In the year in which PLMJ celebrates its 50th anniversary, we are very proud to inform you that the firm as once again been shortlisted for The Lawyer European Awards 2017, in two categories. PLMJ is shortlisted for Law Firm of the Year: Iberia and European banking and finance deal of the year, for advising on the sale of Barclays' Portuguese operations to the Spanish bank, Bankinter. The PLMJ team, led by partner Hugo Rosa Ferreira, was responsible for structuring and implementing the legal solution for this operation in Portugal.

This recognition by The Lawyer is the fruit not only of the work done by PLMJ's lawyers in 2016 in advising on the main operations and projects taking place in Portugal, but also of their work on cross-border operations. These cross-border operations involved Angola, Mozambique, China and Switzerland, among others, and legal areas including M&A, private equity, arbitration, real estate and construction, and banking and finance. PLMJ's appearance on the two shortlists is also a reflection of the steps it has taken to significantly strengthen its principal teams. These steps include the lateral hiring of Diogo Perestrelo and his team (PLMJ M&A), Bruno Ferreira (PLMJ Banking and Finance), and João Velez de Lima and Francisco Castro Guedes (PLMJ Tax).

For PLMJ managing partner, Luís Pais Antunes, "PLMJ's nominations for "Law firm of the year: Iberia" and "European banking and finance deal of the year" in The Lawyer European Awards 2017 strengthens our position among the most recognised law firms on the European level. This international recognition has a special meaning for us, because it has come in the year when we celebrate our 50th anniversary. It is a great incentive for us to be even more ambitious in the excellence, rigour and innovation of the services we provide to our clients."

PLMJ has already been recognised twice by The Lawyer European Awards, having been named "Law Firm of the Year: Iberia" in 2015 and 2012. In addition, at the awards ceremony in 2011, PLMJ founding partner, Luís Sáragga Leal, was named best managing partner in Europe.

Being shortlisted for these awards is a result of the trust you, our clients and partners, place in us, and we will continue to do everything we can to maintain and improve the high standards we apply to all the work we do for you.

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