Born in Porto (1974), trained as a solicitor, and enrolled in the Chamber of Solicitors (Câmara dos Solicitadores) since 2003 (professional ID card 4273).
Practice Areas: Notary public and registries, including preparation of deeds and various other documents; representation before tax authorities, property registry offices, commercial registry offices, civil registries and vehicle registries; preparation of deeds of distribution; authentication of documents, notarization of signatures
Other relevant experience: Responsible for registry and notary public services for a number of real estate companies.
The Criminal Code passed by Decree Law no. 400/82 of 23 September has undergone its 29th amendment, introducing changes involving the description and classification of the new crime of making false statements before public entities. This amendment is found in Law no. 19/2013 of 21 February, and will enter into force on 23 March 2013. This same law also amends Law no. 112/2009 of 16 September, which establishes the legal scheme applicable to the prevention of domestic violence, and protecting and assisting its victims.
The Code of Criminal Procedure passed by Decree Law no. 78/87 of 17 February has also undergone a new amendment, in this case its 20th, which will enter into force on 23 March 2013. The amendments introduced are aimed at streamlining and expediting procedures, particularly involving the use and appraisal of statements made by defendants prior to the judgement phase, notices made in inquiries on unknown persons, the appeals scheme at the Supreme Court of Justice (reserved for more serious cases), and the submission of defendants caught in the act for immediate judgement. [05-03-2013]
VC Associados partner presents new legal scheme for athletic companiesVC Associados partner Nuno Coutinho Mateus was invited to present the new legal scheme for athletic companies to the General Meeting of Shareholders of the Tondela Athletic Club, which is currently fighting to advance to the “Primeira Liga”, Portugal’s top professional division. Nuno Coutinho Mateus’ presentation, highlighting the scheme’s most important changes and some of the problems arising from its application at the start of the 2013/2014 season, is available at www.youtube.com/watch?v=OBiuERBt1KI. [05-03-2013]
«A Privacidade na Sociedade Aberta» [Privacy in an Open Society],Ideias Perigosas para Portugal, Tinta da China, 2010
Regime de Autorização para Implantação Comercial: Objectos e Sujeitos [Commercial Establishment Authorization System: Objects and Subjects],Maia Jurídica, 2006
Autorização Administrativa para Implantação Comercial – Enquadramento no Direito das Implantações Comerciais ou Urbanismo Comercial e Novo Regime Jurídico [Administrative Authorization for Commercial Establishment: Framework under Commercial Establishments Law or Commercial Urban Development and New Legal System],Almedina, 2005
New legal system for incorporated sports clubsDecree Law no. 10/2013 of 25 January has been published with the new legal system for incorporated sports clubs, applicable to clubs wishing to take part in professional sporting competitions. This new legal system enters into force on 01 July 2013. Participation in professional sporting competitions will now be dependent on the establishment of a sports company; sports entities of an association nature may choose between establishing a limited liability sports company (SAD) or a single-member private limited company (SDUQ, Lda). Under this new system, clubs may no longer maintain their status as a non-profit legal entity. According to the legislator, this change is justified by the need to eliminate the inequalities between SADs and clubs maintaining their prior status, with a view to putting “all participants in these competitions at the same level, with comparable duties and obligations”. [05-03-2013]
João Paulo PimentaBorn in Figueiró dos Vinhos (1969), he received a degree in Law from the University of Coimbra in 1994 and has been a member of the Portuguese Bar Association since 1995.
Practice Areas: Civil, commercial, labour, administrative and tax litigation; commercial and corporate law; insolvency and corporate resctructuring law; real estate law; labour law; contract law; family and successions law.
Languages: French, English and Spanish.
Other relevant experience: Member of the Superior Council of the Portuguese Bar Association; member of the examinig board of the Training Center of the District Council of Coimbra of the Portuguese Bar Association.
Publications: Colaborates on a permanent basis, since 1996, with the magazine “A Padaria Portuguesa” published by the professional association ACIP.
António Vigário
Born in Vila Nova de Gaia (1969), he received a degree in law from the University of Coimbra in 1994, and has been a member of the Portuguese Bar Association (Ordem dos Advogados) since 1996.
Practice Areas: Civil, commercial and labour litigation; commercial and corporate law; insolvency and corporate restructuring law; real estate law; commercial licensing; labour law; contract law; privacy and personal data protection.
Languages: English.
Other relevant experience: General Chairman of the Coimbra Academic Association from 1992 to 1994. Managing Member of the Porto Legal Association from 2009 to 2012. Founding partner of Jorge Neto & Associados, Sociedade de Advogados RL in 2010.
Publications: Autorização Administrativa para Implantação Comercial – Enquadramento no Direito das Implantações Comerciais ou Urbanismo Comercial e Novo Regime Jurídico [Administrative Authorization for Commercial Establishment: Framework under Commercial Establishments Law or Commercial Urban Development and New Legal System], Almedina, 2005; Regime de Autorização para Implantação Comercial: Objectos e Sujeitos [Commercial Establishment Authorization System: Objects and Subjects], Maia Jurídica, 2006; «A Privacidade na Sociedade Aberta» [Privacy in an Open Society], Ideias Perigosas para Portugal, Tinta da China, 2010.
