Lisbon e-report 2014 | Page 3

Lisbon Annual Report “ remarks that fees have “hit the bottom”. The number of transactions Gonçalo Anastácio, partner at SRS involving international investors Advogados, says that work is “clearly picking up”. However, he adds that due to has had a positive impact on Portugal´s financial problems, court fees fees. have risen dramatically and this has had an impact on what options are available Duarte Garin to clients. “The risk for a client that loses Uría Menéndez a civil action has increased significantly,” he says. In some cases court fees have increased ten-fold. will reach the entire economy and, as a result, there Linklaters´ Vieira says there is now will be opportunities for new foreign investors into a different client landscape in Portugal. “Major the Portuguese market. Portuguese companies have changed hands – Carlos Aguiar, senior partner at Carlos Aguiar, controlling shareholders have been forced to sell, this Ferreira de Lima & Associados, agrees that is an opportunity for everyone, banking activity will opportunities for lawyers will be created by the “fire not go away.” sale” of BES´ assets and the associated potential The biggest development in the Portuguese civil and criminal litigation. In addition to BESbanking sector in the last year was BES’ related work, Esquível Advogados partner José announcement of a €3.6bn loss, which led to the Luís Esquível says the biggest opportunities for law development of a plan to spin BES´ hea