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Mónica Carneiro Pacheco

Partner
Lawyer

Portrait ofMónica Carneiro Pacheco

Mónica Carneiro Pacheco

Partner
Lawyer

Contact
CMS Portugal
Rua Castilho 50
1250-071 Lisbon
Portugal
Languages Portuguese, English, Spanish

Mónica Carneiro Pacheco is a Partner and heads the Energy & Climate Change team.

With over 30 years’ experience, she advises a roster of clients in the field of public law, with a special focus on energy law, PPP projects, public procurement, concessions and environment.

She provides legal advice to the main national and international players in the energy sector, developing a broad range of experience within the various areas of the sector, being involved in renewable energy projects (wind, solar photovoltaic and hydro), electricity, natural gas, cogeneration, innovation projects, privatizations, and mergers and acquisitions. In these projects she has been involved in installation, production, transmission, distribution, supply and grid connection in regulatory issues, licensing, contractual issues, litigation and dispute resolution.

Mónica also has extensive experience in environmental issues, providing advice at various levels in this field, including environmental licensing, monitoring minimization measures and environmental impact compensation.

Mónica is individually ranked Band 1 for Energy & Natural Resources by Chambers Europe 2023 and has been ranked for the past 15 years and is ranked Leading Individual in the Hall of Fame for Energy & Natural Resources by Legal 500, 2023. She is also recommended for Projects and Project Finance, by Legal 500, 2023. Moreover, she is recognised for Energy Law, Environmental Law e Natural Resources Law, by Best Lawyers, 2022. She was also awarded Energy Team of the Year, 2019, Lawyer of the Year 2022 for Energy and Lawyer of the Year for Renewables, all promoted by Iberian Lawyer.

Joined CMS Portugal in 2007.

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Mónica Carneiro Pacheco offers an impressive practice advising on a variety of mandates in the renewable sector. Clients profit from her expertise in solar, hydropower and wind related matters.

Chambers Europe (2021)

Mónica Carneiro Pacheco was outstanding in every way in the work she carried out on our behalf. The level of preciseness and clear cut legal advice was exceptional. She is highly skilled and is a lawyer with great integrity.

Legal 500 (2021)

Mónica Carneiro Pacheco is Lawyer of the Year 2020 in Natural Resources Law

Best Lawyers (2020)

Energy team of the Year

Iberian Lawyer (2021)

Mónica Carneiro Pacheco is recognised for her standout expertise in energy and natural resources. She offers an especially impressive practice in relation to renewables, with clients benefiting from her comprehensive knowledge of solar, hydropower and wind projects. Interviewees characterise her as "a very accessible lawyer, who is knowledgeable of the sector and has a business mindset.“

Chambers Europe (2022)

Mónica Carneiro Pacheco offers an impressive practice advising on a variety of mandates in the renewable sector. Clients profit from her expertise in solar, hydropower and wind related matters.

Chambers Europe (2021)

Mónica Carneiro Pacheco was outstanding in every way in the work she carried out on our behalf. The level of preciseness and clear cut legal advice was exceptional. She is highly skilled and is a lawyer with great integrity.

Legal 500 (2021)

Mónica Carneiro Pacheco is Lawyer of the Year 2020 in Natural Resources Law

Best Lawyers (2020)

Energy team of the Year

Iberian Lawyer (2021)

Mónica Carneiro Pacheco is recognised for her standout expertise in energy and natural resources. She offers an especially impressive practice in relation to renewables, with clients benefiting from her comprehensive knowledge of solar, hydropower and wind projects. Interviewees characterise her as "a very accessible lawyer, who is knowledgeable of the sector and has a business mindset.“

Chambers Europe (2022)

Memberships & Roles

  • Member of the Portuguese Bar Association since 1993
  • Member of Associação Portuguesa de Energia
  • Member of Associação Portuguesa do Direito da Energia
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Publications

  • PACHECO, Mónica Carneiro; MAGALHÃES E MENEZES, António; MARQUES MENDES, João; CUNHA FERREIRA, Bernardo; DUARTE DA COSTA, Andreia, “Chapter 36 - Portugal”, em Financing Renewable Energy Projects – A Global Analysis and Review of Related Power Purchase Agreements, Volume 2, American Bar Association., 2019, pp 1325-1354
  • PACHECO, Mónica Carneiro, (co-authored with João Marques Mendes) - “Algumas notas sobre as relações triangulares nos setores regulados”, in Estudos em Homenagem a Rui Pena, Almedina, 2019, pp. 833 – 858
  • PACHECO, Mónica Carneiro; CUNHA FERREIRA, Bernardo - “Oil and gas regulation in Portugal: overview”, in Thompson Reuters Practical Law, Thompson Reuters, 2018
  • PACHECO, Mónica Carneiro - “Are we prepared for the near future?”, in Euromoney's Energy and Environment Expert Guide 2018, 2018
  • PACHECO, Mónica Carneiro; CUNHA FERREIRA, Bernardo - “Portugal” chapter, Gas Regulation, pp. 114-119, in Law Business Research ltd., 2018
  • PACHECO, Mónica Carneiro; MARQUES MENDES, João - “Portugal” chapter, Oil Regulation, pp. 176-185, in Law Business Research ltd., 2018.
  • PACHECO, Mónica Carneiro (co-authored) – “Portugal” chapter, Oil Regulation, pp. 158-167, in Law Business Research ltd., 2017
  • PACHECO, Mónica Carneiro; MARQUES MENDES, João - “CE obriga países a darem estabilidade ao investimento em Renováveis”, page 7, in Jornal de Negócios, 22 de Dezembro de 2016 
  • PACHECO, Mónica Carneiro - “Solar Power in Portugal”, Expert Guide - Energy & Natural Resources 2016, pp. 40-43, in Corporate Live Wire, September 2016
  • PACHECO, Mónica Carneiro - “Finalmente Energia Solar”, page 34, in Jornal de Negócios, 9 Agosto 2016
  • PACHECO, Mónica Carneiro; MARQUES MENDES, João – “Portugal” chapter, Global Legal Insights 2019 – Energy, Seventh Edition, Global Legal Group, 2018, pp. 173-182. (Mónica Carneiro Pacheco has been a regular contributor to this publication, having co-authored the Portuguese chapter from 2015 to the present)
  • PACHECO, Mónica Carneiro - “Energy and the Sea - time to go forward”, pp. 40-43, in Expert Guide - Energy & Natural Resources 2015, Corporate Live Wire, July 2015
  • PACHECO, Mónica Carneiro - “Back in Business?”, pp. 68-71, in Expert Guide - Energy & Natural Resources 2014, Corporate Live Wire, July 2014
  • PACHECO, Mónica Carneiro - “O fracasso na reforma do Mercado de Carbono”, page 37, in Revista Advocatus, July 2013
  • PACHECO, Mónica Carneiro - “Failure of the Carbon Market”, pp.18-19, in Expert Guide: Energy and Natural Resources 2013, Corporate Live Wire, 2013
  • PACHECO, Mónica Carneiro - “O futuro da eletricidade renovável em Portugal e na Europa”, pp.158-159, APREN 1988-2013, in 25 anos de eletricidade renovável em Portugal, APREN, 2013
  • PACHECO, Mónica Carneiro - "Changes in the Portuguese Energy Sector", pp. 20-21, in Expert Guide - Energy & Natural Resources 2012, Corporate Live Wire, June 2012
  • PACHECO, Mónica Carneiro; APOLINÁRIO, Marisa - “Portugal” chapter, in “Gas Regulation in 36 jurisdictions worldwide”, pp. 173-178, Law Business Research ltd., 2011
  • PACHECO, Mónica Carneiro - “The memorandum of understanding of the assistance plan between EU-IMF-ECB and Portugal and the Renewables Sector”, in Corporate Live Wire, 15 de Junho 2011
  • PACHECO, Mónica Carneiro; APOLINÁRIO, Marisa - “Portugal” chapter, in “Gas Regulation in 34 jurisdictions worldwide”, pp. 158-163, Law Business Research ltd., 2010
  • PACHECO, Mónica Carneiro; APOLINÁRIO, Marisa; NOVAIS, João - “Portugal” chapter, in “Gas Regulation in 35 jurisdictions worldwide”, pp. 168-174, Law Business Research ltd., 2009
  • PACHECO, Mónica Carneiro – article participation "Energy and Renewables Special Report", Iberian Lawyer, May-June 2009, pp. 37-41 (Mónica Carneiro Pacheco has been a regular contributor to this publication, having co-authored the Portuguese chapter from 2009 to the present)
  • PENA, Rui; CARNEIRO PACHECO, Mónica; APOLINÁRIO, Marisa – “Legislação do Gás Natural – Bases Gerais Comentadas, Legislação do Sector Energético”, volume I, Coimbra, Almedina, 2008
  • PACHECO, Mónica Carneiro, (co-authored) - "Cumprir Quioto em Espanha e Portugal“, Atualidade Jurídica U&M, 2005
  • PACHECO, Mónica Carneiro (co-authored) - “Portugal” chapter, in The International Comparative Legal Guide to Pharmaceutical Advertising, London: Global Legal Group, 2004
  • PACHECO, Mónica Carneiro (co-authored) -  "PPPs takeover in Portugal“, Project Finance Internacional, 2004
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Education

  • Law degree, Faculdade de Direito, Universidade Católica Portuguesa
  • Advanced Management in Energy, AESE Business School
  • Public Procurement Course, Public Markets Forum
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Expertise

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