Only lawyers and law firms registered with the Portuguese Bar Association can hold shares in law firms, and multidisciplinary practice in the form of commercial association between lawyers and other professionals is prohibited. Additionally, only registered lawyers can be directors and managers.  Lawyers from other EU and EEA countries may exercise in Portugal under their home country title provided that they register with the Bar. EU/EEA lawyers may represent parties in court only in association with a Portuguese lawyer, unless they pass the Portuguese Bar exam in order to practice under the Portuguese title of lawyer. Lawyers from outside the EU may register with Bar Association subject to reciprocal treatment of Portuguese lawyers in the home country of the foreign legal practitioner.
"Article 66-A - Acts of the legal profession
1 - Without prejudice to the provisions of the procedural laws, the exercise of the forensic mandate constitutes an exclusive act of lawyers, under the terms defined in the legal regime for the acts of lawyers and solicitors.
2 - Lawyers are also competent to carry out the following activities:
a) Drafting contracts and carrying out preparatory acts aimed at establishing, amending or terminating legal transactions, particularly those carried out at registry offices and notary offices;
b) Negotiation aimed at collecting credits;
c) Exercise of the mandate in the context of complaints or challenges to administrative or tax acts;
d) Legal consultation.
3 - The provisions of the previous paragraphs do not prejudice the performance of the acts provided for therein by persons not registered with the Bar Association, as long as they are legally authorized for that purpose, namely in the legal regime governing the acts of lawyers and solicitors.
[...]
Article 68. Legal consultation
The exercise of legal consultation under the terms defined in the Legal Regime of Acts of Lawyers and Solicitors constitutes the proper act of a lawyer.
[...]
Article 107. Division of fees
Lawyers are prohibited from sharing fees, even as a commission or other form of compensation, except with lawyers, trainee lawyers and solicitors with whom they collaborate or who have collaborated with them, or in situations where they practice professionally in a multidisciplinary society.
[...]
Article 194 - Internship registration
1 - The following may apply for registration as trainee lawyers:
a) Holders of a law degree;
b) Holders of a foreign higher academic degree in Law that has been granted equivalence to the degree referred to in the previous paragraph or that has been recognized with the same level.
2 - The application for registration as a trainee lawyer can be submitted at any time.
[...]
Article 201 - Practice of law by foreigners
1 - Foreigners from non-Member States of the European Union who have been awarded one of the academic degrees referred to in paragraph 1 of article 194 by a Portuguese higher education institution may register with the Bar Association , in the same terms as the Portuguese.
2 - (Revoked.)
[...]
Chapter V - Lawyers from other member states of the European Union and the European Economic Area
Article 203 - Recognition of professional title
1 - Persons who, in their respective member countries of the European Union and the European Economic Area, are authorized to exercise their legal profession are recognized in Portugal as lawyers, and as such authorized to exercise their respective profession. professional activities with one of the following professional titles:
In Belgium - Avocat/Advocaat/Rechtsanwalt;
[...]
2 - The same recognition regime applies to lawyers from other countries who enjoy freedom to provide services under European Union law.
Article 204 - Modes of professional practice
1 - Any of the lawyers identified in the previous article, hereinafter referred to as European Union lawyers, may, in accordance with the provisions of the following article, carry out their activity in Portugal with their original professional title, expressed in the respective official language and with the indication of the professional organization to which he belongs or the jurisdiction to which he is admitted under the terms of the law of his State of origin.
2 - Without prejudice to the provisions of the previous paragraph, judicial representation and mandate before the Portuguese courts can only be exercised by lawyers from the European Union who carry out their activity with their original professional title under the guidance of a lawyer registered with the Order of Lawyers.
3 - European Union lawyers may also practice in Portugal with the title of lawyer, upon prior registration with the Bar Association.
[...]
Article 211 - Associations of professionals from other member states
1 - Permanent representations of associative organizations of professionals equivalent, by law, to lawyers, set up in another Member State of the European Union for the exercise of professional activity whose manager or administrator is a professional and whose capital with voting rights belongs mainly to professionals in question or other associative organizations whose capital and voting rights belong mainly to those professionals are treated as law firms for the purposes of this Statute.
2 - The capital requirements referred to in the previous paragraph are not applicable if the company does not have share capital, applying, instead, the requirement of attributing a majority of voting rights to the professionals referred to there.
3 - (Revoked.)
4 - (Revoked.)
[...]
Article 212-A - Professional and multidisciplinary societies
1 - Lawyers may establish or join as partners or associates in professional law firms or multidisciplinary firms, under the terms of their own regime.
2 - Professional law firms and multidisciplinary societies enjoy the rights and are subject to the duties applicable to professional members of the Bar Association that are compatible with their nature, namely the ethical principles and rules contained in this Statute.
3 - Members of the administrative body of professional law firms and multidisciplinary firms must respect the principles and rules of ethics, technical and scientific autonomy and the guarantees conferred on lawyers by law and by this Statute.
4 - The constitution and operation of professional law firms is set out in Law No. 53/2015, of 11 June, which establishes the legal regime for the constitution and operation of professional law firms that are subject to the regime of public professional associations.
5 - Companies opt, at the time of their incorporation, for one of the following types, depending on the liability regime for social debts to be adopted, and the company name must contain a mention of the adopted regime:
a) Unlimited liability companies, RI;
b) Limited liability companies, RL.
6 - Liability for social debts includes those generated by actions or omissions attributed to partners, associates and interns, in the exercise of the profession.
7 - In unlimited liability companies, the partners are personally, unlimitedly and jointly liable for the company's debts, without prejudice to the provisions of the following paragraph.
8 - Creditors of unlimited liability companies may only demand payment of company debts from partners after prior excussion of the company's assets.
9 - In limited liability companies, only the company is liable for the company's debts, up to the limit of the mandatory civil liability insurance provided for in article 104.
10 - The tax regime provided for companies incorporated in commercial form is applicable to professional law firms.
Article 213.º - Law firms [revoked by Law n.º 6/2024 of 19 January] [...]" (Statute of the Portuguese Bar Association - Law no. 145/2015 of 9 September, as amended by Law n.º 6/2024 of 19 January and effective as 19 January 2024 [google translation])
--------------------------
"Article 4 - Acts of lawyers and solicitors
1 - Without prejudice to the provisions of this law, only law graduates with current registration with the Bar Association and solicitors registered with the Order of Solicitors and Execution Agents may practice the acts typical of lawyers and solicitors.
2 - Without prejudice to the provisions of procedural laws, the exercise of the forensic mandate is an exclusive act of lawyers and solicitors.
3 - The following are exclusive acts of lawyers:
a) Those resulting from the exercise of citizens’ right to be accompanied by a lawyer before any authority;
b) Those in which the accused must be assisted by a defense attorney, in accordance with criminal procedure law.
4 - Lawyers and solicitors also have the power to carry out the following activities:
a) The drafting of contracts and the practice of preparatory acts aimed at the constitution, amendment or termination of legal transactions, particularly those carried out at registry offices and notary offices;
b) Negotiation aimed at collecting credits;
c) The exercise of the mandate within the scope of complaints or challenges to administrative or tax acts;
d) Legal consultation.
5 - The acts provided for in the previous paragraphs only constitute acts specific to lawyers and solicitors if they are carried out in the interests of third parties and within the scope of professional activity.
6 - For the purposes of the provisions of the previous paragraph, acts carried out by legal representatives, employees, employees or agents of natural or legal persons, public or private, in that capacity, are not considered to have been carried out in the interests of third parties, unless, in the case of credit collection, this constitutes the main object or activity of these people.
7 - The exercise of the forensic mandate by solicitors is subject to the limits of their statute and procedural legislation.
8 - The acts referred to in paragraph 4 are not acts expressly reserved by law for lawyers and solicitors for the purposes of article 30 of Law no. 2/2013, of 10 January, which establishes the legal regime of creation, organization and functioning of professional public associations. 
[...]
CHAPTER III - Practice of acts by lawyers and solicitors by other entities
Article 7 - Exercise of legal consultation by other entities
1 - Without prejudice to the provisions of article 4, the following may also carry out legal consultancy activities:
a) Notaries and enforcement agents;
b) Law graduates.
2 - Jurists who carry out teaching duties in Law faculties may also exercise legal consultancy, in the form of drafting written opinions.
3 - The exercise of legal consultation by Law graduates who are under a subordination regime or provision of services to other entities, regardless of their nature, only covers matters included in the attributions and competences, in the object or purpose of the entities in question. cause, without prejudice to the provisions of the following paragraph.
[...]
Article 8 - Preparation of contracts
1 - The acts included in paragraph a) of paragraph 4 of article 4, when they are of value lower than the jurisdiction of the Court of Appeal or do not imply the fulfillment of obligations for a period exceeding 90 days, may still be carried out per:
a) Notaries and enforcement agents;
b) Commercial companies, as an ancillary activity to an activity included in the respective corporate purpose;
c) Law graduates.
2 - For the purposes of paragraph b) of the previous paragraph, the provision of services must be carried out by a Law graduate who performs the respective functions under a subordination or exclusivity regime.
3 - The entities referred to in paragraph 1 are subject to the duties set out in paragraph 5 of the previous article. [...]" (Law no. 10/2024 of 19 January on the Statutory Regime for Acts of Lawyers adn Sollicitors [google translation])
--------------------------
Previously up to 2024
--------------------------
"Article 66 - Practice of law in national territory
1 - Without prejudice to the provisions of article 205, only lawyers with current registration with the Bar Association may, throughout the national territory, practice acts specific to law, under the terms defined in Law no. 49/2004, of August 24th.
2 - Acts carried out by a lawyer through a document are only considered as such if they are signed or certified by him in accordance with the terms defined by the Bar Association.
3 - The judicial mandate, representation and assistance by a lawyer are always admissible and cannot be impeded before any jurisdiction, authority or public or private entity, namely for the defense of rights, sponsorship of controversial legal relationships, composition of interests or in legal proceedings. mere investigation, even if administrative, unofficial or of any other nature.
4 - Trainee lawyers may only perform their own acts under the terms set out in this Statute.
Article 67 - Forensic warrant
1 - Without prejudice to the provisions of Law no. 49/2004, of 24 August, the following is considered a forensic mandate:
a) The judicial mandate to be exercised in any court, including arbitration courts or commissions and justices of the peace;
b) The exercise of the mandate with representation, with powers to negotiate the constitution, alteration or termination of legal relationships;
c) The exercise of any mandate with representation in administrative procedures, including tax, before any public legal entities or respective bodies or services, even if only questions of fact are raised or discussed.
2 - The forensic mandate cannot be subject, in any way, to a measure or agreement that prevents or limits the personal and free choice of the agent by the principal.
Article 68 - Legal consultation
The exercise of legal consultation under the terms defined in Law No. 49/2004, of August 24, constitutes the proper act of a lawyer.
[...]
Article 107.º - Fee breakdown
Lawyers are prohibited from sharing fees, even as a commission or other form of compensation, except with lawyers, trainee lawyers and solicitors with whom they collaborate or who have collaborated with them.
[...]
Article 200
Registration of jurists of recognized merit, masters and other doctors in Law
1 - Without prejudice to the provisions of the previous article, the registration in the Bar Association of jurists of recognized merit and of masters and other doctors in Law whose title is recognized in Portugal depends on the prior completion of an aptitude exam, without the need to carry out a internship.
2 - The purpose of the aptitude exam is to assess knowledge of the ethical rules that govern the exercise of the profession.
3 - Jurists of recognized merit are considered to be Law graduates who demonstrate that they have sufficient knowledge and professional experience in the field of Portuguese domestic law or international law to carry out legal consultancy, with the dignity and competence required of the profession.
4 - For the purposes of paragraph 1, jurists of recognized merit are presumed to be jurists who have actually carried out professional activity for at least 10 consecutive years.
5 - Jurists of recognized merit, masters and other doctors in Law registered with the Bar under the terms of this article may only practice acts of legal consultation, with the provisions of this Statute and other regulations applying, with the necessary adaptations. 
Article 201 - Practice of law by foreigners
1 - Foreigners from non-Member States of the European Union who have been awarded one of the academic degrees referred to in paragraphs a) and b) of article 194 by a Portuguese higher education institution may enroll in the Order of Lawyers, on the same terms as the Portuguese, if their country grants reciprocity to them.
2 - Brazilian lawyers whose higher academic training was completed in Brazil or Portugal may register with the Bar Association on a reciprocal basis.
[...]
Chapter V - Lawyers from other member states of the European Union and the European Economic Area
Article 203.º - Recognition of professional title
1 - Persons who, in their respective member countries of the European Union and the European Economic Area, are authorized to exercise their legal profession are recognized in Portugal as lawyers, and as such authorized to exercise their respective profession. professional activities with one of the following professional titles:
(see original document)
2 - The same recognition regime applies to lawyers from other countries who enjoy freedom to provide services under European Union law.
Article 204 - Professional exercise modes
1 - Any of the lawyers identified in the previous article, hereinafter referred to as European Union lawyers, may, in accordance with the provisions of the following article, carry out their activity in Portugal with their original professional title, expressed in the respective official language and with the indication of the professional organization to which he belongs or the jurisdiction to which he is admitted under the terms of the law of his State of origin.
2 - Without prejudice to the provisions of the previous paragraph, judicial representation and mandate before the Portuguese courts can only be exercised by lawyers from the European Union who carry out their activity with their original professional title under the guidance of a lawyer registered with the Order of Lawyers.
3 - European Union lawyers may also practice in Portugal with the title of lawyer, upon prior registration with the Bar Association.
[...]
Article 208.º - Registration in the Bar Association
1 - The establishment in Portugal of lawyers from the European Union who wish to practice their activity with the professional title of lawyer, in full equality of rights and duties with Portuguese lawyers, depends on prior registration with the Bar Association.
2 - The use of the professional title of lawyer does not prejudice the right to use the professional title of origin, in accordance with the provisions of paragraph 1 of article 205.
[...]
Article 210 - Law firms established in Portugal
Lawyers established in national territory may practice their profession as a group, establishing or joining as partners or associates in law firms, with the limits resulting from paragraph 7 of article 213.
Article 211 - Associations of professionals from other member states
1 - Associative organizations of professionals equivalent to lawyers established in another Member State of the European Union for the exercise of professional activity whose manager or administrator is a professional and whose capital with voting rights belongs mainly to the professionals in question or to other associative organizations whose capital and voting rights fall mainly to those professionals can register their respective permanent representations in Portugal, constituted in accordance with commercial law, as members of the Bar Association, being as such equivalent to law firms for the purposes of this Statute, with the limits resulting from the paragraph 7 of article 213.º
2 - The capital requirements referred to in the previous paragraph are not applicable if the company does not have share capital, applying, instead, the requirement of attributing a majority of voting rights to the professionals referred to there.
3 - The judgment of equality referred to in paragraph 1 is governed by:
a) Regarding nationals of Member States of the European Union, by paragraph 4 of article 1 of Law no. 9/2009, of March 4, amended by Laws no. 41/2012, of August 28 , and 25/2014, of May 2;
b) Regarding third country nationals whose qualifications were obtained outside Portugal, under the current reciprocity regime.
4 - The legal regime for the registration of professional associations from other member states is set out in the legal regime for the constitution and operation of professional societies that are subject to public professional associations.
[...]
Article 213. Law firms
1 - Lawyers can practice their profession by forming or joining law firms, as partners or associates.
2 - The following may also be members of law firms:
a) Law firms previously constituted and registered with the Bar Association;
b) Associative organizations of professionals equivalent to lawyers incorporated in another Member State of the European Union whose capital and voting rights belong mainly to the professionals in question.
3 - The capital requirement referred to in paragraph b) of the previous paragraph is not applicable if the company does not have share capital.
4 - The judgment of equivalence referred to in paragraph b) of paragraph 2 is governed by:
a) Regarding nationals of Member States of the European Union, by paragraph 4 of article 1 of Law no. 9/2009, of March 4, amended by Laws no. 41/2012, of August 28 , and 25/2014, of May 2;
b) Regarding third country nationals whose qualifications were obtained outside Portugal, under the current reciprocity regime.
5 - Law firms enjoy the rights and are subject to the duties applicable to lawyers that are compatible with their nature, being in particular subject to the ethical principles and rules contained in this Statute, as well as to the disciplinary power of the Bar Association.
6 - Members of the executive body of law firms, regardless of their status as lawyers registered with the Bar Association, must respect the ethical principles and rules, technical and scientific autonomy and the guarantees granted to lawyers by law and by this Statute.
7 - Law firms are not permitted to carry out their activity directly or indirectly in any type of association or integration with other professions, activities and entities whose corporate purpose is not the exclusive practice of law.
8 - The constitution and operation of law firms is included in the legal regime for the constitution and operation of professional societies that are subject to the regime of public professional associations.
9 - Relations between lawyers who are part of the companies, namely between partners, associates and interns, as well as contractual relationships with other lawyers who provide services to these companies, are subject to specific regulations.
10 - Companies must opt, at the time of their incorporation, for one of the following two types, depending on the liability regime for social debts to be adopted, and the company name must contain a mention of the adopted regime:
a) Unlimited liability companies, RI;
b) Limited liability companies, RL.
11 - Liability for social debts includes those generated by actions or omissions attributed to partners, associates and interns, in the exercise of the profession.
12 - In unlimited liability companies, the partners are personally, unlimitedly and jointly liable for the company's debts, without prejudice to the provisions of the following paragraph.
13 - The creditors of the unlimited liability company may only demand payment of company debts from the partners after prior excussion of the company's assets.
14 - In limited liability companies, only the company is liable for social debts, up to the limit of mandatory civil liability insurance.
15 - The tax regime provided for companies incorporated in commercial form is applicable to law firms. [...]" (Statute of the Portuguese Bar Association - Law no. 145/2015 of 9 September, as amended and effective as of 30 December 2023 [google translation]))
--------------------------
"Article 1 - Acts specific to lawyers and solicitors 
1 - Only law graduates with current registration with the Bar Association and solicitors registered with the Chamber of Solicitors may practice the acts specific to lawyers and solicitors.
2 - Lawyers of recognized merit and masters and doctors in Law whose degree is recognized in Portugal, registered for this purpose with the Bar Association under the terms of a special process to be defined in the Statute of the Bar Association, may also exercise legal consultation.
3 - The preparation of written opinions by professors from Law faculties is exempt from the provisions of paragraph 1.
4 - Within the scope of the competence resulting from article 173.º-C of the Statute of the Bar Association and article 77.º of the Statute of the Chamber of Solicitors, acts specific to lawyers and solicitors may be carried out by anyone who is not licensed in Right.
5 - Without prejudice to the provisions of procedural laws, the following are acts specific to lawyers and solicitors:
a) The exercise of the forensic mandate;
b) Legal consultation.
6 - The following are also acts specific to lawyers and solicitors:
a) The drafting of contracts and the practice of preparatory acts aimed at the constitution, amendment or termination of legal transactions, particularly those carried out at registry offices and notary offices;
b) Negotiation aimed at collecting credits;
c) The exercise of the mandate in the context of complaints or challenges to administrative or tax acts.
7 - Acts specific to lawyers and solicitors are considered to be acts that, in accordance with the previous paragraphs, are carried out in the interests of third parties and within the scope of professional activity, without prejudice to the specific powers attributed to other professions or activities whose access or exercise is regulated by law.
8 - For the purposes of the provisions of the previous paragraph, acts carried out by legal representatives, employees, officials or agents of natural or legal persons, public or private, in that capacity, are not considered to have been carried out in the interests of third parties, unless, in the case of debt collection, this constitutes the main object or activity of these people.
9 - Acts specific to lawyers are also all those that result from the exercise of the right of citizens to be accompanied by a lawyer before any authority.
10 - In cases where the criminal process determines that the accused be assisted by a defender, this function must be performed by a lawyer, in accordance with the law.
11 - The exercise of the forensic mandate and legal consultation by solicitors is subject to the limits of their statute and procedural legislation.
Article 2 - Forensic mandate
A judicial mandate is considered to be a judicial mandate granted to be exercised in any court, including arbitration courts or commissions and justices of the peace.
Article 3 - Legal consultation 
Legal consultancy is considered to be the legal advice activity that consists of the interpretation and application of legal norms upon request from a third party. [...]" (Law no. 49/2004, of 24 August, repealed by Law no. 10/2024, of 19 January of 2024 [google translation])
Statute of the Portuguese Bar Association - Law no. 145/2015 of 9 September, as amended by Law n.º 6/2024 of 19 January and effective as 19 January 2024
Law no. 10/2024 of 19 January on the Statutory Regime for Acts of Lawyers adn Sollicitors
Statute of the Portuguese Bar Association - Law no. 145/2015 of 9 September, as amended and effective as of 30 December 2023
Law no. 49/2004, of 24 August, repealed by Law no. 10/2024, of 19 January of 2024
 
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