PORTUGAL Law and Practice Contributed by: João Saúde, Miguel Santos Almeida, Alexandra Valpaços and Eduarda Peixoto, Sérvulo & Associados
Sérvulo & Associados is headquartered in Lisbon and connected internationally through the SÉRVU - LO LATITUDE network and dedicated foreign desks spanning Portuguese-speaking markets. The arbi - tration team pairs deep arbitration know-how with cross-practice strength in construction, energy, in - frastructure, public procurement, tax and sports law, and is engaged across the full life cycle of a dispute, from urgent relief and case strategy through to annul - ment, recognition and enforcement. The firm’s recent
track record reflects the breadth and complexity of its practice, with highlights including advising clients in high-value ICC arbitrations concerning industrial and energy-related damage claims, representing the Portuguese State in a major international arbitration involving a State supply contract, assisting in the enforcement of a multibillion-dollar arbitral award against a sovereign state, and acting in a significant cross-border dispute concerning a large-scale infra - structure project in Africa.
Authors
João Saúde is a leading partner in Sérvulo’s litigation and arbitration department. His career is marked by high-profile commercial arbitrations, particularly in banking, construction, international contracts, tourism and
Alexandra Valpaços is a partner in Sérvulo’s litigation and arbitration department, which she joined in 2015. She specialises in domestic and international arbitration, holding a postgraduate degree in arbitration
healthcare, alongside cross-border and sports law experience. He regularly advises international clients in complex multi-jurisdictional disputes, and co-ordinates foreign counsel for Portuguese clients with significant international exposure. João sits on the panel of Arbitrators of the Shenzhen Court of International Arbitration. He is recommended by the South China International Arbitration Center, and is listed as Arbitrator at the Mediation and Arbitration Centre of the Portuguese Chamber of Commerce in Brazil.
from the Faculty of Law of the Nova University of Lisbon. Besides her work as counsel, Alexandra also sits as arbitrator in both institutional and ad hoc proceedings. She is a member of the Lusophone Association for Arbitration and Mediation (Under40 Committee), the ICC Portugal Arbitration Committee, and the Young International Council for Commercial Arbitration, among others. She is included in the List of Arbitrators of the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre.
Eduarda Peixoto is a lawyer at Sérvulo, which she joined in 2024, currently collaborating with the litigation and arbitration department after gaining earlier experience in the employment and tax law
Miguel Santos Almeida has been a partner at Sérvulo & Associados since August 2023, working across the litigation and arbitration, corporate crime and sports law departments. His practice focuses particularly on
departments, reflecting an early-career trajectory with growing exposure to dispute resolution. Her developing expertise in arbitration is complemented by academic training in forensic law, having completed the Master’s Degree in Forensic Law at the Faculty of Law of the Catholic University (Lisbon School) in 2025.
criminal and civil litigation, handling criminal and administrative offence proceedings, alongside commercial disputes before both state and arbitral courts, with emphasis on international contracts, banking, construction and healthcare liability. Recognised as a promising young arbitrator in sports arbitration, he has served at the Portuguese Court of Arbitration for Sport since 2019 and is a member of the ICC National Arbitration Committee (Portugal).
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