Practice Expertise
- Public Law
Areas of Practice
- Public Law
Profile
Maria is a partner in the Public Law practice. With more than 18 years of professional experience in general administrative law, public procurement, project finance and public-private partnerships, Maria has focused on projects and infrastructure.
She has advised public and private bodies on various areas of public law, in particular concessions and projects in the road, rail, airport, port, health and water and waste sectors.
Prior to joining PLMJ, Maria was head of the Technical Unit for the Supervision of Projects (UTAP) under the supervision of the Ministry of Finance. She was also a member of the High Council for Public Works and was involved in the launch and renegotiation of major public projects. In these roles, Maria represented the Portuguese State in various Portuguese and international forums on PPPs and major projects, before European and multilateral institutions and in the context of missions and reviews of the Economic and Financial Assistance Programme for Portugal.
Maria started her career at the law firms of Sérvulo & Associados and Vieira de Almeida.
She has advised public and private bodies on various areas of public law, in particular concessions and projects in the road, rail, airport, port, health and water and waste sectors.
Prior to joining PLMJ, Maria was head of the Technical Unit for the Supervision of Projects (UTAP) under the supervision of the Ministry of Finance. She was also a member of the High Council for Public Works and was involved in the launch and renegotiation of major public projects. In these roles, Maria represented the Portuguese State in various Portuguese and international forums on PPPs and major projects, before European and multilateral institutions and in the context of missions and reviews of the Economic and Financial Assistance Programme for Portugal.
Maria started her career at the law firms of Sérvulo & Associados and Vieira de Almeida.
Bar Admissions
Admitted to the Portuguese Bar Association, 2006
Education
Law degree from the University of Lisbon, 2004
Postgraduate course in pharmaceutical law at the Faculty of Law of the University of Coimbra, 2006
Areas of Practice
- Public Law
Professional Career
Significant Accomplishments
Other Awards
2021 - Maria Zagallo Forty under 40
The Legal 500
2023 - Maria Zagallo, Next Generation Partners Projects and Project Finance
2023 - Maria Zagallo, Recommended Public Law
2022 - Maria Zagallo Projects and Project Finance
Professional Activities and Experience
Head of the Portuguese PPP Unit (UTAP), Ministry of Finance (2018-2021)
Member of the Executive Committee of the Portuguese Higher Council for Public Works (2018-2021)
Deputy Head of the Portuguese PPP Unit (UTAP), Ministry of Finance (2016-2018)
Senior consultant of the Portuguese PPP Unit (UTAP), Ministry of Finance (2012-2016)
Lawyer at the law firm Sérvulo & Associados (2007-2012)
Lawyer and trainee lawyer at the law firm Vieira de Almeida & Associados (2004-2007)
Other Awards
2021 - Maria Zagallo Forty under 40
The Legal 500
2023 - Maria Zagallo, Next Generation Partners Projects and Project Finance
2023 - Maria Zagallo, Recommended Public Law
2022 - Maria Zagallo Projects and Project Finance
Professional Activities and Experience
Head of the Portuguese PPP Unit (UTAP), Ministry of Finance (2018-2021)
Member of the Executive Committee of the Portuguese Higher Council for Public Works (2018-2021)
Deputy Head of the Portuguese PPP Unit (UTAP), Ministry of Finance (2016-2018)
Senior consultant of the Portuguese PPP Unit (UTAP), Ministry of Finance (2012-2016)
Lawyer at the law firm Sérvulo & Associados (2007-2012)
Lawyer and trainee lawyer at the law firm Vieira de Almeida & Associados (2004-2007)
