Portugal

Why trade or invest in Portugal

Over the past years, Portugal has proved to be a prime location to invest, do business and live.

The success of Portugal as an investment destination is based on the positive approach towards business development and attracting foreign investment.  There is no discrimination between domestic and foreign investors with respect to establishing business in the vast majority of economic sectors open to private investment.

Portugal is an open door to a market of 500 million people in Europe and more than 250 million-Portuguese speaking persons around the world.  Being on the edge of Europe also means that the ports of Lisbon, Sines and Setúbal are gateways to the other continents.  The Portuguese market has become also known for being open to technological innovation, it has been used by international companies as a test for new products.

Now it is much easier to do business in Portugal, and the European Union has recognized it as one of the countries with a reduced bureaucracy.  In Portugal it is possible to set up a company in less than one hour, and according to the 2010 Global Benchmark Report, Portugal is the 7th country in de OECD with the lowest level of costs and taxes.

Some particularities of the Portugese legal system you should know

Agentes de Execução.  In Portugal the execution proceedings can occur on a civil as well as on a commercial level.  The bailiffs, known in Portugal as  “Agentes de Execução” do not have the same powers as  in other countries, as for example Belgium.  Besides the executive powers deriving from the Portuguese legislation, bailiffs can also publish and notify.

It is important to mention that in Portugal the practice of  “summons” do not exist.  It is the competent court that will inform the person that a procedure is in progress.  If the court is unable to enter into contact with the person, the bailiff will intervene.  All execution proceedings are sent to the courts, it is the competent court who gives the documents to the bailiffs and gives him the permission to exercise his duty.

For some services the bailiffs need to request the judge for a supplementary agreement, for example, for some searches and seizure of bank accounts.  The bailiff is the person who performs the procedure, but he always depends on the competent court.

Whom we work for

A-Law Portuguese desk has been providing legal support to clients in different areas, such as real estate issues, corporate and civil (family) law, traffic law, migration law, liability law and debts recovery (bankruptcy, administrative fines).

Furthermore A-Law expert lawyers have been providing legal support to Portuguese firms establishing or acquiring (M&A) companies in Europe, Latin America and Africa.

An in-depth approach of the different legal aspects of cross border cooperation and trade, commercial agency, distribution and franchising of a wide variety of products ranging from nutritional supplements and pharmaceuticals to high tech, design interior and fashion objects exported from or imported into Portugal, have been assessed through A-Law dedicated team.