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João Bento

Partner
João Bento was on top of things: responsive, thorough, kind and efficient, and brought the whole working group to the finish line.
— Legal 500, 2025
Lisbon
About

João has over 15 years’ experience as a lawyer in the financial sector. He advises lenders, investors, sponsors, and corporate borrowers in domestic and international financing and corporate transactions, in a wide range of sectors.

He is an ESG advocate, including in green finance matters and has also significant experience in capital markets, structured finance and restructuring, as well as transactions in connection with banks’ deleveraging, including loan and REO portfolio trades.

João has extensive experience in NPL transactions, having acted as a key advisor to sellers, purchasers and lenders/leverage providers in several significant deals that took place in Portugal.

Areas of FocusFinanceCorporateInvestment Management and FundsRestructuring
Bar admissionsAdvogado admitted with the Ordem dos Advogados (Portuguese Bar Association)

EXPERIENCE

  • Advice to international and local sponsors on the financing (both senior and mezzanine) of the development of touristic and real estate projects in Portugal.
  • Advice to international banks in relation to the financing of a project in South America for a PPP toll road project.
  • Advice to a corporate borrower on its EUR150m asset-backed revolving credit facility from an international bank.
  • Advice to (A) local banks on loan portfolio sales consisting of performing and non-performing loans and other assets, (B) international investors in acquiring several NPL and REO portfolios in Portugal, and (C) international banks in financing the acquisition of several NPL and REO portfolios in Portugal, through credit securitisation.
Languages
  • Portuguese
  • English
  • Spanish

AWARDS AND RECOGNITION

  • Ranked as Next Generation Partner by Legal 500 in Banking and Finance

  • Ranked as Rising Star Partners by IFLR1000 in Banking and Finance

  • Ranked as Rising Star Partners by IFLR1000 in Restructuring and Insolvency

Education
  • University of Lisboa, Faculty of Law, Postgraduate programme on Securities Law, 2010
  • Universitat Pompeu Fabra de Barcelona, Erasmus Exchange Programme, 2007
  • NOVA School of Law, Bachelor of Laws, 2008

Seminars

  • Lecturer of “Banks in Action”, a volunteering scheme aimed at teaching children about the financial system promoted by Junior Achievement and sponsored by Citibank.

Prior Experience

  • 2015 to 2023, Managing Associate, Associate, Magic Circle international law firm based in Lisbon
  • 2013 to 2015, Special Advisor to the Secretary of State for Tourism, Portuguese Government
  • 2008 to 2013, Associate, Junior Associate, Portuguese leading/Tier 1 law firm

My latest insights

News

DLA Piper advises ARD Investment and Development on the financing and corporate...

25 June 2025 .2 minute read

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Phone

+351 213 583 620
(Work, Lisbon)