Joana is a partner in the Public Law practice. She has 20 years' experience as a lawyer, with an emphasis on projects, infrastructure and concessions, including real estate and construction.

She has advised Portuguese and foreign investors on the implementation of projects, and focuses on the negotiation, drafting and implementation of project contracts, including project management, design, works, EPC, O&M, BOOT, PMC, and supervision, among others. Joana also has extensive experience in preparing and negotiating contracts for power generation projects and for the use of water resources, and she has represented clients in major international urban infrastructure projects in various markets.

Joana advises on property construction and urban regeneration projects, particularly in the residential, tourism, office and logistics sectors. She has also frequently advised on regulatory matters, including geological resources.

She has a law degree from the Faculty of Law of the University of Porto and a post-graduate qualification in Civil Law - Law of Obligations from the Faculty of Law of Universidade Católica Portuguesa in Porto.

Besides her work as a lawyer, Joana has experience as a lecturer and teacher. She has given numerous lectures and courses in subjects such as public and construction law. In particular, she has spoken on public procurement, public contracting, EPC contracts, works contracts, FIDIC contractual models, financial rebalancing of contracts, price revision, errors and omissions, complementary works, and resolution of consumer disputes in the energy sector, among others.

Joana was a guest lecturer at the Faculty of Economics of the University of Porto, taught at the Faculty of Law of Universidade Católica Portuguesa in Lisbon on the postgraduate course in energy law and teaches at the Faculty of Law of the University of Lisbon (Private Law Research Centre) on the postgraduate course in real estate law.

In addition, Joana has published numerous articles in her areas of practice.

Bar Admissions
Admitted to the Portuguese Bar Association in 2003

Education
Law degree from the University of Porto, 2001
Postgraduate in Civil-Legal Sciences (Law of Obligations), the Faculty of Law of Universidade Catolica Portuguesa, Oporto,
2003
Attended postgraduate course in Building and Construction Law at the Faculty of Law of Universidade Catolica Portuguesa,
Oporto, 2008

Significant Accomplishments
Chambers Europe
2024 - Joana Brandão, Associates to Watch Projects
2023 - Joana Brandão, Associates to watch Projects
2022 - Joana Brandão, Associates to watch Projects
The Legal 500
2023 - Joana Brandão Projects and Project Finance
2023 - Joana Brandão, Recommended Energy and Natural Resources
2023 - Joana Brandão, Rising stars Public Law
2023 - Joana Brandão Oporto Market
2022 - Joana Brandão Projects and Project Finance
2022 - Joana Brandão Energy and Natural Resources
2022 - Joana Brandão, Rising stars Public Law
2021 - Joana Brandão, Rising stars Public Law
2020 - Joana Brandão Public Law
IFLR1000
2023 - Joana Brandão, Rising star Banking and Finance: Project Development
2023 - Joana Brandão, Rising star Project Development
2022 - Joana Brandão, Rising star Project Development
2022 - Joana Brandão, Rising star Banking and Finance: Project Development
2021 - Joana Brandão, Rising star Project Development
2019 - Joana Brandão, Rising Star Corporate / M&A (Project Development)


Professional Activities and Experience
Managing associate at PLMJ, 2019-2023
Founding partner of the law firm Cavaleiro Brandão, Pinheiro Torres, Cabral, Sousa e Silva e Associados
Guest assistant lecturer at the Economics Faculty of the University of Oporto, 2013