June 2026
The clause that decides which country hears your dispute
Most people sign it without reading it. It is usually the single most expensive line in the contract.
Rua do Alecrim 42 · six people · est. 2017
Scope, fee and timeline in writing, before the work starts.
We act for founders, buyers and relocating families whose matter crosses into Portugal. Fixed fee where the work can be scoped, capped hourly where it cannot, first reply the same working day.
9 days
Median, first call to written scope and fee (2025)
About us
Founded in 2017 for clients who cannot read the room in Lisbon: we put the scope, the fee and the timeline in writing before the work starts, and report against them.
Plain-language advice
Written in the words you would use to explain it to your own board, so the complexity turns into a decision you can take this week.
Transparent steps & timelines
You see the whole path up front: the documents, the dependencies, the risks, and what “done” looks like.
Business-first risk management
Practical guidance that protects you without slowing you down, aligned to real-world outcomes.
Services
Four practice areas. A fixed fee on the work that can be scoped.
01
Corporate & Startups
Company formation, shareholder agreements, governance and commercial contracts, written so the next person to open them can act on them.
02
Technology & Privacy (GDPR)
GDPR-ready operations, data processing frameworks, and commercial terms for digital products. Practical, and enforceable.
03
Real Estate (International Buyers)
Due diligence, acquisitions and leasing, so you know the title, the encumbrances and the real cost of the deal before you sign it.
04
Immigration & Relocation
Structured support for globally mobile professionals, aligned to your timeline, your documentation, and your compliance needs.
Who we advise
Practical counsel for people operating across borders
- Founders & startups
- International property buyers
- Regulated growth businesses
- Investors & advisors
- Landlords & tenants
- Creative & media ventures
- SaaS & digital businesses
- Family offices
- Relocating professionals
- E-commerce operators
- Remote-first teams
- Cross-border families
The record
You will know where the matter stands on a Tuesday.
Every engagement opens with a written scope: the documents we need, the steps in order, the dependencies we do not control, and the fee. You get a dated update at each step, not a silence to interpret.
614
Matters since 2017
1,120
Filings and contracts delivered
212
Property due diligences
9 days
Median, first call to written scope and fee (2025)
Delivery
Closed inside the quoted timeline, 2025
Corporate & startups
92% of 138
Technology & GDPR
78% of 64
Real estate & relocation
64% of 105
The 64% is the honest one: Conservatória and AIMA queues sit outside our control, and we say so at scoping.
How it works
A structured plan, so you always know what comes next
- 01
Share your goal and context. We clarify what matters, what is urgent, and which documents we need from you.
- 02
We define scope, timeline, and risks, then map the steps and the responsibilities so nothing slips between us.
- 03
We execute and keep you updated: clear drafts, decisive recommendations, and a clean close.
Team
A focused team built for cross-border work
Catarina Vale
Managing Partner
Tomás Ramires
Counsel (Technology & Privacy)
Inês Azevedo
Counsel (Real Estate)
Miguel Saldanha
Counsel (Immigration & Relocation)
Leonor Faria
Associate (Contracts & Governance)
Duarte Mendes
Client Operations (Intake & Scheduling)
Client voices
Trusted for clarity, speed, and discretion
What stood out was the process. We always knew the next step, the timeline, and the trade-offs — no legal fog, just clear decisions.
Alex MorganCo-founder, Helm Analytics (Bristol). Portuguese subsidiary, 2025.Two weeks from first call to a signed lease. The scope email listed nine steps and they happened in that order.
Priya DesaiFamily office, Singapore. Commercial lease in Porto.Buying property in Portugal felt high-risk until they stepped in. The due diligence was thorough and the guidance was direct: nothing hidden, nothing vague.
Martin KellerZürich. Apartment purchase in Alfama.
Notes
What we tell clients, written down
April 2026
What "we'll sort the paperwork later" actually costs
Cross-border deals rarely fail on the deal. They fail on the six weeks nobody wanted to spend at the start.
March 2026
Why we run a conflict check before we take your call
It costs us work. It is also the only way to be sure whose side we are actually on.
International founders, investors, and globally mobile professionals dealing with Portugal and EU matters — business setup, GDPR and tech, property, and relocation. If a matter sits outside that, we say so and point you to someone who does it properly.
Enquiries
Put the matter in front of us.
Five fields. No intake form, no portal, no chatbot. It reaches a partner, and a partner answers — with the next step, the documents we will want, and what it is likely to cost.
Rua do Alecrim 42, Lisboa. We check conflicts before we discuss anything substantive. It is the one step we will not skip.