Francisco Oliveira Martins - a good man

When I think of Francisco Oliveira Martins, the first thing that springs to mind is that he is a good man.

I met him almost 23 years ago when I joined PLMJ. I took an immediate liking to him. As well as our shared passion for rugby, I was drawn to Francisco's frankness in his dealings with everyone in the office. It was an openness that could sometimes be harsh, but was never unreasonable. He was a sort of father figure to us all because of the respect he commanded and the warmth he showed us. He was a great lawyer and the kind of lawyer whom clients trust implicitly. He was a man whom everyone liked, with good taste and a very sharp intellect.

I had lunch with Francisco every day at the office for many years and listened to his delightful stories, particularly those from the firm’s early days. He knew how to navigate the times, helping to ensure that PLMJ became what it is today and has always been since I joined — a firm where every partner’s vote carries equal weight, which is by no means guaranteed. Building an organisation like this on these terms requires selflessness, as well as a great deal of kindness, two qualities also shared by Luis Sáragga Leal and José Miguel Júdice.

Francisco was a good man, and his memory will live on forever in this institution that he founded and nurtured.

– Vasco de Ataíde Marques, Partner at PLMJ