Practice Expertise
- Public Law
Areas of Practice
- Public Law
Profile
Sofia is a senior counsel in the Town and Country Planning practice, with over 30 years' experience.
She holds a law degree from the Faculty of Law of the University of Lisbon, where she also completed her Master's in Legal Sciences and where she was an assistant lecturer and a regular contributor to postgraduate courses and seminars. She has also been a guest lecturer at the Faculty of Law of Universidade Nova de Lisboa.
Sofia has extensive experience in providing legal and strategic advice on the development of urban development, real estate and tourism projects. She frequently deals with territorial planning procedures (drafting, modification and revision of territorial management instruments) and administrative control procedures (licensing, prior communication, authorisations) for urban, real estate, tourism, commercial, industrial, agricultural and environmental projects.
Her practice also includes advising on environmental impact assessment and strategic environmental assessment procedures as part of the development of various types of projects, as well as ongoing assistance in the design, planning, licensing and management of tourism developments, including hotels and resorts, and the structuring of urban regeneration and redevelopment operations. She also works on the licensing and construction of infrastructure and the licensing of activities related to the sea.
Sofia's regular clients include property developers, investment funds, banks and private equity firms.
Prior to rejoining PLMJ, where she was partner in charge of the town and country planning department until 2005, Sofia was in charge of the real estate, town planning and environment departments at Sérvulo Correia & Associados and Vieira de Almeida & Associados. She then founded her own law firm, Sofia Galvão Advogados, dedicated exclusively to planning (2014-2024). As part of her public career, she held the positions of Secretary of State for Public Administration and Secretary of State for the Presidency of the Council of Ministers in the 16th Constitutional Government.
She holds a law degree from the Faculty of Law of the University of Lisbon, where she also completed her Master's in Legal Sciences and where she was an assistant lecturer and a regular contributor to postgraduate courses and seminars. She has also been a guest lecturer at the Faculty of Law of Universidade Nova de Lisboa.
Sofia has extensive experience in providing legal and strategic advice on the development of urban development, real estate and tourism projects. She frequently deals with territorial planning procedures (drafting, modification and revision of territorial management instruments) and administrative control procedures (licensing, prior communication, authorisations) for urban, real estate, tourism, commercial, industrial, agricultural and environmental projects.
Her practice also includes advising on environmental impact assessment and strategic environmental assessment procedures as part of the development of various types of projects, as well as ongoing assistance in the design, planning, licensing and management of tourism developments, including hotels and resorts, and the structuring of urban regeneration and redevelopment operations. She also works on the licensing and construction of infrastructure and the licensing of activities related to the sea.
Sofia's regular clients include property developers, investment funds, banks and private equity firms.
Prior to rejoining PLMJ, where she was partner in charge of the town and country planning department until 2005, Sofia was in charge of the real estate, town planning and environment departments at Sérvulo Correia & Associados and Vieira de Almeida & Associados. She then founded her own law firm, Sofia Galvão Advogados, dedicated exclusively to planning (2014-2024). As part of her public career, she held the positions of Secretary of State for Public Administration and Secretary of State for the Presidency of the Council of Ministers in the 16th Constitutional Government.
Bar Admissions
Admitted to the Portuguese Bar Association
Education
Law degree from the Faculty of Law of the University of Lisbon, 1988
Guest lecturer at the Faculty of Law of Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 2011
Master's Degree in Legal Sciences, Faculty of Law, University of Lisbon, 1995
Areas of Practice
- Public Law
Professional Career
Significant Accomplishments
2015 - Sofia Galvão, Star Individual Planning & Zoning Law - Chambers Europe
2015 - Sofia Galvão, Recommended Real Estate and Construction - The Legal 500
2013 - Sofia Galvão Portuguese Lawyer of the Year Real Estate - Best Lawyers
Professional Associations
Professional Activities and Experience
Founding partner of Sofia Galvão Advogados, 2014-2024
Partner at VdA - Vieira de Almeida & Associados, 2007-2014
Partner at Sérvulo & Associados, 2005-2007
Partner and head of the Town and Country Planning practice at PLMJ, Sociedade de Advogados, RL, 2000-2005
Secretary of State for Public Administration, 16th Constitutional Government of the Republic of Portugal, 2004-2005
Secretary of State for the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, XVI Constitutional Government of the Republic of Portugal, 2004-2005
2015 - Sofia Galvão, Star Individual Planning & Zoning Law - Chambers Europe
2015 - Sofia Galvão, Recommended Real Estate and Construction - The Legal 500
2013 - Sofia Galvão Portuguese Lawyer of the Year Real Estate - Best Lawyers
Professional Associations
- International Bar Association
- AD URBEM
- APDI – Portuguese Association for Intelectual Law
Professional Activities and Experience
Founding partner of Sofia Galvão Advogados, 2014-2024
Partner at VdA - Vieira de Almeida & Associados, 2007-2014
Partner at Sérvulo & Associados, 2005-2007
Partner and head of the Town and Country Planning practice at PLMJ, Sociedade de Advogados, RL, 2000-2005
Secretary of State for Public Administration, 16th Constitutional Government of the Republic of Portugal, 2004-2005
Secretary of State for the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, XVI Constitutional Government of the Republic of Portugal, 2004-2005
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