OFFICES
Avenida Duque d´ Ávila,
n.º 95, 4° Andar, Salas F e G,
1000-139 Lisboa,
Portugal
T. (351) 211507232
Email: ptdesk@lektou.com
People’s Republic of China (Hengqin, Guangdong)
ZLF LAW OFFICE (in joint-venture)
2/F Annex Building 19 Creative Valley
Hengqin District, Zhuhai Guangdong, China
Tel: +86 756 8868 308
Fax: +85 765 8868 180
Website: www.zlflawoffice.com
Email: info@zlflawoffice.com
Senior Partners:
Frederico Rato, Paula Ling, Lei Wun Kong, Pedro Cortés
Partner:
Number of Partners: 5
Number of Lawyers: 10
Number of Trainee-Lawyers: 4
Other Legal Staff: 6
Languages: Chinese (Cantonese and Mandarin), English, French, Italian, Portuguese and Spanish
FIRM OVERVIEW
Rato, Ling, Lei & Cortés – Advogados is a Law Office located in the Macau Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China with origin in the office of Gonçalves Pereira & Rato. Having begun operations in the 80’s, the office has evolved to its present configuration of four Senior Name Partners, Frederico Rato, Paula Ling, Lei WunKong and Pedro Cortés, two of them also Private Notaries, and one other Partner, Chang San Chi.
With more than 30 years of legal practice in Macau, the strong professional and academic profile, together with the long experience and full integration within the Region, is a guarantee of the quality of the services we offer to our Clients.
Additionally, the permanent update and specialization combined with the proven professional practice in the different areas of Law, allow us to offer a prompt, effective and efficient response to our Clients, from the intervention in negotiations, disputes and alternative dispute resolutions hearings to regular and continuous legal advice in the various aspects of law.
In 2016, we have partnered with Zhong Yin Law Firm of People’s Republic of China and Fongs of Hong Kong to open a new office in Hengqin Island, Zhuhai, PRC. It is the first law office of this nature, after the Pilot Measures for the Operation of Joint Law Firms formed by law firms of Hong Kong SAR, Macau SAR and Mainland China in the Province of Guangzhou were approved.
This permits the establishment of partnership-like joint law firms formed by law firms of the two Special Administrative Regions and Mainland in the three testing point
districts in Guangdong: Qianhai (Shenzhen), Nansha (Guangzhou) and Hengqin (Zhuhai).
The opening of the office is a response to the increasingly integrated economy in the Pearl River Delta region and to the national policy “One Belt, One Road”.
It represents also an important landmark in the integration strategy of the firm with the Mainland and Hong Kong. The ZLF Law Office unites synergies of the vast network comprised by the three offices, with close to 2000 lawyers in almost 30 locations. The firm with registered office in Hengqin Island aims to serve both regional and international Clients, being its strategy focused in the Community of Portuguese Speaking Countries, European Union and the United States of America.
In 2017, Lektou opened an office in the portuguese capital, Lisbon, with experienced Macau lawyers to provide cross-border services.
The expansion to Portugal is part of Lektou’s internationalization strategy to better serve its clients and to position as a legal player in the platform between the PRC and Portuguese-speaking countries.
MAIN AREAS OF PRACTICE
As a general business law firm, all partners are involved in the areas of practice.
Commercial, Corporate and M&A
The firm provides a wide range of services related to corporate and commercial law, that includes consultancy for companies, partnerships and joint-ventures, as well as in the acquisition and sale of companies, conducting legal due diligence, advising on transactions scope and structure and preparing all necessary documents.
Banking and Insurance
In the field of banking and finance, the firm has experience in advising and assisting banks and other financial institutions, insurance companies, as well as in transactions involving Macau SAR banks, branches of overseas banks and financial companies. It also provides legal assistance to its insurance business’s Clients.
Real Estate and Construction Law
We have experience in advising local and international construction companies and investors on its projects and developments in Macau, including in the contractual negotiation, drafting of construction contracts, as well as in the acquisition and lease of industrial and residential properties in Macau and petitioning lands for concession.
Litigation and Arbitration
Our lawyers advise and represent Clients in court cases in Macau and arbitration proceedings (both in Macau and PRC).
Administrative and Gaming
The firm regularly advises its Clients on their legal issues and represents them in public tenders and administrative proceedings, and on the gaming side advises local and international gaming companies on its Macau operations.
Labour
Advice on the Macau labour law is also given to the Clients, including on the pre-contractual issues, as well as on the drafting of contracts and in proceedings held on the Macau Courts.
Tax
The firm provides advice on the Macau tax legal frame for the entire range of commercial transactions.
Intellectual Property
We have a team of lawyers experienced in advising on all IP aspects.
BANKING, FINANCE AND CAPITAL MARKETS PRACTICE
Our firm has been advising different local, regional and international Clients in the banking, finance and capital markets areas of practice.
As a matter of fact, we have been involved in financing transactions and projects, syndicated loans, as well as assisting our Clients in their day-to-day operations and regulatory aspects.
We are specialized in consulting and giving legal support to banks, and other financial institutions, by providing legal advice in transactions involving banks, bank branches and other financial institutions in Macau and overseas, including public offers of sale and takeover bids, syndicated loans, loans with fixed maturity and trade finance operations.
We have also been involved in numerous projects of successful Initial Public Offerings in Hong Kong, Singapore, New York, London and Kuala Lumpur. In Hong Kong, we’ve acted as legal advisers for Macau law for either the listing applicant or the sponsor, with listings occurring in both the Growth Enterprise Market and the Main Board of the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited.
REFERENCES
Recognitions as Leading Law Firm in Macau:
China Law & Practice – Macau Law Firm of the Year 2016
(please click here for further information)
International Financial Law Review (IFLR 1000) 2017 Edition – Tier 1 Banking & Finance Chambers and Partners 2017 – Leading Law Firm
Recognitions made by our Clients and significant work:
What the team is known for Long-established team handling a mix of cross-border and domestic transactions, and also involved in notable arbitration and litigation matters. Represents a varied range of clients, from gaming companies to real estate developers and banks.
Strengths Clients highlight the firm’s expertise advising foreign investors: “They are a sophisticated law firm with a lot to offer to clients who are unfamiliar with Macau.”
The firm’s quick turnaround times are also noted: “They met every deadline and never exceeded the scope of the work we asked them to do.”
Work highlights
- Advised Anbang on due diligence forits proposedEUR4.5 billion acquisition of Novo Banco (formerly Banco Espírito Santo).
- Acted as local counsel to Chinney Kin Wing Holdings in its HKD540 million listing on the main board of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.
Notable practitioners
Pedro Cortés has extensive experience in gaming, corporate, finance and IP law. He recently advised Project Asia Corp on its HKD10 million acquisition of a hotel in Portugal.
He is widely praised by clients for his hands-on approach and high levels of client service. One source explains: “I would stress his availability to the client. Pedro is very responsive to emails and attentive to feedback. His pragmatic approach to problem solving is also notable.“
Frederico Rato is singled out by one source as “a great professional with excellent technical knowledge,” who “inspires you with the confidence to take each decision.”
He has a broad range of expertise that covers commercial work, as well as M&A and capital markets transactions.
