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Nuno Pena
Partner

Nuno Pena

Lawyer

Languages
  • Spanish
  • English
  • Portuguese
Social media

Nuno Pena is a Partner in the Dispute Resolution and Insolvency & Restructuring teams and is part of the ESG Task Force.

With over 25 years of experience, he represents a roster of national and international clients on civil and commercial litigation, dispute resolution, and insolvency and restructuring.

He has a particularly impressive track record in cross-border restructuring and insolvency disputes, in the financial services sector, relating particularly to the Bank Recovery and Resolution Directive (“BRRD”).

Nuno is also well-versed in multijurisdictional arbitration proceedings, particularly in the financial and energy sectors. He has also experience in multijurisdictional insolvency proceedings.

Nuno has been individually ranked for Dispute Resolution, by Chambers Global and Europe for the past 16 years. He is also recommended for Dispute Resolution and Insolvency and Restructuring,  by Legal 500, 2025. Moreover, he is recognised for Arbitration and Mediation, Litigation and Insolvency and Reorganization Law, by Best Lawyers since 2013. He is also acknowledged as a Highly Recommended for International Arbitration and as Recommended for White Collar-Crime and as Excellent for Civil & Commercial Litigation and Restructuring & Insolvency by Leaders League, 2024. In addition, Nuno was acknowledged Lexology Client Choice Awards 2023 for Arbitration & ARD.

He is a founding partner of CMS Portugal.

Awards & Recognitions
01
  • Award
    Nuno Pena is very experienced and available.
    Legal 500 (2025)
  • Award
    Nuno Pena represents clients in civil disputes arising in the energy and banking sectors. He also assists with administrative procedures filed against the Portuguese banking sector regulator.
    Chambers Global (2024)
  • Award
    Quick analysis of clients’ needs. Availability, easy communication, direct contact with lawyers.
    Legal 500 (2023)
  • Award
    Nuno Pena represents clients in civil disputes arising in the energy and banking sectors. He also assists with administrative procedures filed against the Portuguese banking sector regulator.
    Chambers Global (2023)
  • Award
    Very strong legal analysis. Nuno Pena and Diogo Pereira stand out.
    Legal 500 (2022)
  • Award
    Interviewees say that Nuno Pena is "open-minded, creative and client-focused." He represents clients in civil disputes arising in the energy and banking sectors. He also assists with administrative procedures filed against the Portuguese banking sector regulator”.
    Chambers Global (2022)

Publications

  • PENA, Nuno – “Sentimento de confiança na arbitragem: diretrizes da IBA e determinação das circunstâncias a revelar”, in Revista Internacional de Arbitragem e Conciliação Nº 22, 2025
  • PENA, Nuno– “Os quatro pilares anticorrupção”, in ECO, 2024
  • PENA, Nuno– “A Corrupção favorece as ideias novas”, in ECO, 2022
  • PENA, Nuno– “A estupidez, a justiça e o crescimento”, in Expresso, 2022
  • PENA, Nuno– “Uma estranha reforma da qual, curiosamente, nada resulta”, in Advocatus, 2022
  • PENA, Nuno– “Repondo o bom nome da Audiência Prévia”, in ECO, 2021
  • PENA, Nuno– “A Réplica Contra-ataca”, in ECO, 2021
  • PENA, Nuno– “Coragem para decidir sobre o que tem valor”, in Público, 2021
  • PENA, Nuno et al. – “Liberdade e a vertigem de tudo prever: autonomia das partes na arbitragem institucional”, in Revista Internacional de Arbitragem e Conciliação, APA, Ano XV, 2021, pp. 298-310
  • PENA, Nuno - “Liquidação de Instituições de crédito e sociedades financeiras e resolução de atos prejudiciais”, in Estudos em Homenagem a Rui Pena, Almedina, 2018, pp. 899-924
  • PENA, Nuno - “Reflexões sobre o regime de impecuniosidade nos sistemas de Common Law em Portugal”, in Revista Internacional de Arbitragem e Conciliação, Almedina, 2019, pp. 107-140
  • PENA, Nuno – “O IVA e a Taxa de Exibição de Publicidade: Questões de Valor Tributável”, in Cadernos do IVA 2013, Almedina, 2013, pp. 307-333

Memberships & Roles

  • Member of the Portuguese Bar Association since 1995

Education

  • Law degree, Faculdade de Direito, Universidade Católica Portuguesa
  • Postgraduate in Management and Taxation, Instituto de Estudos Superiores Financeiros e Fiscais