Practices and Sectors

• Antitrust and Competition Litigation
• Competition
• Energy
• ESG Criteria and Climate Change Regulation
• European Union Law

Profile 

Rita joined Pérez-Llorca’s Lisbon office in 2024 as a partner for the Competition, European Union, and Regulation practice area and to strengthen the international strategy of the firm.

Rita has developed her career in leading Portuguese and international law firms. Prior to joining the firm, she was a partner in a renowned Portuguese firm specialised in European Union and Competition Law.

Studies:

• 2013-2021 PhD in EU Competition Law, Faculty of Law, Portuguese Catholic University, Oporto
• 2007-2008 Master of Arts in Economic Aspects of Competition Law, King’s College, London
• 2006-2007 Postgraduate Diploma in Economic Aspects of Competition Law, King’s College, London
• 2000-2004 Master’s Degree in Legal and Community Sciences, Faculty of Law, University of Lisbon
• 2004 Specialisation course in Competition Policy, INA
• 1993-1998 Law Degree, Faculty of Law, Portuguese Catholic University, Oporto

She is fluent in Portuguese, English, Spanish & French.

Experience

Rita is specialised in EU and Competition Law. She advises national and international clients on antitrust matters, in various sectors such as energy, banking, infrastructure, transport and pharmaceuticals. This assistance notably covers representing clients in sanctioning proceedings before the Portuguese Competition Authority, advice on complex merger transaction (including multi-jurisdictional filings), assistance in the design of distribution systems and discounting schemes, as well as the design and execution of competition law compliance programmes.

Rita is experienced in state aid matters and EU and competition law litigation before national courts and the Court of Justice of the European Union.

Awards & Recognition

• Chambers Europe: Competition EU Law
• Best Lawyers®: “Competition/Antitrust Law” and “European Union Law”
• 40 in their 40s W@Competition
• Rising star / five stars professionals W@CompetitionIberia
• Winner of the Dr. João Lopes Cardoso Prize awarded to the best traineeship essays by the Oporto Regional Centre of the Portuguese Bar Association.

Academic and Publishing Collaborations

Rita is currently invited Professor at the Faculty of Law of the Portuguese Catholic University, teaching the seminar “Introduction to EU energy and environmental Law”.

She also participates regularly in seminars and conferences as a speaker.

Rita has published following legal work:

• Medidas de Correção em Abuso de Posição Dominante: seus limites e direções, Almedina, Coimbra, 2023
• “The Adoption of Remedies under Regulation 1/2003: Between Success and Coherence”, Market and Competition Law Review, Vol. V, No. 2, October 2021, pp. 147- 179
• “Commitment Decisions: Is the Sky the Limit? – Commentary to Judgment of the General Court (Eight Chamber) of 15 September 2016, Case T-76/14, Morningstar, Inc v European Commission”, Market and Competition Law Review, Vol. I, No. 2, October 2017, pp. 195-212
• “Remedies and Article 102 TFEU”, Competition Law Challenges in the Next Decade, Ed. Sofia Oliveira Pais, Peter Lang, Brussels, 2016, pp. 179-193
• “Consumidores, ressarcimento e clemência: um balanço equilibrado?”, Cidadania Europeia: Desafios e oportunidades, Ed. Sofia Oliveira Pais, Universidade Católica Editora, Porto, 2015, pp. 373-394
• “Comentário ao acórdão do Tribunal de Justiça (Quinta Secção) de 12 de dezembro de 2013, Portgás – Sociedade de Produção e Distribuição de Gás S.A. c. Ministério da Agricultura, do Mar, do Ambiente e do Ordenamento do Território, C-425/12”, Anuário Português de Direito Internacional, 2013, Ministério dos Negócios Estrangeiros, pp. 373-392.

• “Comentário aos artigos 244.º a 250.º do Tratado sobre o Funcionamento da União 6 Europeia”, in Tratado de Lisboa Anotado e Comentado, Ed. Manuel porto e Gonçalo Anastácio, Almedina, Coimbra, 2012, pp. 844-903
• “Portugal – The Area of Freedom Security and Justice, Including Information Society Issues”, Reports of the XXV FIDE Congress, 2012, Vol 3, pp. 531-554
• “Energia elétrica – Diretivas da Comunidade Europeia”, Revista do Direito da Energia do Instituto Brasileiro de Estudos do Direito da Energia, No. 1, 2004, pp. 113-124
• “A Livre Circulação dos Advogados na Comunidade Europeia”, Revista da Faculdade de Direito da Universidade de Lisboa, Vol. XLII, Nº 2, 2001, pp. 1205-1259

Professional Organisations

• Portuguese Bar Association
• President of APDE – Portuguese Association for European Law
• Vice-President of APDE – Portuguese Association for European Law (2018 -2024)
• Member of the W@CompetitionIberia team
• Secretary General of the Fédération Internationale pour le Droit Européen (2016-2018)
• Secretary General of APDE – Portuguese Association for European Law (2012-2017)
• Member of the Advisory Board of the Portuguese Circle of Competition Lawyers (2015-2016)
• Secretary General of the Portuguese Circle of Competition Lawyers (2013-2014)
• Member of the Board of Directors of the Portuguese Association for European Law (2009-2011)