Uría Menéndez Portugal appoints Antonio Villacampa and Marta Pontes as managing partners

The Board of Directors of Uría Menéndez has approved the reappointment of Antonio Villacampa and the appointment of Marta Pontes as managing partners of the firm’s Portugal office, positions they will assume on January 1, 2026. Bernardo Diniz de Ayala, who has shared the management with Villacampa for the last eight years, will continue to be associated with the firm as head of the Public Law and Projects area.

For the past eight years, Antonio Villacampa and Bernardo Diniz de Ayala have co-led the Lisbon office. Following this change, Diniz de Ayala will continue to oversee the Public Law and Projects practice.

The appointment of Marta Pontes as co-managing partner reflects Uría Menéndez’s commitment to internal talent development and generational transition. Her arrival to the leadership team comes at a significant moment for the firm: 2026 marks the 25th anniversary of Uría Menéndez becoming the first foreign firm to establish itself in Portugal.

With more than 100 legal professionals across its Lisbon and Porto offices, Uría Menéndez has built a strong position in the Portuguese legal market, advising national and international clients on strategic transactions and high-stakes matters in both the public and private sectors.

Antonio Villacampa is a partner in the M&A practice at the Lisbon office, where he has worked since 2002. He joined Uría Menéndez in 1995 and was appointed partner in 2005. Between 2001 and 2002, he spent time working at the New York office of Cravath, Swaine & Moore. His practice focuses on mergers and acquisitions, M&A, and finance law.

Marta Pontes joined Uría Menéndez in 2004. Her practice focuses on tax law, with extensive experience in mergers and acquisitions, real estate transactions, project finance, and financial products, as well as tax litigation.

Salvador Sánchez-Terán, managing partner of Uría Menéndez attested: “As an Iberian firm, Portugal is an essential part of our identity and our strategy. The renewal of leadership is an opportunity to continue consolidating our firm’s excellent track record in the country”.