Commercial Law
Support in preparing, negotiating and performing the contracts that underpin a business, and in resolving the disputes that arise from them.
Matters the office handles
Commercial contracts
Sale of goods, services, supply and partnerships between businesses.
Standard terms and conditions
General terms of sale, purchase or service provision and their compliance with the applicable legal framework.
Commercial distribution
Agency, dealership, distribution and franchise agreements.
Client and supplier relations
Complaints, breaches, changes to terms and termination of business relationships.
Debt recovery
Formal notices, payment arrangements, payment orders (injunções) and enforcement proceedings.
Companies and sole traders, in their dealings with clients, suppliers, distributors and partners.
Handled by the lawyers of ME&JBA
Each matter is personally handled by a lawyer of the office assigned to it, from the initial analysis of the facts and documents to its conclusion. Before work begins, the client is informed of the scope of the work, the expected steps and the criteria for setting fees.
Common questions on Commercial Law
What are standard contract terms?
They are terms drawn up without prior individual negotiation, which unspecified offerors or recipients simply sign or accept. The adhering party can only accept or reject them as a whole, without influencing their content. The matter is governed by Decree-Law no. 446/85 of 25 October, which imposes duties of communication and information on those who use them and treats certain terms as prohibited, and therefore void.
How can an overdue invoice be recovered?
First, the debtor is formally asked to pay, which as a rule places them in default. If they do not pay and there is no enforceable title, an order for payment procedure (injunção) may be used, which gives enforceable effect to a claim for payment of money arising from contracts of up to 15,000 euros or, in commercial transactions between businesses, of any amount. In other cases, an ordinary court action is brought. If the debtor opposes the order for payment, the case goes to court. Once the title is obtained, enforcement proceedings can be started.
What interest is due on late payment between businesses?
In commercial transactions, late payment interest is due at the default rate for commercial companies' claims, set every six months by a notice published in the Official Gazette, unless the parties have agreed another rate within the legal limits.
General information, based on the legislation in force on 17.10.2026. Its application to a specific situation depends on the facts and requires its own legal analysis.