Macau law firm MdME Lawyers has opened an independent office in the Portuguese capital of Lisbon, its first outside China. The office is led by partner José Leitão.

Established in 2006, the 10-partner MdME opened a Hong Kong office in 2018, and had previously been operating in Portugal in association with local firm Morais Leitão, Galvão Teles, Soares da Silva & Associados in Lisbon.

In an interview with Macau-based Portuguese-language newspaper Hoja Macau, Leitão said the office would take advantage of Macau’s deep historical ties with Portugal, and advisee on finance, investment funds, technology, construction, environment and renewable energies investments.

Key to the office’s success is strengthening business ties between Portugal and China, with Leitão citing the recently inaugurated Sino-Portuguese International Cooperation Centre for Investment and Trade (CCIICSP).

“We believe that the commercial relationship between Portugal and China is strategic for both countries,” Leitãotold the newspaper.  “Basically, we are the bridge between these two cultures... Our client profile is one that already has some investments in the Portuguese market or wants to make investments with some volume and needs greater support in the area of Portuguese law and strategic advice. Market entry with language, cultural and legal barriers can be a difficult process.”