New leadership at Uría Menéndez in Portugal
Uría Menéndez appoints Antonio Villacampa and Marta Pontes as managing partners in Portugal
July 29, 2025 
At the General Partners’ Meeting, Uría Menéndez confirmed Antonio Villacampa in his role as managing partner and appointed Marta Pontes to the same position at the firm’s Portugal office. They will both take up their roles on 1 January 2026, under a co-leadership model that has contributed to the firm’s development and consolidation in Portugal.
Antonio Villacampa and Bernardo Diniz de Ayala have led the Lisbon office of Uría Menéndez together for the past eight years, establishing it as one of the leading law firms in the Portuguese legal market. Bernardo will continue to play a leading role in the Public Law and Projects practice, an area in which he is widely recognised as an expert.
Marta Pontes’ appointment shows the firm’s commitment to developing internal talent and encouraging generational renewal. She is joining the leadership team at a significant time for the firm, as 2026 marks 25 years since Uría Menéndez became the first foreign law firm to establish a presence in Portugal.
“As an Iberian firm, Portugal is a core part of our identity and our strategy. Renewing the leadership is an opportunity to further build on our firm’s excellent track record in Portugal,” said Salvador Sánchez-Terán, Uría Menéndez’s managing partner.
With over 100 professionals based in Lisbon and Porto, the firm has established a strong presence in Portugal, providing strategic advice and guidance on complex matters to domestic and international clients in both the private and public sectors.
Professional background
Antonio Villacampa is a partner in the Corporate Law practice at the Lisbon office, where he has worked since 2002. He joined Uría Menéndez in 1995, becoming a partner in 2005. From 2001 to 2002, he was seconded to the New York office of Cravath, Swaine & Moore.
His practice areas include M&A, corporate law and finance.
Marta Pontes joined Uría Menéndez in 2004. She specialises in tax law and has extensive experience in M&A, real estate transactions, project finance, financial products and tax litigation.
At the general meeting, the partners thanked Bernardo Diniz de Ayala for his dedication and leadership at the helm of the Lisbon office since 2018. He will continue to head up the Public Law and Projects practice in Lisbon, reinforcing its standing as a market-leading practice in Portugal."