Team size: 14 lawyers and one legal assistant

What are the most significant cases or transactions that your legal team has recently been involved in?

Luz Saúde group is one of the largest health care groups in terms of income operating in the Portuguese market, under the trademark Hospital da Luz. At this moment, Luz Saúde is running a total of 30 hospitals, clinics, and senior residences, through more than 20 different companies; the legal team is highly involved in the acquisition and expansion processes and in the company’s business activities.

The legal team was highly involved in the acquisition of facilities in Guimarães (north of Portugal), Funchal (Madeira Island), Coimbra (centre of Portugal) and Torres de Lisboa (Lisbon area). The team was also involved in the expansion of Hospital da Luz Lisboa and in greenfield projects regarding the facilities in Vila Real and Santa Maria da Feira (both in the North of Portugal), Covilhã (centre of Portugal) and Odivelas (Lisbon area).

Recently, we were also highly involved in the preparation of new IPO, but the process was postponed due to adverse market conditions.

What would you say are the unique qualities required to be successful as an in-house lawyer in your industry?

In-house lawyers better understand the day-to-day running of a company. They are also closer to operations and decision-making centres. This reality leads to in-house lawyers being able to acquire a greater awareness of their client’s risks and how best to mitigate them. In addition, in-house lawyers are best placed to understand which issues need external support from the law firms. This said, thoroughly understanding the healthcare market is fundamental to being successful as an in-house lawyer.

How have you fostered a closer collaboration between the legal department and your business counterparts?

I strongly believe that all the lawyers involved in a transaction should appear in the meetings and know their counterparts in person. Knowing the people you are working with puts you in a position to deliver better advice.

Do you have a cause, business-related or otherwise, that you are passionate about?

I love to cook and entertain guests. Cooking is an art that I would like to deepen, gain more knowledge about and maybe open my own restaurant one day.