Abreu Advogados announces the integration of Maria João Melícias

Ana Grosso Alves, Eduardo Peixoto Gomes and João Bravo da Costa promoted to partners. In 2024, the law firm exceeds 50 million euros in turnover for the first time in its history.

Abreu Advogados has integrated Maria João Melícias as the new co-Head of the Competition, Regulatory and EU practice area.

Maria João Melícias brings with her over 20 years of diverse experience in her field, both in the public and private sectors, as former executive Board member of Portugal’s Competition Authority, référendaire at the Court of Justice of the European Union and a lawyer for over a decade. Maria João Melícias played a key role in coordinating the preparatory works for the most significant legislative reforms in competition law in Portugal over the past decade. This addition underscores a robust commitment to the area of Competition, which is becoming increasingly important in the market.

The law firm is also proud to announce the promotion to partners of Ana Grosso Alves, from the Litigation and Arbitration practice area, Eduardo Peixoto Gomes, from the Corporate and M&A practice area, and João Bravo da Costa, from the Angola Desk.

The recent hires and promotions – including the integration of Miguel Rodrigues Leal and Catarina Mascarenhas and the advancement of André Modesto Pinheiro, Isabel Pinheiro Torres, Guilherme Mata da Silva, and Paulo Amaral Basílio to professional partners, as announced last week – reflect Abreu’s strategic growth and value enhancement. This also demonstrates a clear focus on key practice areas such as Competition, Litigation & Arbitration, Corporate, Commercial and M&A, Finance, Technology and TMT, and Public and Environment.

Focus on the Competition, Regulatory and EU practice area with the integration of Maria João Melícias

The expansion of the Abreu team has been a primary focus for the firm in key areas essential to business development. In response to geopolitical shifts and the evolving European landscape, Abreu Advogados is dedicated to enhancing its Competition, Regulatory, and EU practice area. This commitment is underscored by the integration of Maria João Melícias as the new co-Head of this area.

“My experience and know-how in the ecosystem position me ideally to assist companies on this path, facilitating strategic alignment between their business goals and the demands of the competition, both nationally and internationally. The culture of technical, organisational and human quality that I find at Abreu, its constant ambition for growth and innovation, are totally aligned with my vision and values, so joining the project couldn’t give me greater satisfaction”, says Maria João Melícias.

Three new partners

Inês Sequeira Mendes, Managing Partner at Abreu Advogados, highlights the following: “It is with great pleasure that I share our decision to invite Ana Grosso Alves, João Bravo da Costa and Eduardo Peixoto Gomes to join the partnership, in recognition of their merit, outstanding track records and leadership in their respective areas, as well as their dedication to the Abreu Advogados project.” The Managing Partner also emphasises that the invitation extended to the new partners reflects the firm’s commitment to organic growth and generational renewal, which she considers “essential to ensuring the continuity of the Abreu Advogados project.”

Milestone of 50 million euros (ME) surpassed

Inês Sequeira Mendes emphasises that the consolidated result continues the upward trajectory of recent years, following the firm’s strong focus on attracting talent, developing key practice areas for business growth, and its commitment to excellence in addressing the challenges presented by clients.

“This result reflects our investment in innovation, technology, and process improvement, as well as our focus on internationalisation,” highlights Inês Sequeira Mendes, adding that it also demonstrates the success of a sustainability-driven vision as an essential pillar for responsible, long-term growth.

“Abreu Advogados aims to continue growing and positioning itself as one of the best Portuguese law firms,” she stresses.

Over the last five years, Abreu Advogados has grown by 53%.

The company’s internationalisation is also showing good results, with the international market accounting for 45% of overall turnover, especially Spain, the United States and the United Kingdom, in addition to Abreu’s international network in Portuguese-speaking markets, namely Angola, Mozambique and East Timor.

There was also growth in attracting and retaining talent for a team of 371 employees, including 237 lawyers and 46 partners.

Technological innovation and new partnerships

The year 2024 was marked by Abreu’s commitment to the development and integration of state-of-the-art technological tools, namely the application of artificial intelligence. Abreu Advogados was the first firm in Portugal to implement, across the board, the use of Microsoft Copilot, an artificial intelligence tool from the US company, for all the firm’s employees.

Following the partnership with Microsoft, an innovative artificial intelligence portal entitled A: Knowledge was also created. This new tool, based on the Copilot engine, is designed to improve office efficiency and guarantee easier and faster access to the information and resources needed to develop the business, optimising knowledge management and facilitating collaboration between all employees in a safe and easy way.

In addition, the regional cooperation strategy was extended with the signing of a partnership agreement with the law firm Manuel Rebanda & Associados, based in Coimbra. This agreement ensures the exchange of knowledge and experience between the two organisations.

Abreu Advogados’ international project, focussed on developing initiatives abroad, had a special highlight in 2024, with the Lobito Corridor Conference in Angola. This event brought together leading speakers, such as Angola’s transport minister, to discuss the opportunities and advantages that the Lobito Corridor could bring to the African country. Also noteworthy was the “Innovation and Compliance in a Changing Financial Sector” conference held in Mozambique and the hosting of international conferences in Lisbon, such as Interlex Regional Meeting and AEEC Spring Conference.

In terms of international recognition, Abreu Advogados was shortlisted in three categories of the Financial Times Innovative Lawyers Awards Europe, ranking 29th among the most innovative firms in Europe. At The Lawyer European Awards, Abreu was ranked third in Europe in the Most Impactful ESG Initiative category, as well as third best firm in the Iberian Peninsula, with a total of three nominations. It was once again nominated for Regional Law Firm of the Year: Lusophone Africa at the Chambers Africa Awards.