PAF Law Firm

Types of Maritime Charters: A Practical Guide for Owners and Charterers

In shipping, choosing the right charter structure isn’t a formality — it’s the decision that determines who controls the vessel, who bears the operational risk, and who pays for what. Confusing a time charter with a voyage charter can be the difference between a profitable deal and an arbitration dispute in London. Here’s a guide […]

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The Beijing Convention: A New Framework for the International Recognition of Judicial Sales of Ships

On 7 December 2022, the UN General Assembly adopted the Convention on the International Effects of Judicial Sales of Ships, known as the Beijing Convention. It is the newest instrument of international maritime law prepared under the auspices of UNCITRAL, stemming from a project initiated by the Comité Maritime International (CMI) in 2014. As of July

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Contract Drafting in the Age of AI: Legal Risks Every Business Should Know

Artificial intelligence tools are becoming an integral part of everyday business operations. Companies are using them to draft emails, summarise documents, and even prepare contract templates. Can your business rely solely on AI-generated contracts? The short answer is no. While AI can help prepare initial drafts and improve efficiency, legal documents that may have significant

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The 5 Most Common Legal Mistakes Foreign Businesses Make in Portugal — and How to Avoid Them

Over the years, I have worked with clients from China, Hong Kong, Brazil, the United States, and many other jurisdictions seeking to expand their business into Portugal.Despite the diversity of markets and industries, foreign businesses tend to make remarkably similar legal mistakes — often small at the beginning, but capable of developing into tax penalties,

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Portugal-Immigration-Law-Update-2025

New Immigration Law: What Changes for Foreign Residents in Portugal

Portugal has introduced important amendments to its Immigration Law, directly affecting foreign residents and those wishing to move to the country. 1. Family Reunification Foreign residents must now prove at least 15 months of legal residence in Portugal before applying for family reunification. However, those with minor children or dependents unable to work may apply

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Termination of the Urban Lease Agreement: A Comprehensive Analysis of Grounds and Procedures

1. Termination Termination constitutes one of the most complex forms of extinguishing an urban lease agreement. Unlike other mechanisms of contractual cessation, termination is characterised by the fact that one of the contracting parties ends the contract by invoking the other party’s breach. This distinction is fundamental to understanding the legal concept, as it clearly

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Transfer of an Inheritance Share: Is It Subject to Personal Income Tax (IRS)?

The transfer of assets by individuals may trigger liability to personal income tax (IRS), particularly in the case of real estate. In such cases, taxation falls under Category G of the IRS (capital gains), pursuant to Article 10(1)(a) of the Portuguese Personal Income Tax Code. But what happens when what is transferred is not the

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Ship Mortgages under Portuguese Law – Law No. 56/2020

A ship mortgage is a legal instrument that allows a vessel to be used as security for a debt, much like a mortgage on real estate. On 27 August 2020, Law No. 56/2020 introduced significant changes to the rules governing ship mortgages registered under the Madeira International Shipping Register (MAR), by amending Decree-Law No. 96/89

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