Maria Zagallo
Joined PLMJ in 2021.
Partner in the Public Law practice.
About Maria
Maria is a partner in the Public Law practice who has over 15 years' professional experience in general administrative law, public procurement, project finance and public-private partnerships. She has focused, in particular, on projects and infrastructures.
Maria has advised public and private entities in various areas of public law, with an emphasis on dealing with concessions and projects in the road, rail, airport, port, health, water and waste sectors.
Before joining PLMJ, Maria was head of the Portuguese PPP Unit (UTAP) and a member of the Higher Council for Public Works. In these roles, she was involved in the launch and renegotiation of the main public projects in Portugal. At the same time, she represented the Portuguese State in various domestic and international forums on PPPs and major projects. These forums took place before European and multilateral institutions as part of the missions and reviews of the Economic and Financial Assistance Programme for Portugal.
Maria began her career at the law firms Sérvulo & Associados and Vieira de Almeida.
Academic Background
- Law degree from the University of Lisbon, 2004
- Admitted to the Portuguese Bar Association, 2006
- Postgraduate course in pharmaceutical law at the Faculty of Law of the University of Coimbra, 2006
Professional Background
- Head of the Portuguese PPP Unit (UTAP), Ministry of Finance (2018-2021)
- Member of the Executive Committee of the Portuguese Higher Council for Public Works (2018-2021)
- Deputy Head of the Portuguese PPP Unit (UTAP), Ministry of Finance (2016-2018)
- Senior consultant of the Portuguese PPP Unit (UTAP), Ministry of Finance (2012-2016)
- Lawyer at the law firm Sérvulo & Associados (2007-2012)
- Lawyer and trainee lawyer at the law firm Vieira de Almeida & Associados (2004-2007)