Legal 500 is one of the world’s most respected independent legal directories, with rankings built on extensive research and direct client feedback. Being listed is not a formality — it reflects a sustained standard of work that clients and peers are willing to put their name to.

This year’s profile names João Valadas Coriel, Hugo Martins Braz and Vera Chalaça as Practice Heads, with Rita Cortes Maia and Alexandre Gil recognised as Other Key Lawyers. That breadth of recognition matters. It reflects what VCA has always believed: that exceptional legal work is never the product of one person, but of a team that thinks, challenges and delivers together.

For a firm of VCA’s size, this kind of recognition carries particular weight. It confirms that depth of expertise and quality of client care are not the preserve of large practices — and that a team built on trust, creativity and genuine commitment can hold its own in any company.