Leading Portuguese law firm Morais Leitão, Galvão Teles, Soares da Silva & Associados and Timor-Leste's JLA, Advogados e Consultores have announced a strategic partnership aimed at bridging legal services between Portuguese-speaking markets and Southeast Asia.

The alliance expands Morais Leitão's presence in Asia, adding Timor-Leste to its network which already includes office an office in Singapore. For JLA, the partnership strengthens its connections to Portuguese-speaking markets and bolsters its internationalization efforts.

The collaboration is expected to facilitate investment flows between Portugal and Southeast Asia, offering cross-disciplinary legal solutions in sectors such as infrastructure, energy, mining, oil and gas, and the public sector.

“This partnership is a key element of our global strategy, extending our reach in Asia and responding to growing demand for multi-jurisdictional legal services,” said Martim Krupenski, managing partner of Morais Leitão, in a statement.

Added JLA's managing partner, Lukeno Ribeiro Alkatiri: "This alliance will allow us to offer enhanced legal solutions by combining our in-depth knowledge of the Timorese market with Morais Leitão's global experience."

The partnership comes as investor interest in both regions continues to grow, potentially benefiting clients with an efficient network of multidisciplinary legal advice in emerging markets.

Apart from Singapore, the 450-lawyer Morais Leitão has offices in Portugal, Angola, Mozambique, and Cape Verde. JLA, which has four lawyers, specializes in corporate law, energy and infrastructure, administrative law, tax, procedural law, and arbitration in Timor-Leste.