Michael-Dean Fialho

Michael-Dean Fialho focuses his practice on Corporate and Real Estate Law, particularly in private equity, with a strong focus on real estate asset transactions, portfolio structuring, and leveraged operations.

With more than 10 years of experience, particularly in M&A, Michael-Dean Fialho has built a diversified client base and stands out in representing domestic and international investors in projects involving assets and transactions across multiple market sectors, including commercial, industrial, logistics, hospitality, retail, and patented asset classes. Michael-Dean Fialho has extensive experience in both operational platforms and PROPCO structures and has acted as key advisor in several high-profile transactions.

Michael-Dean Fialho’s experience includes the structuring of a joint venture established in 2022 with a major public capital and sustainable energy operator, involving approximately 240 MW of grid injection capacity and around €150 million in investment in assets and companies holding rights over land and solar plants, at different stages of development, from licensing to construction and operation. Michael-Dean Fialho subsequently advised the same client on the reacquisition of control over part of the project and structured and executed the sale of the portfolio to a leading international energy fund, in a transaction valued at approximately €50 million.

Michael-Dean Fialho also structured the partnership and the client’s entry into a real estate project involving a leveraged transaction of approximately €75 million, together with a leading national bank and two international real estate developers, for the development of what will become the largest BREEAM and WELL project in Portugal – the WellBe Project, future headquarters of Caixa Geral de Depósitos. Michael-Dean Fialho also led the team responsible for structuring and advising on the acquisition of a retail real estate portfolio comprising nine Lidl stores, in a transaction worth approximately €50 million.

For several years, Michael-Dean Fialho acted as general counsel to a group of start-ups in the chemical, biochemical, and pharmaceutical sectors, having overseen the completion and partial disposal of the respective portfolio and patents to Hovione. Michael-Dean Fialho has also deepened his expertise in new technologies, with particular interest in artificial intelligence and cryptocurrencies, having completed a significant transaction in the sector involving the sale of an IT platform (object code and source code) to SIBS.

Michael-Dean Fialho began his career at Telles de Abreu Advogados as a Trainee Lawyer between 2011 and 2015, remaining with the firm as an Associate Lawyer between 2015 and 2017.

Michael-Dean Fialho has been with Antas da Cunha Ecija since 2023.

Academic Background:

• Law Degree, University of Lisbon 
• Master’s Degree in Business Law, NOVA University Lisbon 
• Postgraduate Degree in Securities Law, University of Lisbon

Recognitions:

• Tier 4 in The Legal 500 – Real Estate and Construction 

Languages:

• Portuguese 
• English 

Admitted to the Portuguese Bar Association: 2015