Abreu Advogados’ revenues reach 41,7 million euros in 2022, reflecting 10% growth

The law firm led by Inês Sequeira Mendes reports a 10% growth in billing compared to 2021, accompanied by the strengthening of its main areas of practice, in a year of success marked by advice on major transactions, development of innovative projects and strengthening of its partnerships and international activity. 

 With a team of 227 lawyers, Abreu Advogados closed 2022 with a turnover of 41,7 million euros, which represents a growth of 10% compared to 2021, when the firm recorded a total turnover of 37,8 million euros, reinforcing its activity at a national and international level, despite the instability caused by the war and high inflation. 

Summary:

• Invoicing rose from 37,8 million euros to 41,7 million euros;
• 227 lawyers in a universe of 358 employees;
• The international market represents 39% of total global invoicing;
• Reinforcement of the team with the integration of a new partner, two new partners and the promotion of 3 new partners;
• The Financial Times considered Abreu as one of the 40 most innovative firms in the European continuum and The Lawyer recognised it as the 11th fastest growing firm in Europe;
• Two partnerships with teaching insittuitions: “Abreu Chair in ESG Impact” with NOVA School of Law and “Abreu Professorship in International Business Law” with Universidade Católica and Católica Global School of Law;
• Over 3 thousand hours worked on a pro bono basis supporting 22 associations, and one thousand pro bono hours made available to support Ukrainian citizens and companies;
• First law firm with a carbon neutral website and adhered to the “Principles for a Sustainable Ocean” of the United Nations Global Compact.

For Inês Sequeira Mendes, Managing Partner of Abreu Advogados, “It is with great satisfaction that we have recorded another year of growth for Abreu Advogados and that we have strengthened our position as one of the top 4 independent Portuguese law firms. Despite the growing challenges of the national and global context Abreu Advogados has maintained good results that mirror the trust of our clients and partners and confirm that we are on the right track.” 

 “These good results are the fruit of the dedicated and innovative work that our teams carry out every day. As we turn 30, we want to continue to develop the path of innovation, growth and excellence that the market recognises. Digital transformation and sustainability are two of the structural axes of our performance, focused on the development of a legal service of excellence, adapted to the new challenges of the market and always looking to the future.”, reinforces the Managing Partner of Abreu Advogados.  

In 2022, Abreu Advogados continued its commitment to human development, with a team of 348 employees, including lawyers and management teams. The firm’s internationalization strategy has also been strengthened, with the international market representing 39% of total global turnover, particularly in the European, African and North American markets. 

The increase in billing was accompanied by an increase in the total number of Abreu Advogados’ team members, which was helped by the hiring of partner Bruno Azevedo Rodrigues, who strengthened the Projects & Structured Finance team, with an emphasis on the energy sector, and by the hiring of partners Sónia Gemas Donário and Ana Grosso Alves, who strengthened the areas of Competition and Arts and Litigation & Arbitration, respectively. The year 2022 is also marked by the promotion of three new partners – Diogo Pereira Duarte (Finance); Hugo Teixeira (Commercial and M&A) and Maria Santa Martha (Real Estate), bringing the number of partners to 40. 

The work developed by Abreu Advogados’ teams was distinguished throughout 2022 by several rankings, directories and international entities, including the Financial Times, which nominated the firm in three categories and considered Abreu Advogados one of the 40 most innovative law firms on the European continent, within the event of the FT Europe Innovative Lawyers Awards.  Abreu was also recognized by The Lawyer as the 11th fastest growing firm in Europe. 

A strong focus on the development of knowledge: the importance of sustainability and innovation

Abreu Advogados and the Knowledge Institute have continued to actively promote research, training and the production of differentiated content. In 2022 two tripartite partnerships were signed with educational institutions which resulted, for example, in the creation, with NOVA School of Law, of the “Abreu Chair in ESG Impact” and, with the Law School of Universidade Católica and with Católica Global School of Law, of the “Abreu Professorship in International Business Law”.   

The Knowledge Institute organized the 4th edition of Lisbon Law & Tech, one of the main events dedicated to technological innovation in our sector and which marks the international legal agenda, and the 3rd edition of the Sustainability School, initiatives that focused on digital transformation and sustainability. 

In the area of technological innovation, the year 2022 consolidated the projects started in 2021, bringing a new dynamic and a reinforced focus on the response of the office in digital transformation and acceleration projects. In addition to the introduction of new internal technological tools, a new version of Knowledge Management, the document management system, was implemented and the level of security in all the processes developed by the teams was increased. Innovation was also strategic in the Knowledge Institute’s e-learning platform, allowing our lawyers access to knowledge and support materials, ensuring them innovative means in responding to clients’ challenges. 

More than 3,180 pro bono hours in support of 22 associations 

The area of sustainability and social responsibility is one of the strategic pillars of Abreu Advogados, having represented last year 3,186 hours of pro bono services from the Firm’s teams, which supported 22 associations in the development of their projects. Abreu Advogados also provided 1,000 pro bono hours to support Ukrainian citizens and companies. 

Abreu Advogados continues to be at the forefront of environmental promotion. In addition to becoming, in 2021, the first law firm in Portugal with a carbon neutral website, joining the global initiative “CO2 Neutral Website”, the firm adhered to the “Principles for a Sustainable Ocean”, an initiative of the United Nations Global Compact that advocates the reduction of global warming and environmental degradation by promoting the quality and health of the oceans for current and future generations. 

“We want our activity to focus on more than just business. We want to actively contribute to the development of a fairer, more sustainable and balanced society and we want to continue to play a relevant role in building the future of our Clients and the legal sector. Through the work carried out with our clients and partners, we want to make a difference in responding to market challenges and in promoting and sharing knowledge and. Our values, expressed this year through the use of AI, clearly mirror our strategic axes and reinforce the work done by our teams, who contribute every day to put the future into practice”, concludes Inês Sequeira Mendes.