Interview with: JOÃO GIL FIGUEIRA, PARTNER

What do you see as the main points that differentiate Gil Figueira & Devillet Lima from your competitors?

Being a small firm, we are able to put together case-dedicated teams that provide comprehensive analysis and advice. We do not compartmentalize our teams but approach every case with a holistic perspective that allows us to better serve our clients.

We also invest in our team’s legal and business education, which allows taking an extra step forward in our advisory regardless of the industry or practice area. We always look for a deep understanding of the legal and market trends in each field we work in.

Our niche market focus allows us to provide our clients with specialized expertise and innovative solutions tailored to their unique needs. We prioritize clear and open communication with our clients. For many clients, we provide a level of service akin to an in-house counsel, covering all aspects of their businesses and objectives. In fast pacing industries, practical and commercially viable legal advice and working collaboratively also set us apart from our competition.

Which practices do you see growing in the next 12 months? What are the drivers behind that?

We anticipate that several of our practice areas will experience growth over the next 12 months, driven by various factors specific to each practice.

In our Corporate Law practice, we anticipate the most significant increase in demand for our services, mainly related to restructurings, venture capital and private equity investments, and some traditional acquisitions. In the Real Estate practice, we expect to see growth in the commercial real estate sector due to some transactions that were delayed now being implemented. In the residential sector, we find that the level of work will remain the same, despite the looming termination of the Portuguese residence by investment program (the Golden Visa), which traditionally attracted real estate investors.

We also find that the current macroeconomic situation will impact some, if not most, of our clients’ businesses. Our Litigation team is already experiencing an increase in the number and the amounts involved in each dispute, and we expect this department to outperform previous years.

One of our core practices is the Blockchain/Fintech one. Due to Portugal being perceived as a jurisdiction with a growing ecosystem, growth in this practice will continue and will soon be accelerated with the full implementation of the Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) Regulation and ancillary domestic legislation related to it.

What’s the main change you’ve made in the firm that will benefit clients?

On the one hand, we have adopted a more technology-driven approach to our work. Minor changes allowed us to streamline our processes, increase efficiency, and provide even more comprehensive and timely service to our clients.

On the other hand, the main change was to move into a new customized office designed from scratch for better team interaction and comfort for clients visiting us or working from our premises.

Is technology changing the way you interact with your clients, and the services you can provide them?

We recognize that technology is constantly evolving, and we are committed to staying up-to-date with the latest developments in legal technology.

In today’s post-Covid times, we continue interacting with clients through virtual meetings and teleconferencing. We will soon attempt to integrate artificial intelligence tools into our workflow.

Can you give us a practical example of how you have helped a client to add value to their business?

We have combined the efforts of several teams to allow a client to commence its Portuguese operations in a regulated sector from scratch, growing it from zero to 100 employees in nine months while also conducting its hiring process in nine countries.

Are clients looking for stability and strategic direction from their law firms – where do you see the firm in three years’ time?

I see the firm growing steadily during the next three years, despite a potential worldwide macroeconomic downturn, and expanding into new markets.