Building projects over strong relationships
A law firm focused on legal advice in all areas of real estate law.
We strive to be close to our clients, committing to transparency and proactivity, and conducting our work with the highest ethical and technical standards to achieve the most effective solutions for the matters entrusted to us.
Services
Leasing: Residential, Commercial, Rural
We also offer comprehensive legal services in all matters related to maximizing returns on real estate assets in Portugal.
Real Estate Transactions (property transfer agreements)
A real estate transaction generally aims to transfer ownership of a real estate asset from one party to another, ensuring the buyer obtains a clean title and that all legal, regulatory, and financial obligations are defined and fulfilled.
Real Estate Development: construction and related service contracts
At MATLAW, we offer comprehensive legal support for real estate development, covering all stages from land acquisition to construction and final sale.
Urban Planning: land use, zoning, and urban rehabilitation
We provide specialized legal advice on urban planning, land use, and licensing for real estate projects of any kind, including urban rehabilitation projects.
Tourism: regulation, licensing, management, and operation of tourism developments
For clients operating in the tourism and local accommodation sectors, we provide tailored advice for licensing, operation, and leasing of properties for tourism purposes, ensuring compliance with applicable regulatory law, and coordinating operations between developers, tenants, and operators.
Real Estate Financing: financing contracts for real estate projects and associated guarantees
At MATLAW, we support our clients in negotiating and contracting the terms, conditions, and guarantees of financing agreements, whether they are investors or beneficiaries of the investment.
Real Estate Taxation: advisory on property and real estate income taxes
Owning, acquiring, operating, or selling property in Portugal—as well as relocating individuals or businesses to the country—has significant tax implications. Currently, real estate in Portugal is subject to six different types of taxation.
Corporate Real Estate
Real estate investments are often made through corporate vehicles, whether they are perfomed by commercial companies, cooperatives, or real estate investment funds.
Inheritance & Family Law
Our clients rely on us for assistance with estate planning, particularly regarding assets located in Portugal (including wills and lifetime asset transfers), as well as for managing negotiation, contracting, and registration processes for the distribution of assets in estates opened in Portugal or abroad. These matters are often handled through both negotiation and court proceedings, depending on complexity.
Real Estate Arbitration and Litigation
When conflicts are not resolved through out-of-court methods, we support and represent our clients in judicial and arbitration proceedings. The disputes we handle relate to all our areas of practice — from public law issues like tax and zoning, to civil and commercial disputes such as contracts, asset division, leasing, construction, and other private matters.
Portuguese Residency & Citizenship
We assist our clients with all types of immigration and relocation matters in Portugal.
Latest News, Events, and Press
MATLAW expands operations and opens office in Porto
MATLAW has just expanded its operations to the north of Portugal with the opening of a new office in the center of Porto, joining its existing offices in Lisbon and the Algarve (Almancil).
MATLAW strengthens its team with three new hires for its Lisbon, Porto and Algarve offices
MATLAW has just strengthened its team by hiring three new lawyers for its offices in Lisbon, Porto and the Algarve. Rui Manuel Parente will join the Lisbon office, Marlene Figueira de Sá the Algarve office and José Pedro Gonçalves Pereira the Porto office.
Amendments to the Nationality Law: What to expect?
Following its review earlier this summer of the Immigration Law, the Constitutional Court has now examined the amendments to the Nationality Law proposed by the government in response to a request for preventive constitutional review submitted by the Socialist Party.
LEGAL ALERT: Criminal protection against the illegal occupation of properties
The new Law 67/2025, of 24 November, has recently been published in Diário da República and strengthens criminal protection against the illegal occupation of properties, making such conduct a crime even in the absence of violence and speeding up the return of properties to their owners.
LEGAL ALERT: Revision of the Urban Simplex
The Portuguese Government is preparing a comprehensive revision of the Legal Framework for Urbanization and Building (RJUE) and the complementary measures of the Urban Simplex, after concluding that the changes introduced by Decree-Law No. 10/2024 of January 8 did not achieve the expected objectives of simplification and reduction of deadlines.
Financing for new real estate development projects: what you need to know
Real estate financing in Portugal has changed and has become more demanding. For development projects, the combination of stricter banking rules, ESG criteria and the need for solid planning documentation requires meticulous preparation. For foreigners who want to buy a home, conditions remain attractive, but with tighter requirements and greater scrutiny.