Duarte de Athayde

Partner | Lisbon

Duarte de Athayde is the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Abreu Advogados.

Partner at Abreu Advogados since 2006, he was also Managing Partner from 2014 until 2021.

He works primarily on the structuring of foreign investment and on acquisition operations in the Portuguese market, particularly the real estate sector, providing legal advice in the real estate, commercial, M&A and tax fields of law.

He has been involved in some of the most relevant transactions acquisitions of shopping centres, retail parks and logistics platforms in Portugal.

Due to his significant experience in the Brazilian market, Duarte provides legal advice to many Brazilian private clients and family-owned groups in asset structuring, ensuring effective generational transfer of ownership. Since he is fluent in Portuguese and French, he also provides legal assistance to the Firm’s French clients in their acquisitions in Portugal.

Duarte has wide international experience, and has held several positions at international lawyers’ organizations, such as AIJA (President) and IBA (Co-Chair of Commercial Real Estate Committee).

Corporate Law, Portugal (2020-2022)

Real Estate Law, Portugal (2020-2022)

Work Experience

Advising on the restructuring of the operation of a French real estate group in Portugal and  refinancing and expansion of two major shopping centres in two of the largest cities in northern Portugal;

Advising a leading company in the retail sector on the acquisition of a property portfolio, including two large shopping centres and a retail park in the Lisbon area;

Advising on the acquisition of a logistics platform by a large multinational company in the retail sector for its operations in Portugal;

Advising a foreign sovereign fund on the acquisition of a significant interest in two large shopping centres in the Lisbon area and creation of a joint venture for their operation and management;

Negotiation and structuring of Abreu Advogados' new Lisbon offices - a benchmark urban renewal project, winner of several awards including “Prémio Nacional de Reabilitação Urbana 2018” (2018 National Urban Renewal Award) in the category of office buildings;

General and ongoing legal assistance to the company that owns and manages the real estate assets of the Autonomous Region of Madeira;

Advising a European furniture designer and manufacturer group on the acquisition of a Portuguese company engaged in furniture manufacture and sale (including online) on the domestic and international markets;

Advising a French laboratory on the acquisition of a pharmaceutical manufacturing, distribution and sales business from a Portuguese company;

Advising a leading company in the distribution of gift boxes on the acquisition of a Portuguese company that owns one of most popular tourist and leisure websites in Portugal;

Advising a multinational school group on the acquisition of a Portuguese company that manages an important international school in Portugal.

Associations

Academic Background

Universidade Católica Portuguesa

Law degree from Universidade Católica Portuguesa, Faculty of Law (1991)

Collège d' Europe

Postgraduate Degree in European Law from Collège d' Europe, Bruges, Belgium (1992)

ISG - Business School

Postgraduate Degree in Tax from ISG - Business School (2001)

ISG - Business School

Course in Tax Procedure and Litigation, II Edition, ISG -Business School (2003)