For law firms

Portuguese counsel for foreign law firms and their clients

When a client of yours needs a Portuguese company, a branch, a transaction or a corporate matter handled in Portugal, you can instruct us as local counsel. The client relationship stays with you. We do the Portuguese work, report to you in English, and bill on the terms agreed with you at the outset.

Scope

What firms instruct us on

Portuguese-law work for clients you already advise in your own jurisdiction.

Company formation and branches: Lda and SA incorporations, branches of foreign companies, tax numbers for foreign entities and their officers, beneficial ownership filings
Corporate and governance: shareholder resolutions, changes of officers, share transfers, registered office and ongoing corporate compliance of foreign-owned subsidiaries
Transactions: Portuguese-law due diligence, transaction documents and completion mechanics on cross-border acquisitions and investments
Tax regimes and structuring: Portuguese side of inbound structures, including the IFICI regime for relocating individuals and corporate tax position of the Portuguese entity
Banking: opening of accounts with Portuguese banks for the client's company, on a best-efforts basis subject to the bank's own compliance
Residency for founders and staff: D2, D8 and investment routes, with filings handled by specialist immigration counsel in our network where appropriate
Process

How an instruction works

The same sequence on every matter, so you know what your client will be asked for and when.

1
You send a short brief. Client name and group structure (for conflict checking), what needs to happen in Portugal, and any deadline your client is working to.
2
Conflict check, scope and fee. We confirm we are free to act and send a written scope with a fixed fee where the work is standard, or a capped estimate where it is not. Third-party costs (registry fees, translations, apostilles) are listed separately.
3
Engagement letter. It records who instructs us, who is responsible for our fees and who we take instructions from. Nothing starts before it is signed.
4
KYC and documents. We carry out the identification required by Portuguese anti-money laundering rules and handle the Portuguese paperwork. Where possible, powers of attorney are authenticated by us by video conference, which in many cases avoids the need for a notarised and apostilled power of attorney from abroad.
5
Execution and reporting. You choose whether we report only to you or also to your client directly. Updates in English, final reporting with the registry evidence and a short note of the client's ongoing Portuguese obligations.
Fees and billing

Who invoices whom

Settled in writing at the start of every matter, in line with the CCBE Code of Conduct for European Lawyers.

Instructing firm model. We invoice your firm and you bill your client under your own engagement. Under Article 5.7 of the CCBE Code, a lawyer who instructs a foreign correspondent is responsible for that correspondent's fees unless agreed otherwise at the outset, so we agree it expressly.
Direct engagement model. If you prefer, your client engages us directly and we invoice the client, while you remain the client's lead adviser and are kept informed.
No referral fees. We do not pay or accept fees for referrals, as required by Article 5.4 of the CCBE Code. Our fees are for Portuguese work done; your fees are for yours.
Fixed fees where possible. Standard matters are quoted at a fixed fee in advance. Our published prices for company formation apply equally to instructed work.
Timing

Realistic timelines, stated upfront

Portuguese corporate matters are usually quick on our side. What sets the pace is outside it: commercial registry processing, the banks' own compliance reviews, and, for documents signed abroad, notarisation, apostille or legalisation in the client's country. We give you a realistic timeline with the quote, identify which steps depend on third parties, and recommend starting early where your client has a fixed date in mind.

Professional framework. Portugal & Co is the trading name of HLV, Legal & Advisory, SP, RL, a professional company of lawyers registered with the Portuguese Bar Association (Ordem dos Advogados). All information received from you or your client is covered by Portuguese professional secrecy. Every engagement letter names the lawyers who will work on the matter, led by our managing partner. See our experience.

Instructing us on a matter

Send a short brief to hello@portugal-and-co.com. If it helps your team, we can also send our one-page reference note on Portuguese companies and tax numbers.

Email us a brief →
Questions? Chat with us