Portugal's Legal Market Booms: Record Moves and New Appointments in 2024

In 2024, Iberian Lawyer reported a remarkable 32 partner moves and the appointment of 30 new partners (along with 4 executive roles) within Portuguese law firms.

Legal Market Expansion

The Portuguese legal market is experiencing rapid expansion, becoming increasingly competitive. The annual number of lateral moves has risen significantly, confirming this trend. In 2024, there was a 45.5% increase in movements compared to last year, primarily driven by the entry of two new Spanish firms into the Portuguese market. A total of 32 partner hires were made, up from 22 last year.

Leading Firms in New Hires

Pérez-Llorca, after opening a new office in Portugal in September 2023, has welcomed 10 new partners at its Portuguese office from December last year to October this year, making it the firm with the most new partner hires in 2024. Following closely is Andersen Portugal, which hired three partners. Other firms like Gómez-Acebo & Pombo, Abreu Advogados, PLMJ, and PRA – Raposo each brought on two new partners, while several others, including Antas da Cunha – ECIJA and Cuatrecasas, each hired one.

Notable New Appointments

In April, the Spanish law firm Broseta expanded its presence in Portugal, adding six professionals from Espanha e Associados. The new team is led by João Espanha, a former managing partner at Espanha e Associados.

Among the new hires, 44% were women. Noteworthy appointments include Leonor Pissarra, who transitioned from Novartis to join SRS Legal as a partner and head of the life sciences department. Additionally, former parliament member Márcia Passos joined PRA – Raposo as a partner and coordinator of the Real Estate team in Porto.

Sectors with Most Movement

The article discusses the sectors witnessing the most movement in the legal landscape, indicating a dynamic shift in the industry.

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