorate at the Faculty of Law of the University of Lisbon. The second was Raquel Azevedo (Banking and Finance). In the same year, João Bravo da Costa (Angola Desk), João Dias Lopes (Banking and Finance), Joana Brandão (Public Law), Mafalda Moreira (Tax, Porto), Nuno Miguel Lourenço (Dispute Resolution) and Rita Albuquerque (Corporate M&A) were promoted to managing associates.

PLMJ has 57 partners, 28 managing associates, and 48 senior associates, among a total of around 300 lawyers.

“The appointment of new partners and managing associates reflects a very successful year. It is also recognition of the professional merits, and the technical and human qualities of our lawyers. These lawyers create daring legal solutions and they are truly transformative legal experts”, says managing partner, Luís Pais Antunes.