Mónica Carneiro Pacheco

Lisbon, Portugal

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Languages

Portuguese
English
Spanish

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Mónica Carneiro Pacheco is a Partner and Head of the Energy & Climate Change team and is part of the ESG Task Force.

With over 30 years of 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 environmental law.

She provides legal advice to the main national and international players in the energy sector, developing a extensive 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, offering advice on environmental licensing, monitoring minimization measures, and environmental impact compensation.

Mónica is individually ranked Band 1 for Energy & Natural Resources by Chambers Europe and has been ranked for the past 17 years. She is ranked in the Hall of Fame for Energy & Natural Resources by Legal 500, 2025 and is recommended for Projects and Project Finance, by Legal 500, 2025. She is also acknowledged as Leading for Energy Law by Leaders League, 2026. Moreover, she is recognised for Energy Law, Environmental Law, and Natural Resources Law by Best Lawyers for the past years. She was also awarded Energy Team of the Year in 2019, Lawyer of the Year for Energy since 2022, and Lawyer of the Year for Renewables, in 2023 all promoted by Iberian Lawyer.

Joined CMS Portugal in 2007.

Awards & Recognitions

01 –

Award

Monica Carneiro Pacheco is very experienced and demonstrates great resilience. She has a natural technical ascendancy in the sector and has received great recognition for her specific competence among leading energy players in Portugal.

Legal 500 (2025)
Award

She is an anchor of the energy sector in Portugal. She has vast experience addressing issues and designing solutions, aligning several relevant interlocutors, and has great sense of leadership.

Chambers Europe (2025)
Award

Mónica Carneiro Pacheco does a very good job of acting proactively and is interested in what we do. She is aware of all new regulation, is very clear and able to explain things in a way that is understandable for clients.

Chambers Europe (2024)
Award

Mónica Carneiro Pacheco: has in-depth knowledge of the sector and has the ability to look for solutions. Bernardo Cunha and Manuel Cassiano Neves: very knowledgeable of the rules and regulations. They are always willing to seek solutions and advise on strategic paths to follow.

Legal 500 (2024)
Award

The CMS energy team led by Mónica Carneiro Pacheco is very consistent in the way it approaches the issues and reveals a deep knowledge of the energy sector in Portugal, being an asset when dealing with issues of relevant complexity. Topics are handled efficiently and with a strong understanding of the client’s needs.

Legal 500 (2023)
Award

Mónica Carneiro Pacheco understands a client's needs and has a very strong commercial judgement in her approach to the alternatives provided to the client.

Chambers Europe (2023)
Quote

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)
Quote

Monica Carneiro is very confident; she gives very strong opinions and it shows that she has mastered the issues and that she understands client’s concerns perfectly.

Legal 500 (2022)

Publications

PACHECO, Mónica Carneiro – “A necessidade (imperiosa) de aceleração das renováveis (e não só)”, in Jornal Económico, 2025
PACHECO, Mónica Carneiro – “Relatório Draghi: o futuro do Projecto Europeu, in especial o sector da energia”, in Jornal Económico, 2024
PACHECO, Mónica Carneiro – “Reequipamento para todos”, in Jornal de Negócios, 2022
PACHECO, Mónica Carneiro – “Ainda sobre os preços de energia no mercado grossista”, in Expresso, 2021
PACHECO, Mónica Carneiro – “Factos e opiniões - o hidrogénio verde”, in Expresso, 2021
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

Memberships & Roles

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

Education

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

Practice Areas

sectors

Energy & Climate Change

Insights

Global Reach