Our profile

GFDL Advogados is a Portuguese boutique law firm based in Lisbon, Portugal, composed of highly skilled advisors and lawyers, who have international experience.

We have the privilege of working with a select group of clients spanning a wide geographic range that continues to grow through our global platform.

We are experienced in all aspects of doing business and investing in Portugal and other Portuguese speaking jurisdictions.

We have close working relationships with law firms across the world, thus allowing us to combine intellectually rigorous work with unique insights of business and cultural practices at a local level.

The firm’s lawyers and staff are fluent in Portuguese, English, French, Spanish, Hungarian and Romanian.

Our lawyers are often engaged to provide comprehensive legal advice for business and private client across several industries. We are engaged by a broad array of clients seeking innovative and solid solutions in traditional and disruptive areas of business.

In addition to technical solutions, we strive to know and understand the detail of our clients’ businesses and understanding the several vectors that influence their industries and markets. Our clients usually present complex needs, attractive projects and challenging requirements.

Our firm acts as a trustworthy legal bridge by providing business-focused advice that goes beyond borders and narrow areas of expertise. By working in niche areas of the legal arena, we remain at the vanguard of the industry as it adjusts to the innovations and complexities of business and life.

Not focusing excessively on a particular practice is key to provide comprehensive and business savvy legal, regulatory, compliance and governance counsel.

In our endeavor to provide the highest possible standard of legal service, we continuously monitor the legal and business arena to identify opportunities or challenges and provide prudent and tactical advice to clients.

The value we provide goes beyond the customary services of law firms because our relationship with clients relies on continuity and trust.

GFDL Advogados is the trade name of Gil Figueira & Devillet Lima – Sociedade de Advogados S.P. R.L., a limited liability law firm.

About GFDL - Gil Figueira & Devillet Lima Advogados

Founded in 2018

50 people in their team


Practice areas
Business
Intellectual Property
Immigration
Employment & Labor
Real Estate
Lawsuits & Disputes

Languages spoken
Portuguese
English
French

Social media

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Practice areas

Business

Practice Focus

Our lawyers are experienced in a broad range of corporate law and commercial  law matters. We combine strong industry knowledge with a hands-on, on-the-ground, approach to projects and our team regularly assists businesses and corporations regarding transactions while also providing ongoing advisory services.

Our team regularly works with multinational corporations entering the European Union market through newly formed subsidiaries or expanding their presence through joint ventures, acquisitions or expanded sales and distribution channels. We provide practical, creative, and cost-effective advice for multinational companies doing business in Portugal, the European Union and beyond.

Our team provides comprehensive tax and estate planning services to allow efficient allocation of corporate benefits to shareholders and directors in every stage of life.

We have a broad and deep international business and corporate experience. We have assisted clients doing business in the global marketplace, regularly traveling to Europe, the Americas, Asia and the Middle East to implement the best solutions.

Each team member respects the complexities and cultural sensitivities of cross-border business operations, working with foreign attorneys, accountants, and advisors to ensure proper coordination to meet the client’s goals.

We advise on the business survival and turnaround through a multi-disciplinary approach that involves tax, corporate, real estate and dispute resolution expertise. We also advise management teams in MBOs.

How we can help

  • Company formation
  • Acquisition and disposal of Portuguese companies
  • Restructurings
  • M&A transactions
  • Commercial transactions
  • Incoterms
  • Niche sectors and projects
  • Contracts and suretyship
  • Family businesses & succession planning
  • General counsel
  • Share incentive plans and long term incentive plans
  • Joint-Ventures and JV litigation
  • SAFE investments

Corporate Housekeeping

As an autonomous entity, a corporation’s existence is contingent on the timely fulfillment of several formalities.

GFDL provides the necessary services for companies to comply with all government requirements. This includes corporate or contract examination, drafting and management, compliance surveys and due diligence.

Know more about Corporate Housekeeping services.

Banking & Finance
Business Registration
Contract
Due Diligence
Employer
Franchising
Investment
Legal Document
Licensing
Merger & Acquisition
New Business Formation
Office Solutions
Oil, Gas & Energy
Tax

Intellectual Property

Practice Focus

We offer a full range of services for our clients regarding intellectual property. Our team has assisted individuals regarding authors’ rights , image rights, and companies regarding patents and trademarks.

We take pride in providing streamlined and elegant structuring advice regarding franchising, licensing, agency and distribution agreements, and assist with further renegotiation, enforcement and reputation management.

Our experience in IP rights is often combined with our know-how on Corporate, Tax and Labor Law, specially when crafting comprehensive solutions to protect trade secrets, which includes internal policies, control mechanisms, governance and training.

How we can help

  • Trade secrets
  • Authors’ rights
  • Patents
  • Brands
  • Franchising and Licensing Agreements
  • Review of internal policies
  • Filings
Copyright
Patent
Trademark

Immigration

Practice Focus

Our team provides clients with a full range of carefully crafted Immigration and Citizenship legal services. Our practice includes representation of expats, employees, investors, entrepreneurs, employers and institutions worldwide, in a broad spectrum of global immigration matters.

Our clients are assisted by lawyers and paralegals with extensive and diverse experience with global visa work in several jurisdictions. Our focus is making our client’s relocation process as stress-free as possible and respecting cultural nuances.

Relocation requires knowledge in a broad spectrum of disciplines. Due to the diverse nature of our clients, immigration related work usually requires input from other teams advising on investment and corporate structuring, commercial contracts, business model optimization, family law and tax.

Our global immigration network and our frequent interaction with decision makers are key to obtaining swift results.

How we can help

  • Portuguese Citizenship and Naturalization.
  • Immigration services in several jurisdictions.
  • Portuguese citizenship – Sephardic Ancestry.
  • Business Immigration.
  • Portuguese Golden Visa.
  • Global Talent Advisory for Global Companies.
  • Second Passport.
Asylum
Business Visa
Citizenship
Dependent Visa
Permanent Residency
Retirement Visa
Work Permit

Employment & Labor

Practice Focus

Labour and Employment Law is perceived as a natural arena for conflicting interests. GFDL provides solutions for corporate clients and private clients alike.

Our lawyers have wide-ranging knowledge in all areas of contentious and non-contentious employment matters. We routinely handle a wide variety of litigation matters involving employment, employee benefits, and shareholder or management issues. We also advise corporate clients before a dispute becomes the subject of actual litigation.

Our lawyers are well-informed of negotiation dynamics and mediation procedures.

In sectors where information is key, our team advises on employee noncompetition and no solicitation agreements, and on espionage and theft of trade secrets by employees.

This practice is supported by other practice areas, across multiple sectors and jurisdictions. GFDL advises on the cross-border implications of secondment of employees to and from Portugal from an employment, immigration and tax standpoints.

How we can help

  • Drafting and negotiating employment agreements
  • Corporate Governance & Executive remuneration
  • Disputes, Disciplinary Procedures and Dismissals
  • Employment aspects of M&A transactions and restructurings
  • Pension arrangements and employee stock ownership plans (ESOP)
  • GDPR issues and Data Privacy
  • International secondments
  • Acqui-hiring transactions
Employment Rights
Hiring & Firing
Job Discrimination
Labor Law
Pension
Retirement
Sexual Harassment
Social Security
Wage & Hour
Wrongful Termination

Real Estate

Real Estate

We provide legal advice to structure real estate transactions in Portugal and other Portuguese speaking jurisdictions. We are experienced in creating bespoke solutions for domestic and international investors. Also, our team has a high level of expertise to assist you on any matters related to the evaluation of properties and deal structures.

Our clients invest into real estate as a core asset or as an alternative investment strategy. In any case, real estate is a preferred option for investors seeking steady income.

Our team provides guidance on portfolio acquisitions, M&A and share deals, restructurings, acquisitions, leases and divestment deals.

In addition to handling routine issues in real estate matters, we provide guided assistance through all phases of complex transactions or projects, including financing, taxation, regulations, profitability and liability protection.

We conduct all the necessary due diligence work and design governance rules for property development projects in joint venture scenarios, advising on risk and reward splitting agreements between investors of several countries.

We are experienced in creating bespoke solutions for international investors that want to invest in Portuguese real estate.

Construction

GFDL’s accumulated expertise in construction and real estate projects comes from our client base that includes construction companies, property developers, promoters, banks and private clients.

Our client’s activities are usually spread into different project configurations – from housing to offices, commercial and business centers to sports infrastructures.

We pride ourselves for being able to work with a multitude of different real estate and construction professionals, serving as liaison and supervisor between all the different players engaged in the development of a specific project.

This privileged work approach facilitates workflow between client, contractor, architect, civil engineers, licensing authorities, and state regulators.

The firm also has a strong litigation practice, aiding clients in relation with the issues that may arise during and after the execution of the project.

If you are interested in:

  • Real estate transactions
  • Due dilligence
  • Commercial property
  • Housing
  • Construction
  • Private Clients
  • Real Estate funds
Brokerage
Commercial Real Estate
Foreclosure
Housing, Construction & Development
Land Use & Zoning
Landlord & Tenant
Mortgage
Real Estate Contracts and Negotiations
Real Estate Due Diligence

Lawsuits & Disputes

Practice Focus

At GFDL Advogados we find that litigation matters require careful attention, experience, and expertise.

Our litigation practice works hand in hand with other practices, because our goal is to provide advice that strategically aligns litigation and business objectives.

We have advised on disputes involving distinct industries and various areas of the law. Our team protects and enforces the interests of both private and corporate clients.

Our lawyers have represented clients in court, mediation, arbitration, and settlement, at all stages of a dispute. Our team represents clients in varied types of disputes, namely general commercial disputes, domestic and cross-border deal litigation, corporate governance disputes, family & probate disputes, regulatory defense, employment controversies, bankruptcy defense, settlements, appeals, and arbitration.

Our team advises on how to mitigate and manage risk both in circumstances where an investigation has begun or claim has been filed or, in circumstances where clients are at risk of being challenged and negotiation is needed.

We represent domestic and foreign clients regarding local matters and advise on multi-jurisdictional disputes. We regularly advise foreign clients regarding court proceedings in Portugal and advise local clients on the intricacies of filing claims abroad.

See our dedicated page regarding Debt Recovery.

See our dedicated page regarding Asset Tracing and Recovery.

See our dedicated page regarding Real Estate & Construction disputes.

How we can help

  • Commercial contracts disputes.
  • Shareholders and Stakeholders disputes.
  • Shareholder activism.
  • Licensing disputes.
  • Cross border litigation.
  • Jurisdiction disputes.
  • Recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments.
  • Filing claims in Portugal.
  • Debt recovery.
  • Labour & Employment Law disputes.
  • Damages and restitutions.
Litigation

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