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Francisco Xavier de Almeida
Partner

Lawyer

Francisco Xavier de Almeida

Languages
  • Portuguese
  • English
  • Spanish
Social media

Francisco Xavier de Almeida is a Partner in the Corporate M&A team and is part of the ESG Task Force. He is also a member of CMS Portugal's Board of Directors.

With 25 years of experience, his main areas of focus are corporate M&A and banking and financial law, namely mergers and acquisitions, private equity, acquisition financing, bond issues, public offerings, credit securitization, and structured products.

He also has extensive experience in special situations, restructuring, and transactions involving distressed assets and NPLs.

Francisco has been individually ranked for Corporate M&A, Private Equity, Capital Markets, and Banking & Finance, by Chambers Global and Europe, for the past 19 years and he has been recommended for Commercial, Corporate and M&A, Capital Markets and Banking & Finance by Legal 500, 2025. Moreover, he is recognised for Corporate Law, Banking and Finance Law, Capital Markets Law, Mergers and Acquisitions, Law and Private Equity Law by Best Lawyers for the past years. He is also recognized as Highly Regarded for Banking, Capital Markets, and M&A by IFLR 1000, 2023. He is also ranked as Recommended for Capital Markets - Debt & Equity and Structured Finance, by WWL. Moreover, he is ranked as Highly Recommended for Banking & Finance and Private Equity and Excellent for Corporate M&A by Leaders League, 2025.

Joined CMS Portugal in 2007.

Awards & Recognitions
01
  • Quote
    He is a great and knowledgeable lawyer who has the ability to find solutions and understand his clients.
    Chambers Global (2025)
  • Quote
    Francisco Xavier de Almeida is a very competent and experienced lawyer.
    Chambers Global (2025)
  • Quote
    Focus on solving problems, customer-oriented attitude.
    Legal 500 (2025)
  • Quote
    Francisco Xavier de Almeida is experienced and provides a hands-on approach and coordination.
    Legal 500 (2024)
  • Quote
    He demonstrates unique awareness of the services and has excellent technical skills.
    Chambers Europe (2024)
  • Quote
    Francisco Xavier de Almeida advises on corporate finance and regulatory issues. He is also well versed in financial regulations matters.
    Chambers Global (2024)
  • Quote
    It is an international team able to advise on transactions involving different jurisdictions. They are fast and very efficient. CMS team stands out from other competitors in the industry in knowledge and involvement.
    Legal 500 (2023)
  • Quote
    Francisco Xavier de Almeida is very engaged in the transactions, with a senior level of knowledge, involved and approachable.
    Chambers Europe (2023)
  • Quote
    Francisco Xavier de Almeida advises on corporate finance and regulatory issues. He is also well versed in financial regulations matters.
    Chambers Global (2023)
  • Quote
    Clients say that "Francisco Xavier de Almeida is very engaged in the transactions, with a senior level of knowledge, involved and approachable." "Francisco has been of great assistance in advising and negotiating deals.”
    Chambers Global (2023)

Relevant experience

  • Assistant Professor at Faculdade de Direito, Universidade Católica Portuguesa, 1995 - 1997

Publications

  • ALMEIDA, Francisco Xavier de; RODRIGUES, Vasco, - “Current Status on Portuguese Private Equity”, Private Equity, Worldwatch, Financier Worldwide, 2010

Memberships & Roles

  • Member of the Portuguese Bar Association since 1997 
  • Registered in the Law Society of England and Wales since 1997

Awards & Rankings

Francisco Xavier de Almeida is experienced and provides a hands-on approach and coordination.

Legal 500 (2024)


He demonstrates unique awareness of the services and has excellent technical skills.

Chambers Europe (2024)


Francisco Xavier de Almeida advises on corporate finance and regulatory issues. He is also well versed in financial regulations matters.

Chambers Global (2024)

 
It is an international team able to advise on transactions involving different jurisdictions. They are fast and very efficient. CMS team stands out from other competitors in the industry in knowledge and involvement.

Legal 500 (2023)
 

Francisco Xavier de Almeida is very engaged in the transactions, with a senior level of knowledge, involved and approachable.

Chambers Europe (2023)
 

Clients say rhat "Francisco Xavier de Almeida is very engaged in the transactions, with a senior level of knowledge, involved and approachable." "Francisco has been of great assistance in advising and negotiating deals.”

Chambers Global (2023)
 

Francisco Xavier de Almeida has worked with us for a long time, always with excellent results. He is focused on closing deals, proactively supporting both the structuring of transactions and the negotiation phase, always offering sophisticated and constructive advice. We feel that he is a true partner of our team and together we achieved great results.

‘I recommend Francisco Xavier de Almeida for his 100% availability, ability to resolve issues/problems and knowledge of the capital market products. I strongly recommend them!’

Legal 500 (2022)
 

He does a really nice job in coordinating the team, is very practical and commercial, and can both identify and mitigate risks," enthuses one client.

Chambers Europe (2022)
 

He is focused on closing the deals while proactively supporting both the structuring of the operations and the negotiation phase, always offering sophisticated and constructive advice.“

Chambers Global (2022)

Lectures list

  • Assistant Professor at Faculdade de Direito, Universidade Católica Portuguesa, 1995 - 1997

Education

  • Law degree, Faculdade de Direito, Universidade Católica Portuguesa
  • Master of Laws (LL.M.) in Banking and Finance, London School of Economics and Political Science