Administrative and Constitutional Litigation

Sérvulo’s team has significant experience of representing its clients in court in cases of administrative litigation that have gone right up to the Supreme Administrative Court. It has an equivalent level of experience in constitutional litigation, both before the various lower courts and the Constitutional Court itself.

Commercial and Civil Litigation

Sérvulo can call on extensive experience in the areas of commercial and civil litigation. This store of know-how means that it can offer a high degree of specialisation and so assist its clients in legal and arbitrational proceedings in these areas, however complex they may be.
As regards commercial litigation, Sérvulo provides its clients with support for contract litigation in general and, more specifically, for distribution agreements (agency, concession and franchise), joint venture contracts, contracts for works and the provision of services, contracts relating to real estate (sale and purchase, leasing, tourist development) and commercial leasing contracts (e.g. assignment of a going concern, winding-up).
In the case of corporate litigation, Sérvulo provides support for proceedings involving corporate decision-making, the accountability of members of corporate management and supervisory bodies, the appointment or removal of members of these bodies and other proceedings relating to the legal exclusion of shareholders. Other legal actions for which assistance is provided include the winding-up of companies, compliance with disclosure obligations, share capital and shareholding operations and changes to company structure.
Sérvulo also offers legal support to numerous clients involved in civil litigation proceedings. These cover a range of issues including contractual responsibilities arising from the interpretation, implementation, noncompliance with, and breaching of contracts. We also represent many of our clients in legal and arbitrational proceedings involving extra-contractual civil liability. These include, amongst others, pre-contractual liability proceedings, producer liability proceedings and professional civil liability proceedings.
Given its client base, Sérvulo has also worked extensively on media-related issues involving copyright and industrial property rights.

Tax Litigation

Using its comprehensive and widely-acknowledged experience in the area of tax litigation, Sérvulo is able to offer its clients a full range of preventive legal support services and assist them throughout the various non-contentious procedures and tax-related legal proceedings.
In more specific terms, our work focuses on the preparation and oversight of claim procedures and administrative appeals, real estate evaluation procedures and the review of taxable assets, tax inspections, extralegal procedures for settling outstanding tax debts as well as follow-up on the various legal processes (including foreclosure) relating to taxes, charges, parafiscal levies and social security contributions.

Labour Litigation

Sérvulo is responsible for overseeing and managing labour litigation issues at a number of companies. We have a great deal of experience of a wide range of issues in this area, whether substantive or procedural in nature. Our work encompasses the company’s defence against claims for unfair dismissal, both collective and individual, and a host of other labour and social security related matters (including accidents at work.

Criminal, Administrative and other sanctions-related litigation

Without neglecting the provision of preventive legal services, particularly as regards risk prevention in corporate structures, Sérvulo most commonly, and naturally, turns to litigation when it comes to criminal proceedings and administrative offences. This is why Sérvulo brings the full weight of its experience to bear in all sanction-related cases or those in which the outcome may negatively affect the way in which its clients are able to operate – whether this is before parliamentary commissions of inquiry, the administrative authorities (in the particular case of administrative offences), the Court of Auditors or, where necessary, the law courts.
The fundamental rights associated with sanctions-related proceedings have meant that Sérvulo has often had to argue its case before courts that deal with such issues, including both the Constitutional Court and international courts.

Arbitration

Arbitration is an extrajudicial mean of settling disputes, and one that has been increasingly adopted both domestically and internationally. The many recognised advantages associated with this method require, just like any other field, that specialist expertise should be employed. This is why Sérvulo has invested so heavily in this practice area. Many of the firm’s partners regularly participate in arbitrations, either as lawyers or as judges. They also take part in the many institutional initiatives promoting this form of action.
Sérvulo is well-known for its involvement in arbitrations across a wide range of fields, including public and private contract disputes. Particularly relevant examples of this include public works contracts, contracts for the provision of services and acquisition of goods, concessions for public infrastructures or public services, distribution and agency contracts, acquisitions of shareholdings and joint ventures, disputes involving commercial companies, competition, civil liability and commercial establishments.