Marta Cruz de Almeida has headed the litigation department of the Portuguese utilities giant Galp Energia for almost five years, a period in which she has impressed peers with her ability to multitask. ‘[de Almeida] has a lot of matters on her hands at any given time, but she is always available, answers quickly, and liaises between us and the technical personnel,’ a private practice source shares.

Described as ‘enthusiastic and positive’, as well as a professional with an ‘active presence’, de Almeida has been a valuable ally to senior management thanks to her technical knowledge both of the energy industry and of the arbitration process. ‘As far as litigation is concerned, [de Almeida] maintains a thorough and up-to-date overview of all the pending cases, which is particularly impressive considering the number of pending cases Galp has,’ the source adds. ‘She always provides a constructive, accurate and relevant contribution both on the strategic side and on the factual and legal framework. She knows the company and the industry inside out, and this is crucial to the work she does’.

Prior to joining Galp Energia in November 2012, de Almeida worked at The Portuguese Securities Market Commission (CMVM). She also spent five-and-a-half years as a managing associate at Linklaters.