Meet our expert: Maria Figueiredo, Partner, Portugal

What will be the most important market trend affecting your clients’ sector over the next six months?

The energy security issue resulting from the war in Ukraine will have an impact on the parts of Lusophone Africa that are heavily dependent on the energy markets and where most of my clients operate. Another trend, in which I strongly believe, is the increased scrutiny of the ethical conduct of companies determined by ESG metrics and increased market awareness (which the war has also deeply influenced).

What is the best way to stay connected to the issues that affect your clients?

In my experience, two very simple ways: read the news and speak to your clients regularly.

What was the most interesting cross-border, cross-discipline project that you were involved in?

The negotiation of the Transitional Arrangements to the Maritime Boundary Treaty between Timor-Leste and Australia. It was a tri-partite negotiation between Timor-Leste, Australia and the contractor groups of different petroleum blocks affected by the setting of the boundary. It started in July 2018 and lasted until August 2019 and involved a lot of travel and interesting meetings (and late dinners). And that was the first leg. There is still Greater Sunrise, a conventional gas development project, to tackle.