Diogo Leónidas Rocha is the partner responsible for the M&A, Banking and Finance Department. Diogo is specialised in mergers and acquisitions, banking, capital market and corporate finance.

He is founding partner of Garrigues, Leónidas, Matos, S.L., currently Garrigues Portugal, S.L. Before joining Garrigues, he was founding partner of Leónidas, Matos & Associados, from 2000 to 2004; founding partner of Pena, Machete, Botelho Moniz, Nobre Guedes, Ruiz & Associados (PMBGR), from 1999 to 2000, and associate at Carlos de Sousa e Brito & Associados, from 1990 to 1999.

Diogo has been leading some of the largest and complex M&A and finance transactions in Portugal, some of them of over €10 billion in value, including IPOs, takeovers and privatisations. He assists Portuguese and foreign clients in structuring complex and innovative transactions in the Portuguese market, specially involving listed companies and companies subject to the supervision of regulatory authorities such as the Bank of Portugal and the CMVM.

He has been invited to speak at numerous seminars, presentations and conferences in Portugal and abroad on various matters of M&A, finance and NPLs.

Diogo holds a law degree from the Universidade Católica Portuguesa (1990) and a Master's Degree in European Studies (Instituto de Estudos Europeus) (1992).

Member of the Portuguese Bar Association since 1992.

Diogo has been deemed "one of the few true, specialized capital markets lawyers in Portugal" by Chambers and Partners, which has also remarked his "excellent work and deep experience" and his "astute, objective and extremely reliable advice".

He has been cited as leading lawyer or leading individual in Capital Markets by various international law directories (e.g. Tier 1 Chambers and Partners; Hall of Fame in Legal 500, Highly Regarded in IFRL 1000).

Diogo has been awarded the best capital markets lawyer in Portugal by the "Investment Relations & Governance Awards" (promoted by Deloitte and the largest daily financial newspaper - Diário Económico).

Publications and conferences: "Merger Control in Europe"- IFR Publishing Ltd (1991); Dossiers Internationaux Francis Lefrevre - Portugal (jurídico, fiscal, social) (1992 y 1996); "International Securities Law", Euromoney Publications PLC (1992); "The Guide To World Equity Markets", Euromoney Publications PLC and GT Management PLC (1990) y actualizaciones anuales; First Annual International Financial Law Review, Banking Yearbook; "International Securities Law", BNA International Inc. (1998); "Global Banking & Financial Policy Review" (2003-2004); "The Euromoney Compliance Officer's Handbook" (2004).

Contributor to the "Journal of International Banking Law". Ongoing collaboration for the "Financial Regulations Report" (Financial Times) - Worldwide regulatory developments and their implications for the financial services industry, with contributions on: "Ex-dividend trading to be permitted on the Lisbon Stock Exchange"; "New definition of Investment Firm following implementation of the ISD"; "Shareholding disclosure provisions"; "The role of "Central de Valores Mobiliarios within the Portuguese clearing system"; "Trading of Portuguese treasury bonds by non-residents"; "Regulatory capital adequacy requirements for Portuguese credit institutions"; "Equity convertible bonds under Portuguese legislation"; "Shareholding disclosure provisions in Portugal"; "Lisbon Stock Exchange: trading will no longer stop for payment of dividends"; "Insider trading and market manipulation rules"; "The treatment of global custody under the Portuguese clearing system"; "The provision of investment services through the use of Internet"; "Reporting requirements following the implementation of articles 20 and 21 of the ISD"; "Portugal issues new legislation on Contractual Netting"; "Regulatory framework for the private offering of notes within the Portuguese market"; "Takeovers in Portugal: current thresholds following the 1995 amendment"; "Relevant forms of ownership and nature of holdings for shareholding disclosure purposes"; "Oporto Derivative Exchange launches a Repo market in Portugal"; "The concept of Upper Tier II capital under Portuguese capital adequacy rules"; "Primary dealer status on auctions of republic debt following introduction of the Euro, and the redenomination of the debt"; "Acquisition of treasury shares by Portuguese companies"; "Marketing in Portugal of foreign UCITS".

Collaboration for the journal European Financial Services Law: "System for the settlement of Stock Exchange transactions", May 1994; "Shareholding disclosure provisions", October 1994; "Licensing requirements in Portugal following the implementation of the Second Banking Directive", January 1997.