João Medeiros remains widely recognised for his extensive expertise in handling corporate crime proceedings, including those relating to embezzlement, abuse of power and fraud.

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João Medeiros

Senior Partner Criminal and Misdemeanours

jm@mfalegal.pt

(+351) 211 372 676*

*National landline call

Portuguese and English

VCard Download CV

jm@mfalegal.pt

(+351) 211 372 676*

*National landline call

Portuguese and English

VCard Download CV

Lawyer registered with the Portuguese Bar Association under professional licence No. 11064.

With 30 years' experience in litigation, João has devoted himself exclusively to the sanctions area for the last 20 years. His activity is carried out
preferably with the courts, judicial authorities and police, and over the years has been present in the most complex criminal cases in Portugal. João is one of Portugal's most reputable and experienced criminal lawyers, particularly in the field of economic, financial and tax crime.

In addition to his work in the courts, João Medeiros has extensive experience in dealing with crisis situations within companies and is frequently invited to join the panel of advisors to the Board of large companies in cases related to cyberattacks, producer liability, environmental disasters, internal fraud schemes and internal investigations and, in general, events that generate significant contingencies and reputational damage.

João Medeiros remains widely recognised for his extensive expertise in handling corporate crime proceedings, including those relating to embezzlement, abuse of power and fraud.

Co-Responsible Partner of the Criminal & Misdemeanours Practice Area at Vieira de Almeida e Associados, Sociedade de Advogados (2019-2023);
Partner responsible for PLMJ's criminal, misdemeanours and compliance practice (1994-2019);
Founder and member of the Board of Forum Penal - Association of Criminal Lawyers;
Trainer in Criminal Procedure at the Portuguese Bar Association - Lisbon District Council (2008, 2009, 2022);
Member of the Jury of the Centre for Judicial Studies (2012);
Admission by public examination to the Judiciary Police. Trainee Inspector Course at the Judiciary Police's Barro facility in Loures (2002)

Trainer in Criminal Procedure at the Portuguese Bar Association in 2008, 2009 and 2022;
President of the Jury for the Bar Association's aggregation exams, Lisbon Regional Council;
Speaker at the presentation of the new Bankruptcy Code at a conference organised by MOPE;
Speaker on the Crime of Money Laundering, Auditorium Bastonário Ângelo d'Almeida Ribeiro, at the Lisbon District Council of the Portuguese Bar Association, (2011);
Speaker on the Criminal Liability of Directors, at the invitation of the Portuguese Commercial Association;
Speaker on medical negligence - Preterm Birth Congress organised by Ferring.
Speaker at the VIII National Conference of UROLOGY in FAMILY MEDICINE, on the topic of criminal responsibility;
The Professional, Civil and Criminal Liability of Doctors, 13th National Patient Care Conference, February 2009, FIL, Lisbon.
Speaker on the 2013 Amendments to the CPP, Cascais, at the invitation of the OA CDL.
Speaker on the 2013 Amendments to the CPP, Setubal, at the invitation of the OA CDL.
Speaker at the seminar "Combating Fraud and Tax Evasion from a Criminal Perspective - exchange of information and criminal investigation mechanisms, Portuguese Association of Tax Consultants (APCF) 23 June 2015, Dom Pedro Palace Hotel, Lisbon;
Guest speaker at the 1st Postgraduate Course on Law Enforcement, Compliance and Criminal Law in banking, financial and economic activities, University of Lisbon Law School;
Speaker at the AI & LAW course: SHAPING THE FUTURE - 1st PLMJ Advanced Course (2018);
Speaker at the seminar on Nullity of Evidence in the Inquiry Phase, 12 July 2018, Amphitheatre of the University of Lisbon Law School;
Speaker at the seminar "Aspetos penais no Novo Regime do Maior Acompanhado", 06 December 2018, Sociedade de Geografia de Lisboa| R. Portas de Santo Antão 100|Lisbon
Invited speaker by the Portuguese Bar Association, Lisbon Regional Council on the New Money Laundering Regime (2021);

João is the author of several articles in national publications and newspapers. Among the many articles published, the following stand out:

«48 horas», published in Vida Judiciária, n.º 235, March/April 2024
A Inteligência Artificial e Contencioso Penal I, Almedina;
A elaboração de programas de compliance, co-author, Almedina
“As novas exigências legais da proteção de denunciantes”, in A Prática do Contencioso - Reflexões e Tendências de Direito Substantivo e Processual, Almedina, 2024, co-authored with Andreia Oliveira Ferreira.

Chambers Europe

Portugal | White-Collar Crime - Leading Star Individual (2024)
Dispute Resolution - Band 1 (2022, 2023)
Dispute Resolution - Band 1 "A person with integrity; he is committed, intelligent and able to introduce strategic thinking in addressing problems." (2021)
Dispute Resolution - Band 2 "A lawyer who listens." (2020)
João Medeiros, Band 1 | Criminal Litigation, Misdemeanours and Compliance "He dedicates his practice to handling the full spectrum of complicated and often multi-jurisdictional corporate crime mandates" (2019)
João Medeiros, Band 1 | Criminal Litigation, Misdemeanours and Compliance "Sources describe him as "excellent," highlighting his extensive experience." (2018)
João Medeiros, Band 1 | Criminal Litigation, Misdemeanours and Compliance "He is competent, creative and shows strong technical capacity allied with a human dimension." (2017)

The Legal 500

Portugal | Fraud and white-collar crime - Leading individual (2024)
Portugal | Fraud and white-collar crime - Tier 1 (2022, 2023)
Portugal | Fraud and white-collar crime - Tier 1 Leading Individuals/Recommended Lawyers (2021)
Portugal | Fraud and white-collar crime - Tier 1 Leading Individuals / Recommended Lawyers (2020)
João Medeiros, Leading lawyer | Criminal Litigation, Misdemeanours and Compliance (2019)
João Medeiros, Leading Individual | Criminal Litigation, Misdemeanours and Compliance (2017, 2018)

Best Lawyers

Lawyer of the Year, Litigation Lisbon (2023)
Lawyer of the Year, Criminal Defense (2018, 2020, 2022)
Lawyer of the Year (2021)
Recommended lawyer (2017, 2019)
Lawyer of the Year, Criminal Defense Lisbon (2016, 2018)

Law degree from the Portuguese Catholic University Law School, Lisbon School;
Postgraduate Diploma in Misdemeanours Law/ University of Lisbon Law School

Training Courses and Actions Held

Admission by public examination to the Judiciary Police. Trainee Inspector Course at the Judiciary Police's Barro facilities in Loures, 2002.
Criminal Procedure in Action - Lusíada University, 2003;
Conference "Amendments to the Penal and Criminal Procedure Codes", Vida Económica, November 2007
I - Criminal Procedure Congress - Higher Institute of Police Sciences and Internal Security;
II Congress of Criminal Procedure - Portuguese Bar Association;
III Congress on Criminal Procedure, Almedina, February 2007, Jornadas de Direito Penal - International University
Conference on Medical Negligence, Santa Maria Hospital, Faculty of Medicine;
Seminar on Class Actions
International Conference on the Creation of a European Prosecutor's Office; Victim Protection and Defendants' Rights in the European Union, FDL, August 2013
International Seminar: Information as a Tool for Strategic Action, Nova University, October 2014.
Managing The Law Firm Programme, Nova School of Business and Economics, July 2015;

Admitted to the Portuguese Bar Association;
ECBA - European Criminal Bar Association;
Forum Penal - Association of Criminal Lawyers - Member of the Advisory Board;

Founding member of Forum Penal, Association of Criminal Lawyers, and current member of its Advisory Board;
Member of the Jury of the Centre for Judicial Studies, criminal branch, appointed by the Portuguese Bar Association;
Founding member and member of the Board of the Portuguese Observatory of Compliance and Regulation;
Vice-Chairman of the Disciplinary Board of the Portuguese Automobile and Kart Federation.
Co-author (in partnership with Prof Nuno Brandão) and at the invitation of the Portuguese Bar Association's National Internship Commission, of the design and formulation of the 2018/2019 Criminal Procedural Practice tests and correction grids.