Morais Leitão, Galvão Teles, Soares da Silva & Associados

Partner and Co-Coordinator of German Desk

Philipp Melcher joined Morais Leitão in 2015. He’s a member of the firm’s European law and competition team and co-coordinates its German Desk. Since 2022, Philipp is a partner of the firm.

Philipp advises domestic and international clients on all aspects of Portuguese and EU competition law (merger control, antitrust, state aid), trade law (antidumping, antisubsidy) and foreign direct investment control as well as on general EU law and represents them in public and private enforcement proceedings before Portuguese and EU authorities and courts.

Before joining Morais Leitão (2008-2014), Philipp worked in the competition law department of Gleiss Lutz, one of Germany’s leading law firms, as an Associated Partner based in Brussels and in Frankfurt.

During his legal clerkship (2005-2007) and alongside his postgraduate studies at King’s College London (2007/2008), Philipp worked, inter alia, at the EU Commission (in the unit responsible for the enforcement of state aid rules in the area of transport and energy) and in the legal department of a major US internet company.

Philipp is recognised as leading expert on competition and state aid law in Portugal by Who’s Who Legal Competition. He frequently intervenes at conferences and publishes articles on current legal issues in his areas of expertise.

German, English and Portuguese

German Bar Association (admitted as Rechtsanwalt in 2008). Portuguese Bar Association (2015, registration as Rechtsanwalt). Antitrust Association of German, Austrian and Swiss lawyers (Studienvereinigung Kartellrecht). Association of German Lawyers in Portugal (Deutscher Anwaltsverein Portugal). Deputy Chairman of the General Assembly of the German Portuguese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Deutsch-Portugiesische Außenhandelskammer). Member of the Board of Directors of the Association of the German School Lisbon (Schulverein der Deutschen Schule Lissabon).

Law Degree (Humboldt University Berlin, 2004). School of Polish Law (Warsaw University, 2005). Assessor Degree (Higher Regional Court Berlin, 2007). LL.M. in EU Competition Law (King’s College London, 2008).