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- Banking and Finance
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- Dispute Resolution
- Employment and Labour
- EU and Competition Law
- Healthcare, Life Sciences & Pharmaceuticals
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- Planning and Land Use
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- Agribusiness
- Banking and financial institutions
- Defence
- Distribution and retail
- Education
- Energy and natural resources
- Government and public sector
- Healthcare, life sciences and pharmaceuticals
- Infrastructure
- Insurance and pension funds
- Manufacturing
- Mobility, transport and logistics
- Planning and land use
- Real estate and construction
- Social economy
- Sports
- Tourism and leisure
- Desks
- Buzz Legal
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People
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Maria Zagallo
Joined PLMJ in 2021.
Partner in the Public Law practice.
About Maria
Maria is a partner in the Public Law practice and has more than 18 years' experience.
She focuses on general administrative law, public procurement, project finance, public-private partnerships, and projects and infrastructure.
She has advised public and private sector clients on various areas of public law, particularly concessions and projects in the road, rail, airport, port, healthcare, and water and waste sectors.
Before joining PLMJ, Maria was head of the Technical Unit for the Supervision of Projects (UTAP), under the supervision of the Ministry of Finance. She was also a member of the High Council for Public Works and was involved in the launch and renegotiation of major public projects. In these roles, Maria represented the Portuguese State in various Portuguese and international forums on public-private partnerships and major projects, before European and multilateral institutions, and in the context of missions and reviews of the Economic and Financial Assistance Programme for Portugal.
Maria began her legal career at the law firms Sérvulo & Associados and Vieira de Almeida.
Contacts
Office: Lisbon
(+351) 213 197 300*
maria.zagallo@plmj.pt
Languages:
English
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)
PLMJ shortlisted at the 2026 Legal 500 Iberia Awards
Bárbara Godinho Correia at the 11th World Women Lawyers’ Conference
PLMJ shortlisted in the 2026 Women in Business Law EMEA Awards
Approval by the Council of Ministers of the revision of the Public Contracts Code
PLMJ lawyers write chapter on Portugal for Project Finance 2025
PLMJ lawyers give lecture on PPPs and project finance on the FDUL and ISEG master's degree course
Interview | Infrastructure: ‘We need a united public sector with the courage to make decisions’
PLMJ is in the spotlight at the 2025 Legal 500 Iberia Awards.
The Legal 500
Chambers Europe
"Maria Zagallo is frequently sought after by public and private clients for her expertise in energy, healthcare and transportation projects. Additionally, she is well equipped to represent clients in contentious mandates and the public law aspects of proje"
"Maria possesses unique expertise and experience in public contracts. Everyone wants to know her opinion as she is knowledgeable, practical, and thoughtful."
Chambers Global
"Maria Zagallo is frequently sought after by public and private clients for her expertise in energy, healthcare and transportation projects. Additionally, she is well equipped to represent clients in contentious mandates and the public law aspects of proje"