Litigation & ADR annual report
have a high value”. Gonçalves
Pereira adds: “Once the decision to
litigate is taken, the clients are very
focused and informed and require
very specialised representation
focusing on the relevant areas of the
law, such as M&A, securities, and
banking.”
Júdice says that that current
client demands will now favour
larger law firms or ADR and
litigation boutiques that are able
to specialise with lawyers “skilled
in quantum issues and fluent in
different languages”. Aguilar de
Carvalho says that for a law firm
to thrive in the current climate, its
lawyers need to be “passionate and
enthusiastic about their work, keep
up to date on constant changes in
legislation and on legal trends, and
commit to providing their clients
with the support and answers they
need, in a timely and cost effective
manner”.
Arbitration centres evolving
Kirkby believes that now is the
moment for law firms to create
specialised arbitration teams. He
legal system relating to disputes
adds: “Because of the specific nature
concerning patents within the
and sophistication of arbitration
pharma industry. He adds: “This
law, and also because the regulation
offers mandatory arbitration, which
of Portuguese arbitration centres is
requires experienced arbitrators in
evolving and moving closer to the
regulations
of the large
international
Direct contact between the client
arbitration
and senior partners is demanded,
centres,
putting pressure on law firms to raise
the ability
to capture
the seniority of lawyers.
the really
João Maria Pimentel
interesting
Campos Ferreira, O