Macao SAR

DSL Lawyers is an independent Macanese firm that was established in 2007 by four partners. The firm is the exclusive Macau member of the World Services Group, a global network of professional business services providers, and a member of the Portuguese-speaking countries partnership lead by PLMJ.

Focusses / specialisms

The firm is traditionally known for its strength in banking and finance with extensive knowledge of practice areas including mergers & acquisitions, stock listings and IPOs, regulatory advice and general legal assistance to new Macau businesses or restructuring, property and conveyance, and complex civil and commercial litigation cases. It is also a popular choice for international and regional law firms seeking Macanese counsel such as Baker McKenzie, Linklaters, Mayer Brown, Allen & Gledhill and Deacons.

Key clients

Key clients of the firm include Shun Tak Holdings, China Citic Bank International and MGM China Holdings.

Research period review: 33rd edition (2022/2023)

During the research period, the firm was active advising on capital markets, banking and finance, and financial regulatory transactions.

The firm’s finance team kept busy with financing and regulatory-related works advising local and overseas commercial banks, international financial organisations, insurance companies and investment banking firms. Active industry sectors including gaming, construction and infrastructure, and TMT.

José Lupi is a full-service law firm in Macau SAR with a unique international approach that offers a different perspective to commercial thinking and client experience, and an international team of multi-qualified lawyers focused in Greater China and its Greater Bay Area, Belt and Road Initiative, and the Portuguese, Spanish and French speaking countries in Africa, Iberia and Latin America.

The firm consists of lawyers fluent in eight languages and qualified to practice in Macau, Mainland China, Brazil and Portugal. In 2022, KWM Hengqin has been established by King & Wood Mallesons and José Lupi Escritório de Advogado, Pedro Leal Advogado e Notário Privado. It is licensed to practice both PRC Law and Macau Law and is in the Guangdong-Macau In-depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin.

Highlights

The firm represent clients across all Macau economic sectors and focus on debt and equity capital markets, wealth management, private equity and funds, corporate and mergers & acquisitions, banking and finance, arbitration, dispute resolution and litigation, real estate, tax and betting and gaming.

Testimonials

“José Lupi law firm is associated with the Chinese giants KWM, being able to provide legal assistance throughout Asia. They are very responsive and very professional.” (M&A client)

“Knowledge of the market, laws and regulation.” (M&A client)

José Lupi

“José Lupi is extremely business oriented and a very trustworthy lawyer. With great technical skills, he is also a great advisor.”

“Attention with the client, work material.”

Rato Ling Lei & Cortés | Lektou is a Macau-based law firm with roots dating to the 1980s under the legacy of Gonçalves Pereira & Rato. The firm has offices in mainland China (Hengqin, Shenzhen) in partnership with Chinese firm Zhong Yin Law Firm and Fongs Law Firm of Hong Kong, and Portugal. The firm has also joined the global network the Miranda Alliance, which has offices in all Portuguese-speaking jurisdictions.

Highlights

The firm has a strong reputation in the equity capital markets, particularly with Hong Kong listings, and is also active in regulatory and gaming matters. Active practice areas include financial and corporate, gaming, M&A, capital markets, dispute resolution, real estate, IT, insurance and regulatory.

In the past year, the firm has been active in banking and finance and capital markets, often advising regulators and issuers in relation to bond note issuance, green bond and regulatory developments. Recent highlight of transactions including advised Wynn Macau Limited Issuance of $600 million convertible bonds due in 2029 and assisted Micro Connect (Macao) Financial Assets Exchange Co. Ltd. in applying for the Financial License Application with the Macau Monetary Authority.

Key clients

Key clients of the firm include CEM – Companhia de Electricidade de Macau, S.A., Companhia do Aeroporto de Macau, S.A., Wynn Resort Macau, and Macau Monetary Authority.

Manuela António - Lawyers and Notaries is a firm of lawyers and notaries based in Macau SAR. The practice was founded in 1986 by long-time resident Manuela António and has since grown to be among one of the leading firms in the market. The firm has a joint venture with Portuguese law firm SRS Advogados and is currently in a joint venture with Jingsh Law Firm to set up a law firm in Hengqin.

Highlights

The firm is particularly strong in finance and active in the gaming and financial services sectors. The firm regularly advises companies and individuals based in the People’s Republic of China, Hong Kong, the US, the UK, Australia, Japan, South Korea and Singapore, among many others.

 Tiago Assunção and Daniel da Silva e Melo were promoted to partner in 2024.

Key clients

Key clients of the firm include Bank of China, HSBC, Citibank, Hang Seng Bank, China Construction Bank.

MdME is a full-service law firm based in Macau and with offices in Hong Kong and Lisbon. Established in 2006, the firm is capable of assisting clients in the context of both their inbound and outbound investments. It is also an exclusive Macau member of Lex Mundi, the world’s leading network of independent law firms.  In 2023, the firm has merged with DSL Lawyers, an independent Macanese firm that was established in 2007. The firm is the exclusive Macau member of the World Services Group (WSG), a global network of professional business services providers and a member of the Portuguese speaking countries partnership lead by PLMJ.

Highlights

The firm is among the few firms in the market that functions as a genuine legal partnership with specialized practices. It has transactional strength in M&A and has more recently developed its offering in the debt capital markets and asset finance. The firm is also very active in the banking, construction, financial services, gaming, insurance, retail and transport sectors. 

The firm has acquired further capacity in banking and finance with extensive knowledge across different practice areas with the combined strength of DSL lawyers, resulted in the increases of the headcount to 12 partners and more than 40 legal professionals including the arrivals of partner Carlos Duque Simões, David Lopes, Julia Herold, and Rita Martins.

Testimonials

“MdME has a strong pool of talents who are familiar with the life insurance industry and the regulatory environments, providing professional advice along the way.” (Financial services regulatory client)

Carlos Coelho

“Carlos is committed to providing the best legal support to us.  He is resourceful and is most familiar with rules and regulations and legislations that affect the insurance industry.  He takes the initiative to advise us of developments in the legislative arena that may have an impact on our industry and our company.  He works closely with professional associations in our industry.”

Riquito Advogados is an independent Macanese law firm with offices in Macau and Portugal. The firm has a good relationship with Herbert Smith Freehills and has an association with Portuguese law firm AAA Advogados.

Highlights

The firm is strong in corporate and contract law, M&A, re-financing, real estate, foreign investment and aviation, and has recently been developing its intellectual property and gaming practice. It is also well known for assisting in large and complex transactions and projects involving the leading conglomerates with interests in Macau SAR and in Portugal, being retained daily in major cross-border operations.

In the past year, the firm continued to be active assists clients with interests in major transportation, hospitality and real estate projects, often being retained in transactions and projects with the Macau and Portuguese Governments.

Key Clients

Key clients of the firm include Sociedade de Turismo e Diversões de Macau, MGM Grand Paradise, LNW Gaming Asia, and Vermilion Group.

C&C Lawyers Ltd is one of the leading law firms in Macau Special Administrative Region. Established in 1996, C&C was formed by two founding partners Rui José da Cunha and António Correia, together with Nuno Sardinha da Mata and Carlos Duque Simões. Apart from the firm’s headquarters in Macau, it has offices in association with law firms in Portugal, Timor-Leste, Cabo Verde and China. The firm has also been in cooperation with Dentons Zhuhai since 2021.

Focusses / specialisms

The firm has extensive expertise in corporate and commercial, banking and finance, bankruptcy and restructuring areas. The firm regularly provides legal advice to banks and financial institutions, covering all kinds of operations, products and financial instruments including project finance, structured products, guarantees and letters of credit, derivatives, mortgages, setting up and commercialisation of investment funds, consumer credit and classic financing.

Research period review: 33rd edition (2022/2023)

The firm kept busy in banking and finance, corporate, and restructuring and insolvency practices. Active industry sectors include real estate, gaming, energy, healthcare, TMT, insurance and transportation.

The firm’s banking team consistently provides legal services in the regulatory compliance area, also in banking, real estate and trade financing.

In capital markets, the firm have broad experience in advising on IPOs and fundraising in in foreign stock exchanges, such as Hong Kong and Singapore. Apart from that, the team also provides legal advice on derivative transactions such as ISDA and GMRA involving Macau entities.

The firm’s corporate work includes assistance on incorporations, joint ventures, corporate restructurings, stock exchange transactions, bankruptcies and insolvencies.

Established in 2005, Nuno Simões & Associados is a Macau based law firm. It is a part of the CRA Global network of law firms located in Portuguese speaking jurisdictions.

Focusses / specialisms

In terms of banking and finance the firm advises local and international clients in financing transactions like facility loans, credit facilities and restructuring.

M&A work sees the firm advise buyers in cross border transactions.

Key clients

Notable clients for the firm include, KKR, Credit Suisse Singapore and Armstrong Teasdale.

Client feedback: 31st edition (2020/2021)

M&A

"Exceptionally knowledgeable in the area of the Macau M&A procedures. Very attentive and prompt in replying to conversations and questions."