Litigation and Arbitration

The litigation and arbitration team at Abreu Advogados seeks to find effective solutions for its Clients in litigation situations, whether at the pre-litigation stage, during juridical litigation proceedings or through alternative dispute resolution means, such as arbitration.

Our team is focused on the judicial and extrajudicial follow-up of national and multinational companies and combines prevention with the resolution of disputes, thus reducing any damage that they may bring to the Client’s business.

Our multidisciplinary team of lawyers dedicated to litigation and arbitration ensures legal advice in the different jurisdictions where we are present and has accumulated various strategic successes in complex litigation, particularly related to the following services:

Pre-litigation advice and risk analysis of legal proceedings;
Assistance in disputes submitted to Portuguese courts, including requests for protective measures, in civil, commercial and corporate, family and inheritance litigation;
The following of cases in terms of the different levels of appeal admissible.
Advice and representation of Clients in domestic and international arbitrations, both with national and international Arbitration Centres (such as the CCI) and ad hoc
Advice and representation of Clients in procedures involving mediation, conciliation and other forms of alternative conflict resolution.

We also have a team of lawyers specialized in debit recovery litigation resulting from bank financing, financial leasing, service provision or supply of goods, to individuals and companies, which is dedicated to managing a large number of cases, focusing on the quick recovery of the Client’s credit. For this segment, we have created a specific computer application, intended for the management of proceedings, interfacing with the Client in a safe, interactive and adaptable manner.

Experience

Legal representation of one of the largest beverage companies in the world in a complex legal case against Portuguese distribution companies, where two Portuguese companies claim damages for alleged contractual commitments of up to 6 million euros.

Legal assistance to an Israeli Airline company with litigation before Portuguese Courts involving a Boeing 767.

Assistance to a Spanish market leader energy group (one of the top five in the world) against a Portuguese energy company in an arbitration related to a breach of contract for underground storage of natural gas.

Legal assistance to an investment bank in civil and criminal judicial disputes.

Assistance to the UK branch of one of the biggest US Banks in collection proceedings of a loan (€ 370 Million), the collateral of which lost value, aiming a judicial order against the effective beneficial owner of the SPV debtor. The strategy was engineered with the bank and its UK lawyers and Abreu Advogados represented the bank in all judicial proceedings in Portuguese Courts, which involved several actions, including bankruptcy proceedings, liability of the SPV BoD and beneficial owner proceedings and piercing of the corporate veil proceedings.

Assistance to a Chinese company (world leader of certain solar industry components) in a matter related to a long lasting supplier contract (USD 800 Million). Abreu Advogados role included intervention in bankruptcy proceedings in Portugal, as well as integration in a multijurisdictional team of lawyers (US, Swiss and Chinese) to represent the Client in an international arbitration (Switzerland) and proceedings in China.

Assistance to a multinational telecommunications company (Portugal / Brazil), shareholder of the largest telecommunications operator in Angola, in international litigation (USD 2.2 billion), teaming up with a multijurisdictional team of lawyers (UK, France, BVI, Netherlands, Portugal and Angola), including judicial proceedings in several countries and an international arbitration in France, where Angolan and Portuguese laws were discussed.

Assistance to a Portuguese bank in financial restructuring and insolvency proceedings regarding several construction companies.

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“Clients highlight the team’s provision of “thoughtful advice, with concise and direct answers.” Sources note the department’s ability to handle multiple facets of a case, reporting: “It is a multidisciplinary team that can provide a service of excellence in all aspects of law.””

“Abreu Advogados’ team is valued for ‘analysing the process at every stage’ and ‘helping to define and implement the strategies and tactics needed’. It covers the full range of disputes and counts some household names among its clients. Guilherme Santos Silva comes in for praise. Alexandra Nascimento Correia and Francisco Patrício are also recommended.”