PLMJ finalizes Restructure Process
May, 2008 - Lisbon, Portugal
Following a two-year review process Portugal’s largest law firm, PLMJ, has finally agreed a new corporate and leadership structure that saw the creation of a new three-person Board of Directors, a streamlined practice structure, and an increased emphasis on institutional development.
The new Board is led by current Senior Partner and Founding Partner Luís Sáragga Leal, who remains Managing Partner, alongside Executive Director Francisco Oliveira Martins, another Founding Partner, and current Head of Energy and Natural Resources Manuel Santos Vítor, who is Deputy Managing Partner with specific responsibility for professional issues.
PLMJ has also streamlined its 45 partners and 140 associates into six practice groups (down from 18 previous Departments) – corporate, litigation, tax, labour, public law and EU and competition – as well as creating 15 multidisciplinary practice and industry teams. PLMJ also now has three geographically-focused desks (German, Irish and French), and operates international Joint ventures in Angola, Brasil and Macao, and is exploring regional alliances in Braga/Guimarães north of Porto and Açores and Madeira.
"The structure of the firm worked well but it came under increasing pressure as a result of our high rate of growth,” says Manuel Santos Vítor. "The original structure did not perhaps adequately assist the development of the firm’s collective interest as opposed to the interests of individual lawyers.”
