Member News - TAGLaw

Iberia Complete: Lisbon's Espanha e Asociados
Becomes TAGLaw's Newest EU Member

Thanks to its sea-faring prowess, the Portuguese empire reached its zenith in the 15th and 16th centuries, The devastating earthquake that destroyed Lisbon in 1755 led to a long period of decline.  A corner was turned in 1975 when a series of democratic reports was launched.  Two decades later the Republic became a member of what is now the European Union.

Since becoming a member of the EU, Portugal has significantly liberalized and diversified its economy.  It joined the ranks of Euro countires in 2002 and now as a GDP roughly 2/3 the average of the 25 member countries.  Increased competition from Central Europe and Asia is probably the greatest source of challenge for contemporary  Portugal.

Into this challenging environment steps TAGLaw’s newest European member firm, Espanha e asociados, a civil law partnership incorporated in November 2004, with a head office in central Lisbon. It is the result of a Corporate & Tax department spin-off from a law firm where João Espanha was the founding partner.  The firm provides counselling, assistance and legal representation services before all jurisdictions, presently composed of three partners and nine associates (lawyers and probationer lawyer). All of them maintain a very intense professional activity in Tax, Corporate, Financial and Labour law.