Europe - Portugal
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Uría Menéndez

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Under the stewardship of the highly experienced Bernardo Diniz de Ayala, Uría Menéndez is well equipped to assist both domestic and international clients with administrative law matters relating to the energy, construction, and infrastructure sectors. The team boasts strong capabilities in both contentious and non-contentious matters, with particular expertise in public procurement, administrative disputes, privatisations, and regulatory issues. Ayala is recognised as ‘brilliant at all levels’ and draws on his extensive experience in public contracting and administrative litigation. Under his guidance, Afonso Choon has honed ’excellent technical skills’ in public law contentious matters, procurement, and administrative proceedings, while Gonçalo Andrade e Sousa is building a solid reputation in public procurement, project development and finance.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • 'Bernardo Ayala and Afonso Choon Dias have excellent technical knowledge in the sector and can respond to complex issues creatively. They deserve our complete trust.'
  • 'Bernardo Alaya is a reference in the area. He is knowledgeable like few others.'
  • 'Gonçalo Andrade Sousa is highly experienced, knowledgeable and detail-oriented.'
  • 'The department is headed by a lawyer who is brilliant at all levels and has extraordinary leadership skills.'
  • 'UM continues to be one of the most relevant and innovative law firms in the continental European market.'
  • 'The team, headed by Bernardo Ayala, is exceptional. They work cohesively and are able to produce excellent quality work, often under tight timelines and demanding situations.'

Key clients

  • Banco Santander
  • Cintra
  • Euroscut Açores (Cintra-Ferrovial Group)
  • Reyal Urbis
  • Celestino Vermelho Rodrigues
  • Pebble Hydro
  • IKOS
  • Meridiam
  • DIF
  • Ascendi

Work highlights

  • Assisting Santander with a compensation claim against the Bank of Portugal and the Ministry of Finance concerning the resolution of BANIF.
  • Advised a consortium on a bid for the new Lisbon-Porto High-Speed Line.
  • Advising a motorway concessionaire on arbitration proceedings concerning a financial rebalance claim related to COVID-19.

Lawyers

Hall of Fame
The lawyers at the very top of the profession, widely known and respected by peers and clients for their longstanding involvement in market-leading work.
Bernardo Diniz de Ayala
Hall of fameUría Menéndez
Leading associates
Leading associates with regular involvement in their team's key work, and recognition from peers or clients as being ones to watch.
Afonso Choon
Uría Menéndez

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Bernardo Diniz de Ayala

Other key lawyers

Afonso Choon Dias, Gonçalo Andrade e Sousa, João Louro e Costa, Jill de Soet Palmeiro