Pratice Areas Public Law
Administrative Law
We provide advisory services in public law and administrative law, handling licensing, administrative appeals, and lawsuits, focusing on the effective protection of our clients' interests.
Management decisions made in the exercise of authority within the scope of administrative law directly condition wealth and economic activity. Authorizations, licenses, plans, sanctions, omissions, or revocation decisions can determine the viability of zoning, industrial, environmental, or public and private investment projects.
Before moving forward with a project or investment subject to administrative control, we evaluate the applicable legal framework, identify risks of title expiration, zoning and environmental constraints, and potential relevant constitutional issues. Based on this analysis, we define a course of action in administrative and constitutional law that enables the client to make informed decisions.
When unlawful acts, unjustified omissions, or decisions that harm the wealth of individuals or companies arise, we analyze the existence of grounds for challenge within administrative law and for the non-contractual civil liability of the State. We quantify damages based on economic and documentary elements and evaluate the most appropriate path in each case, such as administrative complaints, hierarchical appeals, contentious challenges, or claims for damages.
In environmental and spatial planning matters, we coordinate legal assessment, regulatory impact, and institutional dialogue, assisting with procedures before administrative and regulatory authorities, so that clients can execute projects in compliance with the applicable legal regime, reducing regulatory uncertainty and unnecessary litigation.
Services
We support developers, companies, and individuals in obtaining, renewing, and amending construction, use, industrial operation, and land subdivision licenses within the scope of administrative law. We analyze municipal and special spatial planning plans, verify project compatibility with territorial management instruments, and prepare prior information requests (pedidos de informação prévia), prior notices (comunicações prévias), licenses, and authorizations.
We assist in inspections and other administrative steps, identifying risks of rejection or expiration in advance. In the event of delays, rejections, or declarations of title expiration, we evaluate deadlines, invoked grounds, and compliance with the right to be heard. When appropriate, we file complaints, hierarchical appeals, or contentious challenges typical of administrative law, aiming to restore legality and protect the investment already made.
We provide consultancy in environmental law and in environmental impact assessment procedures, environmental licensing, waste management, emissions, and other relevant regulatory obligations.
We help structure projects in a manner compatible with national and European legal requirements, taking into account principles such as sustainable development, the polluter-pays principle, and environmental risk prevention. We support the preparation of studies, reports, and responses to notifications from authorities, as well as the definition of mitigation and compensation measures.
When administrative decisions raise doubts regarding constitutional compliance, such as in cases of significant restrictions on property rights, economic initiative, or other fundamental rights, we draft petitions and pleadings that coordinate administrative and constitutional law. We follow proceedings in administrative courts and, when necessary, raise unconstitutionality issues and assist in cases before the Constitutional Court.
We represent individuals and companies in actions concerning the non-contractual civil liability of the State and other public entities when unlawful decisions, unjustified omissions, or significant delays cause wealth damages or other legally relevant losses.
We analyze the acts and omissions in question, evaluate the existence of unlawfulness, damage, and causal nexus, and work alongside experts and financial consultants to quantify the losses. From there, we define the most appropriate strategy, which may include attempting a negotiated solution, filing a prior administrative claim, or initiating an indemnity action before administrative courts. Throughout the proceeding, we monitor evidentiary steps, interlocutory decisions, and potential appeals, keeping the client informed about risks, costs, and probable scenarios.
Our approach
Planning and prevention
We assist in administrative procedures with a structured plan in administrative law and a focus on results.
Strategic litigation
We conduct administrative and judicial challenges, guaranteeing a robust defense in zoning, environmental, and State liability matters within the context of administrative law.
Integrated vision
We coordinate administrative, zoning, environmental, and constitutional law, seeking coherent and sustainable solutions from a legal and regulatory standpoint.
FAQs
We handle licensing, plans, sanctions, contracts, and administrative challenges, as well as liability actions against the State. We work from the project planning stage to the contesting of unlawful acts or omissions that affect our clients' wealth or business activity.
Whenever the project depends on authorizations, licenses, municipal plans, or regulatory decisions. Before investing, we analyze the legal framework, identify zoning and environmental constraints, title expiration risks, and potential constitutional law issues that could jeopardize the business.
We evaluate the impact of legislative measures regarding specific sectors, public procurement, fees, contributions, and benefits. We support associations and companies in reading the provisions, preparing contributions for public consultations, and potentially contesting measures that violate principles of public law or the Constitution.
We reconstruct the procedure, evaluate deadlines and grounds for challenge, and choose the appropriate path: an administrative complaint, hierarchical appeal, action for annulment, or a petition for an order to compel the performance of a due act (intimação para prática de ato devido). The objective is to restore legality and limit damages for the client.
We intervene when the administration declares the expiration of construction, operating, or other licenses essential to the activity, or when there is a risk of expiration due to inaction or delays. We verify whether the legal requirements are met, whether the right to be heard was respected, and whether there is room to react or regularize the situation.
When public decisions significantly affect property, economic initiative, or other fundamental rights, we evaluate their compatibility with the Constitution. In administrative actions and appeals, we raise constitutional law issues and, when necessary, follow proceedings before the Constitutional Court.
It is the obligation of the State or other public entities to compensate for damages caused by unlawful acts committed in the exercise of public functions, including unjustified omissions or significant delays. We analyze the administrative conduct, evaluate damage and causal nexus, work with experts to quantify losses, and file state non-contractual civil liability actions when solid grounds exist.
Yes. In environmental and spatial planning matters, we work on licensing, environmental impact assessment, plan constraints, and environmental sanctions, always coordinating with the applicable administrative and constitutional law framework.
We weigh three factors: the legal probability of success, evidentiary capacity (documentary and expert), and the economic and regulatory impact of the dispute. We only recommend moving forward when the action fits within a global strategy for damage reduction or investment recovery.
As soon as projects dependent on material administrative decisions emerge, or upon signs of rejection, prolonged silence from the administration, or decisions that jeopardize investments already made. The earlier technical intervention occurs, the greater the margin to correct the procedure, prevent expiration, and reduce the need for lengthy litigation.