MFA Legal strengthens team with 5 new members

MFA Legal has announced the expansion of its team with the addition of five new members, bringing the firm’s total number of lawyers to 15.

Miguel Coutinho joins as senior counsel and head of compliance and internal investigations, after 20 years at Cuatrecasas Portugal, where he coordinated the Economic Criminal Law and Regulatory Offenses department. He holds a law degree from the Catholic University of Portugal, with specializations in Economic and European Criminal Law and Trial Advocacy (Colorado, USA).

António Mendes joins as senior consultant in the Private Clients and Wealth Management department, bringing extensive experience in advising high-net-worth individuals on tax and succession planning. A qualified Trust and Estate Practitioner (TEP), he previously worked at Garrigues Portugal and Kore Partners. He holds a law degree from Lusíada University of Lisbon and additional qualifications in EU and tax law.

Catarina Correia joins as a senior associate to strengthen the tax litigation team. Previously at SRS, she is an arbitrator judge at CAAD Portugal for tax matters and a senior researcher at Nova Tax Research Lab. She holds a law degree and master's in tax law from the University of Lisbon, as well as a postgraduate degree in tax management from INDEG – ISCTE and an advanced professional certificate in international taxation from IBFD (Netherlands).

Madalena Parca, moving from Vieira de Almeida, joins the Criminal Law and Compliance team. Specializing in criminal law and administrative offenses, she has worked on high-profile cases such as the “BES Case” and the “Rui Pinto Case.” She holds a law degree from the Catholic University of Portugal and is pursuing a master’s in forensic law at the same institution.

Gonçalo Caldas joins as a trainee, holding a law degree from Lusíada University of Lisbon. He previously worked as an assistant to Paulo Simão Caldas, a solo practicing lawyer.

Samuel Fernandes de Almeida, managing partner of MFA Legal and coordinator of the tax law area stated that “It is a great satisfaction to have such recognized professionals in our team, which is a testament to the strength and appeal of our project, aligned with our foundational commitment to attracting the best talent.” He adds, “It is also significant that we have more than doubled our headcount in less than a year, increasing our capacity and positioning as a boutique firm with deep expertise in its areas of practice.”

João Medeiros, senior partner and founder of MFA Legal and head of the firm’s criminal, administrative offenses, and compliance practices, highlighted that: “We are experiencing a moment of growth and expansion in MFA Legal. In this sense, we felt the need to strengthen our capabilities and responsiveness to ensure the high standards that characterize us.”