Macau law firm LS Lawyers has entered into a one-year cooperation agreement with Lisbon-headquartered litigation boutique Melo Alves, which will provide the Macau outfit with training in various legal fields in Portugal.

The agreement was formalised by Jorge Cheng, partner at Melo Alves and head of its Asian desk, and LS partners Liu Xiaocui and Song Xiaoyong.

Under the terms of the agreement, the two firms will engage in mutual legal support, facilitate the exchange of legal insights and documentation, and foster commercial collaborations between lawyers in Portugal and Macau, Melo Alves said in a statement.

“The aim of signing this agreement is to strengthen the partnership, further improve services and client experience, and provide high quality, comprehensive and convenient professional services to clients in Macau and Portugal in need of legal services,” according to Melo Alves’ statement.

Melo Alves has 15 partners, including five. Its practices focus on criminal and regulatory litigation, compliance, and internal investigations. The firm’s Asian desk advises Portuguese clients on their investments in China and the rest of Asia, and provides Asian clients with legal services in Portugal and Angola in areas including immigration, real estate, joint ventures, employment, and litigation and investigation.

LS Lawyers, a five-lawyer firm, provides legal services across various practice areas, including civil, commercial, criminal, administrative, and intellectual property law.