Notícias

Lawyer Cavaleiro Machado has received the Outstanding Industry Expert award from the European Franchise Federation (EFF), in recognition of his many years of service to the franchising sector.

The award highlights his contribution to the development of ethical and sustainable legal practices in franchising, acknowledging a professional career dedicated to supporting and advancing this business model.

This distinction represents international recognition of Cavaleiro Machado’s professional achievements and his contribution to the franchising industry.

“It was with great satisfaction that I received the Outstanding Industry Expert award from the European Franchise Federation (EFF), recognising the work carried out over three decades in the field of franchising.

This award represents much more than an individual achievement. It also acknowledges a professional journey built on the conviction that the law plays a fundamental role in developing a more ethical, sustainable and legally structured franchising sector.

Throughout these years, I have had the privilege of witnessing the industry’s evolution, working alongside leading professionals and organisations, and contributing to the development of franchising in Portugal and across Europe.

I would like to thank the European Franchise Federation for this distinction, as well as everyone who has been part of this journey over the past 30 years.

I receive this recognition with pride and with the same determination to continue contributing to the future of franchising,” says Cavaleiro Machado.

30 Years Dedicated to Franchising

Cavaleiro Machado & Associados is a Portuguese law firm established as a civil law partnership, whose exclusive purpose is the practice of law. It has been registered with the Portuguese Bar Association since 25 August 2010, under registration number 76/10.

The firm operates in accordance with the Statute of the Portuguese Bar Association (Law No. 145/2015 of 9 September), other applicable Portuguese legislation, and the Code of Conduct of the Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe (CCBE).

Cavaleiro Machado & Associados was founded on the friendship and shared legal practice of its partners and associates. The firm specialises in corporate legal advisory services, particularly in franchising, entrepreneurship and startups, as well as supporting businesses in their international expansion.

Drawing on the extensive franchising experience of its founding partner, the firm seeks to identify the most appropriate legal solutions for entrepreneurs and companies wishing to develop their businesses through franchising or other business models.

To achieve this, Cavaleiro Machado & Associados has assembled a cohesive, multidisciplinary team of lawyers with complementary legal expertise, enabling the firm to provide timely legal advice tailored to the specific needs of each client.

Its services range from assisting startups during the initial stages of business development, including assessing the international expansion potential of their brands, defining the most appropriate legal structure, establishing corporate organisation and evaluating the most advantageous tax arrangements, to negotiating franchise and master franchise agreements in Portugal and abroad.

The firm’s practice also includes negotiating real estate agreements, particularly with shopping centres; employment contracts, including collective bargaining and negotiations with trade unions; litigation in general, particularly administrative, tax, employment and arbitration proceedings; debt recovery; and legal representation in administrative offence proceedings before Portuguese authorities such as ASAE, ACT, AT, AIMA, Social Security and other public bodies.

The firm also provides legal representation in economic criminal proceedings.

Taking into account the applicable national and international legal frameworks, Cavaleiro Machado & Associados is committed to identifying solutions that best serve its clients and their businesses.

Although primarily focused on corporate clients, the firm recognises that businesses are made up of people. For this reason, its services also extend to private individuals, providing legal assistance whenever requested, subject to Article 99 of the Statute of the Portuguese Bar Association (EOA), which governs conflicts of interest involving lawyers.

To ensure the highest standards of legal advice and representation, Cavaleiro Machado & Associados has developed a network of close, preferred partnerships with other law firms and independent legal practitioners, both nationally and internationally.

Through their geographical presence, experience and specialised legal knowledge, these partnerships enable the firm to offer clients a broad range of coordinated legal resources, tailored to the specific circumstances of each case.

At the international level, through its partner Cavaleiro Machado, representing the Portuguese Franchise Association (APF), the firm provides legal leadership to the World Franchise Council (WFC) and the Ibero-American Franchise Federation (FIAF).

At the national level, Cavaleiro Machado also serves as Legal Director of the Portuguese Franchise Association (APF) and is a member of the Legal Committee of the European Franchise Federation (EFF).