Paxlegal welcomes three new partners and expands into new practice areas

Paxlegal has just announced the expansion of its practice into new strategic areas with the addition of four lawyers: Nuno da Silva Vieira, Rui Ferreira Antunes, Ana Peixoto, and Isa Meireles.

Nuno da Silva Vieira, Rui Ferreira Antunes, and Ana Peixoto join the firm as equity partners. Nuno da Silva Vieira will also share the firm’s management with Bárbara Pestana, taking on the role of Co-Managing Partner, while Founding Partner, António Patrício, assumes the role of Senior Partner. Isa Meireles, a lawyer and university lecturer, joins Paxlegal as a Senior Associate. All four will be based in Braga.

In addition to his management responsibilities, Nuno da Silva Vieira will oversee the Digital Economy and Strategic Litigation practices. “This is a new chapter in my professional life, one I intend to embrace with great determination and a strong sense of responsibility,” he says. Nuno da Silva Vieira explains that “flexibility, team spirit, and the ambition to do things differently were the qualities that drew me to this project from the very first moment.” He adds: “This move stems from a desire to carry everything I have learned into the future while building something closer to the vision of legal practice I have held for many years — one that understands what clients will need long before they know it themselves.” Finally, Paxlegal’s Co-Managing Partner says: “I am certain I have made the right choice, and I truly believe that, together, we will be able to help change the way the Portuguese legal profession presents itself to the market.”

Ana Peixoto, Partner, will lead the Banking, Finance and Capital Markets and AI and Emerging Technologies practices, with shared responsibility for Litigation matters. “Joining Paxlegal as a partner means making a commitment to the future of this firm, not just to the areas I will lead,” she says. Ana Peixoto emphasizes that “the financial sector and artificial intelligence are converging at an unprecedented pace, and clients need advisers who are fluent in both languages — regulation and technology.” She adds: “At Paxlegal, I found the openness and technical rigor needed to build teams capable of supporting banks, funds, fintechs, and technology companies at the most critical moments in their business.”

Rui Ferreira Antunes, Partner, will head the Criminal Law, Administrative Offenses and Compliance departments. “This is a decision grounded in conviction: I believe in the project, the people, and Paxlegal’s approach to legal practice,” he says. Rui Ferreira Antunes notes that “preventing and managing criminal and regulatory risk is now a strategic priority for any organization.” He concludes: “As a partner, I want to help make Paxlegal a leading firm in these areas by combining technical rigor, discretion, and exceptionally close client relationships.”

Isa Meireles will join the Consumer Law, Advertising and Arbitration; Civil Litigation; Employment Law; and Civil Liability, Accidents and Compensation practice groups.

According to António Patrício and Bárbara Pestana, Paxlegal’s Founding Partners: “We see these additions as a highly significant step in Paxlegal’s growth and in establishing it as a legal practice with its own identity, built on quality, close relationships, and exacting professional standards.” They add: “The arrival of Nuno, Rui, and Ana as partners, and Isa as a Senior Associate, confirms the strength of the path we have taken and marks the beginning of a new chapter for Paxlegal, grounded in the same longstanding values and culture, but strengthened by a firm commitment to innovation and technology.” António Patrício and Bárbara Pestana state: “When we founded Paxlegal five years ago, we knew we wanted to grow thoughtfully, without losing the human scale, technical rigor, and close relationships that have always defined us. These additions reflect precisely that approach to growth: bringing in talent, experience, and practice areas that add depth to the firm without diluting its identity.” In closing, Paxlegal’s Founding Partners emphasize: “We thank Nuno, Rui, Ana, and Isa for the trust they have placed in this project. We are certain that our shared vision and ambition will allow us to continue building a firm where people truly feel at ease and where clients recognize a genuinely distinctive way of practicing and working.”

With these additions, Paxlegal is adopting a new management model. The firm will have one Senior Partner, António Patrício, and two Managing Partners, Bárbara Pestana and Nuno da Silva Vieira. The legal team currently consists of six partners, one Of Counsel, four Senior Associates, four Associates, and two Consultants. The support team comprises five professionals.