César Sá Esteves and Octávio Castelo Paulo succeed Pedro Rebelo de Sousa at SRS Legal

César Sá Esteves and Octávio Castelo Paulo are the new managing partners of SRS Legal, succeeding Pedro Rebelo de Sousa, who has held this position since 1992.

This renewal emphasises the firm's institutional commitment, which will remain focused on will remain focussed on preserving SRS Legal's leading position in the legal profession in Portugal. legal practice in Portugal, built up in an innovative way over the last three decades under over the last three decades under the leadership of Pedro Rebelo de Sousa, who now assumes the position of Senior Partner, the firm explained to Advocatus first hand.

The General Meeting also elected a new Board of Directors was also elected, chaired by Pedro Rebelo de Sousa and composed of César Sá Esteves, Octávio Castelo Paulo, José Luís Moreira da Silva, Alexandra Valente, Gonçalo Anastácio, Alexandre Roque and Maria José de Tavares.

For Pedro Rebelo de Sousa, "this is the end of a process that has been meticulously planned and thoughtfully executed, to guarantee a smooth and effective transition. It was first considered in 2018/19, then suspended with the pandemic and finally resumed in 2021, to prepare for the renewal of SRS Legal and ensure its future as a reference institution in the national legal profession. This process was
accompanied by a comprehensive advanced training programme programme aimed at
 strengthen the management skills of SRS Legal's partners and provide the firm with new leadership profiles capable of ensuring the renewal of practices and the firm's sustainability in the medium and long term. I'm extremely happy that this process has been carried out in perfect harmony, with a unanimous vote at the General Meeting. César and Octávio are respected professionals and excellent people; having been with SRS Legal since the beginning, they represent its present and its future and - I'm sure - will live up to the successful track record of this project of more than 30 years."

The new managing partners explain that "it is with a strong sense of mission and commitment, but also with great pride and enthusiasm, that we face this election. Respecting Pedro's enormous legacy, which we are committed to continuing, our mandate has the main purpose of reinforcing SRS Legal as a firm of excellence in national law, consolidating its reputation and guaranteeing its sustainability.
and guaranteeing its future sustainability".

In April 2022, Pedro Rebelo de Sousa gave an interview to Advocatus in which he assumed that
"the future of the SRS is not me" and spoke, for the first time, about the process of generational transition in the firm's management.

Partner responsible for the Corporate & Finance Department, Octávio Castelo Paulo is also the head of the Corporate, Commercial and M&A, as well as TMT (Telecommunications, Media and Technology). recognised by Chambers & Partners and the Legal 500 as Band 1 in Portugal. With over 25 years' experience, the lawyer has advised national and international clients on national and international clients in mergers and acquisitions and acquisitions, and in a wide range of corporate/M&A and TMT matters, in Portugal and Angola. He is also responsible for SRS's Angola Desk. also a member of the Angolan Bar Association. Since 1999 he has been partner of the law firm Simmons & Simmons Rebelo de Sousa, now SRS Legal, and is responsible for the firm's Mergers and Acquisitions, Corporate, Commercial and TMT practices. He is also Chairman of the Board of Directors (non-executive) of Standard Bank de Angola, where he also chairs the Appointments and Remuneration, Risk and Credit Committees.
and Credit Committees.

César Sá Esteves, partner in charge of the Labour & Social Security Department, is recognised as a leader in Portugal by the main international directories in these areas (Band 1 by Chambers & Partners and Leading Individual by Legal 500). He has experience in all areas of labour and social security law, including litigation. With around 25 years' experience, she has worked in the area of labour law advising companies, particularly in corporate restructuring operations, negotiation of IRCTs, management of collective disputes, definition of HR policies and contractual models.

In an interview with Advocatus a year and a half ago, Pedro Rebelo de Sousa guaranteed that a succession "is not dynastic". In other words, "nobody chooses the managing partner, neither me nor anyone else in the office. What we have done and are doing at the moment is a process with the support of consultants, which is a transversal leadership development project. In other words, we've come to the conclusion that it's not just the leadership of the office, but the leadership at departmental level, so that it's a critical step to attract/retain and, of course, develop the talents you already have, and it involves all the partners. It will take place over the next two years or so, and it will give each of them career prospects."