Sérvulo & Associados is praised for its ability to ‘combine vast experience in banking and finance, with competent professionals'. Longstanding regulatory tradition is a defining characteristic of this practice group, which attracts regular instructions from an array of credit and financial institutions. The team is jointly steered by Manuel Magalhães  and Paulo Câmara: Magalhães is noted for his wide-ranging expertise in banking and finance matters in Portugal and abroad, most notably Angola and Mozambique, while Câmara is recommended for his regulatory capabilities. Noted for her ’knowledge, support and availability’, Verónica Fernández regularly provides regulatory guidance on the implications of new business models and activities under EU-wide banking, ESG, crypto and fintech regulations. Inês Palma Ramalho is no longer at the firm.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘Sérvulo has been a foundation in the legal support given to our legal department. We highlight the immediate and constant availability, the quick monitoring of topics, the ability to respond even to more complex topics.'
  • 'Sérvulo has always been up to the task of analysing topics, many of which go beyond purely banking activities.'
  • 'We highlight the knowledge, support and availability of Verónica Fernandez - her professionalism deserves all of our respect and admiration.'
  • ‘Sérvulo & Associados combines vast experience in banking and finance, with competent professionals who are knowledgeable of market realities. Efficient and available services follow new technological trends available in financial markets.’
  • 'Paulo Câmara - a reference in governance matters and a voice recognised by all actors in the financial sector.'
  • ‘Ability to deal with highly complex topics without losing focus on the client’s interest, discussing issues in a simple and direct way and offering solutions that are most oriented towards the client’s commercial interest.’
  • ‘Manuel Magalhães is more than just a lawyer. He is an ally who, with great experience and technical knowledge, supports clients in the most complex projects, adjusting his contributions with great precision to defend the client's interests.'

Key clients

  • BES – Banco Espírito Santo, S.A. – Em Liquidação
  • BANIF – Banco Internacional do Funchal, S.A. – Em Liquidação
  • Banco Comercial e de Investimentos
  • Saltpay Portugal S.A.
  • Agrimútuo – Federação das Caixas de Crédito Agrícola Mútuo
  • Caixa Crédito Agrícola Mútuo de Torres Vedras, C.R.L. and Caixa Crédito Agrícola Mútuo de Mafra
  • Orey Financial – Instituição Financeira de Crédito, S.A. – Em Liquidação
  • Oney Bank, S.A. – Sucursal em Portugal
  • Banco BIC Português, S.A. / EUROBIC
  • Lisgarante, Garval, Agrogarante and Norgarante
  • Caixa Económica Montepio Geral and Montepio Investimento (Banco Empresas Montepio)

Work highlights

  • Assisted Saltpay Portugal throughout the incorporation process of a payment institution, including structuring the entire authorisation and registration process to be submitted before the Portuguese Central Bank.
  • Acted for Agrimútuo in the preparation and issuance of a legal memorandum on several aspects of the cooperative financial sector regime reform and its prospective changes.
  • Assisted Caixa Económica Montepio Geral and Montepio Investimento (Banco Empresas Montepio) with the negotiation of guarantees to be provided by the Icon group in the acquisition of Sonorgás.

Lawyers

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Manuel Magalhães, Paulo Câmara

Other key lawyers

Verónica Fernández, Francisco Barona, Francisco Boavida Salavessa, Patrícia Costa Gomes, José Guilherme Gomes