Fieldfisher lands in Portugal with hire of 68-strong team

Fieldfisher has planted its flag in Portugal with a major two-office launch, bringing on board a 68-strong team in Lisbon and Porto.

The new offices sees Fieldfisher absorb the entire team from Portuguese firm André Miranda Associados (AMA), including two partners, four directors and 45 lawyers.

It’s one of the largest European market entries by a UK firm this year, standing alongside Addleshaw Goddard’s takeover of an 80-lawyer Warsaw base from Linklaters back in February.

European ambitions

The Lisbon and Porto offices will be led by AMA’s co-founders and co-managing partners, André Miranda and João André Antunes. The team will cover a broad spread of services spanning corporate and M&A, disputes, real estate, tax, finance and private client work.

The firm says its expansion into Portugal will allow it to tap into the country’s thriving tech, finance and energy industries - three of Fieldfisher’s core sector focuses - and will cement its Iberian capabilities by working closely with its existing offices in Spain.

The expansion is the latest step in Fieldfisher’s stated ambition to become Europe’s leading law firm. The firm has been busy growing its continental footprint over the last 18 months - bringing its total up to 27 across 14 countries. In a high-profile Poland-focused move in May, it opened offices in Warsaw and Krakow with a 32-strong team, including five partners.

What they said

Robert Shooter, Fieldfisher’s managing partner, said "We are thrilled to welcome Fieldfisher Portugal to our international network. Portugal’s dynamic economy, commitment to innovation and openness to foreign investment make it a natural fit for our growth strategy."

He added: "The team joining Fieldfisher has a proven track record and their entrepreneurial mindset, cultural alignment with Fieldfisher, and ambition for growth, makes them an ideal fit for the firm’s international platform."