Compass Lexecon Expands EMEA Presence with New Lisbon Office

Compass Lexecon today announced the expansion of its Europe, Middle East and Africa (“EMEA”) presence with an office in Lisbon, Portugal. The new office, led by Senior Vice President, Helder Vasconcelos, will further expand the firm’s client service capabilities across the Iberian Peninsula and in Brazil.

Compass Lexecon has been active in Portugal for over 10 years advising on a range of matters, including complex Phase 2 merger investigations before the Portuguese Competition Authority, assessing anticompetitive conduct (agreements and abuse of dominance), policy and regulation, and follow-on damages claims. The firm has also advised clients in Brazil and before the Brazilian Competition Authority on global mergers, abuse of dominance, and anti-competitive agreements cases.

Helder will lead the Lisbon office as a highly regarded Portuguese economist with more than 20 years of experience in the areas of competition policy and regulation across both private and public entities. He has extensive experience advising clients in Portugal, Brazil and across Europe on merger cases, the economics of Article 101 and Article 102, as well as cartel damages litigation. He has testified before several competition authorities, including the Competition, Regulation and Supervision Court in Portugal.

Before joining Compass Lexecon in 2020, Helder formerly served as Executive Member of the Board of ANACOM, the Portuguese Regulatory Authority for Telecommunications and Postal Services, and as consultant to the Board of Directors of the Portuguese Competition Authority.

Kirsten Edwards-Warren, Co-Head of Compass Lexecon EMEA, noted “Helder and our Portuguese-speaking team have led significant business growth in Portugal and Brazil, and we are delighted to now open an office in Lisbon to further develop our client services offerings in these markets. Helder has extensive technical expertise and excellent client relationships, and we are confident that our newest office will thrive under his leadership.”

Jorge Padilla, Chair of the EMEA practice at Compass Lexecon, said “Our ambition to have a Lisbon office led by a top-class local team is now a reality. Helder and his team work as trusted advisors to our Portuguese law firm, corporate, and regulatory clients and the new office will enable us to further our commitment to helping them with highly complex competition and antitrust matters.”