Sandra Jardim Fernandes

Valadas Coriel & Associados was established in 2001. Today it is seen as a lean versatile full-service firm. The firm has a very energetic team of partners and associates who combine experience, expertise and innovation in all sorts of litigation and dispute resolution, labour, real estate, corporate for SME and tax.

VCA also has a very strong practise focused on private clients and the art world. The firm assists countless individuals in investing or relocating to Portugal.

VCA works in litigation matters for the largest Portuguese listed company on a permanent basis, side by side with a practice group focused on SME and private clients. The firm is able to effectively respond to clients across the spectrum of legal issues.

The dynamic, yet informal, work environment of VCA has attracted several skilful lawyers from major law firms and the ‘big four’ audit firms. Alliances and ‘best friends’ agreements, allowed VCA to gather resources and expertise both in Portugal and in many other European, Middle-East, African North and South American and Asian jurisdictions.

Due to its commitment and activism, VCA was voted as Member of the year 2018 by its peers at IR Global, a network of 900 plus firms across 155 jurisdictions.

VCA’s concept remains unaltered: firm lawyers are ‘combat lawyers’. For VCA - now with four partners and 20 lawyers - each case is a project, a battle to be fought and won through shrewdness, strategy, setting specific and measurable targets, performing a cost-benefit analysis bearing in mind time constraints and focusing on client’s interests.

Main Practice Areas:

Tax:

VCA offers domestic and international taxation services both for companies and to private clients such as high net worth individuals and family estate structures; tax compliance, tax arbitration and tax litigation are also at the core of the services provided. Paulino Brilhante Santos, of counsel to VCA, is a reputed tax arbitrator.

Commercial Law and Litigation:

VCA has a full company and corporate law practice – focused on SMEs and family offices – assisting with the incorporation of companies in Portugal as in other jurisdictions. The firm has assisted in the negotiation and drafting of shareholders’ agreements, franchise agreements, rental agreements, SPAs and respective due diligence, financial contracts, service agreements, among others.

Immigration:

VCA is specialised in immigration by investment, guiding suitable candidates through all the steps from the administrative requirements to the required investment. Also assisting immigrants who seek tax incentives, tech investors and students. VCA also deals with special citizenship programs such as the ones aimed at Sephardic Jews of Portuguese descent and to alien grandsons of Portuguese citizens.

Dispute Resolution:

VCA focuses in civil, commercial and consumer litigation, credit recovery, maritime litigation – including seizure of ships and injunctions for payment of related debts of ship owners/execution of ship mortgages. VCA manages thousands of lawsuits on behalf of the largest Portuguese listed company.

Real Estate:

The practice covers all stages of the real estate cycle, from land development, construction, promotion and marketing, covering all aspects of planning, construction and architectural law. The firm has been involved in residential property, urban renovation with tax incentives, tourism and hotel development, tenancy agreements and all related disputes.

Private Clients:

VCA has a very active practice team advising foreign investors. VCA also assist relocation to Portugal of pensioners, investors and skilled professionals through the NHR (non-habitual resident) tax regime.

Labour:

The labour law practice group is responsible for advising on labour relations of several companies, including litigation and also assist international companies on issues related to its workers in Portugal.

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Is the Head of Immigration Department. She has specialized in Immigration and Foreign Investment focused on the real estate and tourism sectors.

Sandra has vast experience in: Real Estate Law – particularly in the areas of civil construction, financing operations and real estate investment, real estate use and management and tourism investment operations, involving complex negotiations; and Corporate Law – acquisitions, mergers, divisions and corporate transformation, contracts, consortia and partnerships.

Her personality combines decision making, focus and results orientation with great interpersonal skills, good communication and multicultural understanding.

Practice Areas

Immigration and Foreign Investment, Real Estate and Corporate Law, One-stop-shop notary acts and Hotel administration.

Education

Degree in Law (Faculty of Law of Universidade Católica Portuguesa, 1990), Post Graduation in European Legal Studies (Faculty of Law of Universidade Católica Portuguesa, 1991), PAGE  – Advanced Management Program for Executives (Universidade Católica Portuguesa 2003).

Professional Associations

Portuguese Bar Association, Investment Migration Council (IMC) and Global Law Experts.

Languages

Portuguese, English, French and Spanish.

 

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