Law firm profile
Tough at the top?
“
of complacency, it is
Law firms not investing
more difficult to keep
in technology, people
the leadership than be a
and
client care will have
challenger – leaders have
tremendous pressure to
problems in future.
stay on top.”
Nuno Galvão Teles
MLGTS’ client base
MLGTS
has helped the firm to
grow “steadily” in terms
of revenue over the last
ten years, according to
Though MLGTS managing partner
completely transparent with our
Galvão Teles. He adds:
Nuno Galvão Teles is confident that
people.” Though MLGTS declines
“Since 2013, our profits have gone
his firm has “probably the most
to officially disclose its revenue, its
up, while our revenues have grown
impressive client base” of all of
billing for 2015 totalled €45 million,
consistently in the same period due
Portugal’s law firms, he says there
according to some sources.
to a combination of alternative fee
is no danger of this being taken
arrangements, greater efficiency,
for granted. “Our main clients are
Simple strategy
more work and reducing costs.”
well recognised and they include a
Galvão Teles says the firm’s
Galvão Teles does not disclose how
significant share of the Portuguese
approach is straightforward. “Our
much revenues and profits have
stock exchange – this forces us to
strategy is simple – we want to
grown since 2013, but it is believed
be efficient as the principal banks
retain the leadership of the market,
that profits went up 15 per cent,
and main utility companies, for
be more efficient and to always try
while revenues rose by 12 per cent
example, are very demanding [in
to maintain high-quality services
during the period. MLGTS does
terms of what they want from their
to our clients, but competition is
not publicly disclose its revenue
legal advisers]. According to legal
great,” he says. “We also want
figures because the “tradition in
directories, MLGTS’ clients include
to consolidate our international
the Portuguese legal market is not
big names such as Galp Energia, EDP
practice and try to keep the same
to do it”, says Galvão Teles. He
- Energias de Portugal, Caixa - Banco
quality.” With regard to the firm’s
continues: “We would be prepared
de Investimento and Sonae Group.
international ambitions, Galvão
to disclose our revenue if everyone
Galvão Teles says that, as a result,
Teles says that MLGTS has a “good
else did but it’s never been done
MLGTS is a firm that can never relax
relationship with the main law
in the Portuguese market; we
or lose focus. “There is no danger
firms in Europe and the US”.
do it internally though, we are
To an extent, MLGTS, like
many Portuguese firms, is heavily
reliant on its international practice
MLGTS: Legal adviser to football superstars
for growth. “The domestic
MLGTS has a reputation for providing legal advice to some of the biggest football
[Portuguese] market is not
stars in the world, including Real Madrid and Portugal forward Cristiano Ronaldo
growing much, but in Africa and
and Manchester United Manager Jose Mourinho. Recent sport-related matters
Macao, where we are a market
handled by the firm include:
leader through our network of
November 2016: Advised Cristiano Ronaldo on the renewal of his Real Madrid
local firms – called MLGTS Legal
contract, which will keep him at the club until 2021. In addition to winning
Circle – business is going very
league titles in England and Spain, Ronaldo has won the Champions League with
Manchester United and Real Madrid, while individual honours have included
well,” Galvão Teles says. In Macao
winning the Ballon d’Or and being named FIFA World Player of the Year. In 2016,
– an autonomous region on the
he was part of the Portuguese team that won the European Championships. The
south coast of China – MLGTS
MLGTS team advising Ronaldo was led by partner Carlos Osório de Castro.
has an alliance with the law firm
August 2016: Advised footballer André Gomes on his transfer from Valencia CF
MdME. “In Macao, things are
to FC Barcelona. Portugal midfielder Gomes joined FC Barcelona for a fee of €35
going very well for MdME. It
million. The MLGTS team advising on the transfer included partner Carlos Osório de
started with a young team – in
Castro and managing associate Paulo Rendeiro, who coordinates the firm’s sports
law team. Gomes was part of the Portugal team that triumphed at Euro 2016.
their 30s and 40s – and they are
performing exceptionally well,
June 2016: Advised football manager José Mourinho on the signing of his contract
better than expectations,” Galvão
with Manchester United. The MLGTS team included partner Carlos Osório de
Teles comments. “The office has
Castro and the firm’s sports law team coordinator Paulo Rendeiro. Mourinho was
appointed manager of Manchester United on a three-year contract with an option
very good clients – it’s strong
to stay at the club until at least 2020.
in the financial sector, M&A,
construction and real estate.”
May 2016: Advised football agents Gestifute in relation to the transfer of midfielder
MLGTS is widely seen as the
leading firm in Portugal with
the most esteemed clients, but
the firm says it won’t become
complacent because acting for
the biggest companies means
it is under huge pressure to
perform
Renato Sanches from Benfica to Bayern Munich. The 18-year-old signed a five-year
contract with Bayern that will keep him at the club until 30 June 2021. The basic fee
for the player was €35 million, but potential bonus payments mean that the transfer
could be worth up to €80 million. The MLGTS team advising on the transfer was led
by senior lawyer Paulo Rendeiro.
18 • IBERIAN LAWYER • November / December 2016
”
New Asian offices?
Buoyed by the success of its
Macao office, Galvão Teles – who
has been the firm’s managing
www.iberianlawyer.com