International law firm Bird & Bird expands into Portugal with new Lisbon office

International law firm Bird & Bird has announced the opening of its first office in Portugal, located in Lisbon. The new office will be led by partners Ana Rita Paínho and Sofia Carreiro, who join the firm from Sérvulo.

The Lisbon team will include one of counsel, two senior of counsel and three associates. The office will work closely with Bird & Bird’s Madrid office, consolidating the firm’s presence on the Iberian Peninsula and strengthening its ability to support clients in Portugal across key sectors.

Founded in 1846 and headquartered in London, Bird & Bird has more than 1,600 lawyers in 32 offices across Europe, the Middle East and Asia-Pacific. The firm advises clients in 118 countries and is recognised for its strong sector focus, particularly in technology, media and telecommunications, intellectual property, corporate and commercial law, litigation, employment and competition.

Sérvulo confirmed that both partners will leave the firm on 30 September. In a statement, the firm expressed its gratitude: “Sérvulo thanks them for their collaboration over the past years and wishes them every success in their new professional challenges.”

Ana Rita Paínho has over 20 years of experience and was a partner in the Life Sciences, Intellectual Property and TMT departments at Sérvulo. Her practice covers trademarks and patents, IT law (including software, e-commerce, data protection, marketing and advertising). She holds a postgraduate degree in Industrial Property Law, is CIPP/E-certified by the IAPP, and has extensive prior experience at Anselmo Vaz, Afra & Associados, Abreu, Cardigos & Associados and Veiga Gomes, Bessa Monteiro, Marques Bom & Associados. She also serves as Chair of the Fiscal Council of the Portuguese Group of AIPPI, Client Ombudsperson of the Portuguese Association of Travel Agents, and is a member of UNION and IAPP.

Sofia Carreiro was a partner in Sérvulo’s Corporate and Commercial department, with a focus on M&A. She holds postgraduate degrees in Commercial Contracts (Catholic University of Portugal) and Industrial Law (University of Lisbon), as well as an Advanced Management in Energy programme from AESE Business School. She began her career at Ferreira Pinto & Associados in 1999, becoming a partner in 2006.

With this expansion, Bird & Bird strengthens its presence in the Iberian market and enhances its capacity to provide legal services across Europe and internationally.