Porto · Established 1998
For more than twenty-five years we have advised companies, institutions and families across northern Portugal on their most consequential decisions. We counsel with prudence, litigate with resolve and guard, above all, the trust of our clients.
The Firm
Vieira & Costa was founded in 1998 by Helena Vieira and Miguel Costa on a simple conviction: sound legal counsel demands time, study and proximity. We have grown slowly, by choice — every lawyer in the firm knows our clients by name, and every opinion is reviewed by a partner.
We act primarily for family-owned businesses, industrial groups, real estate investors and private clients. We advertise neither results nor clients; our reputation has been built quietly, matter by matter, for over two decades.
“The finest litigation is the one a well-drafted contract prevents.”
Practice Areas
Select an area to view its detail.
Formation, governance and transfer of companies, with particular experience in family-owned businesses and mid-market M&A.
Lawyers
The full team numbers fourteen lawyers and three consultants. A partner personally directs every matter.
Founding Partner · Corporate & Commercial
A graduate of the University of Coimbra (1989), she began her career in Lisbon before returning to Porto. Counsel to several family businesses in the textile and agri-food sectors for over three decades.
Founding Partner · Litigation & Arbitration
A graduate of the Catholic University (Porto, 1991) and a listed arbitrator at the Commercial Arbitration Centre. He has led some of the most significant corporate disputes tried in northern Portugal.
Partner · Real Estate & Tax
Holder of a Master’s in Tax Law from the University of Porto. She joined the firm in 2004 and leads its real estate work and the tax structuring of foreign investment.
Partner · Employment & Private Clients
A graduate of the University of Minho with postgraduate studies in Employment Law. He advises boards on restructurings and has counselled families on succession matters since 2009.
Legal Notes
The proposed revision of SIFIDE alters the eligibility thresholds for R&D expenditure. We examine the practical impact for companies in the metalworking sector.
Read the full note →The transfer of family businesses fails more often through omission than through conflict. A brief note on the clauses we always recommend including.
Read the full note →The simplified regime has shortened average timelines but introduced stricter filing duties. What to verify before submitting an application.
Read the full note →Contact
All correspondence is handled in strict confidence. We will reply within one business day to arrange a first meeting, in person or by video conference.