International law firm Bird & Bird will open an office in Lisbon, establishing a presence in Portugal and strengthening its position in the wider Iberian market.
The office will be led by Ana Rita Paínho, alongside Sofia Carreiro, one of-counsel, two senior counsel, a team of three associates and supporting staff. The initial team will cover IP, TMT, Life Sciences, Corporate, M&A, Employment and Litigation.
With a strong existing market reputation in Portugal, the team will join Bird & Bird and boost the firm’s capability in the region, working seamlessly with the existing Madrid office to provide a unified Iberian offering to clients.
Ana Rita Paínho is a lawyer specialising in Life Sciences, Intellectual Property and TMT, working in the areas of trademarks and patents and, in the information technology field, focusing on software, e-commerce, data protection, marketing and advertising. Sofia Carreiro is a Corporate lawyer specialising in M&A matters.
Christian Bartsch, CEO of Bird & Bird says: “We are seeing great momentum behind our five-year strategy with the opening of offices in Tokyo, Riyadh, and now Lisbon. All of these decisions are driven by client demand in a number of our core sectors; this has always been the key determinant for opening an office in any country. With clients increasingly requesting us to provide a unified Iberian capability, it’s exciting to be able to deliver on this.”
Coral Yáñez, Head of the Iberian region at Bird & Bird says: “Portugal is a key player in the European economy, known for its significant trade activities. We recognise that its increasing reputation as a technology and innovation hub is very attractive to our clients. Many industries operate seamlessly across Spain, Portugal, and beyond. By capitalising on cross-border business synergies, key industry sectors, and the success of our Madrid office, opening in Lisbon is a natural step in cementing our reputation in the Iberian market.”
Ana Rita Paínho comments: “We are looking forward to opening a new Bird & Bird office in Lisbon. Having worked with Bird & Bird for many years, there is a strong synergy between our client work and Bird & Bird’s vision to be the leading international law firm guiding organisations through a world being shaped by technology, innovation and regulation. Portugal is a key hub for both technology and financial services companies and through working closely with the Madrid office, we will be able to offer clients a seamless Iberian offering that mirrors their own cross-border structures.”
