Brief Introduction

Sofia Vale is an arbitrator and law professor based in Luanda, Angola. She has been acting both as arbitrator and legal expert for foreign and angolan counsel in several arbitrations that took place in various jurisdictions.

Sofia Vale has been chairing the Commercial Law subject at the Faculty of Law of Agostinho Neto University since 2014, and she developed expertise in Company Law, Commercial Law, Corporate Governance, PPP/PFI, Banking and Finance, dealing with disputes in the just mentioned fields. As of counsel for MG Advogados, Sofia also provides services related to domestic and international arbitrations, and regularly works with other international law firms in dispute resolution.

Sofia Vale has organized with the ICC- International Chamber of Commerce two conferences (in 2015 and in 2017) for the promotion of international arbitration in Angola. She is an often speaker at the Luanda Internacional Arbitration Conference, that occurs every November in Luanda (since 2011), as well as of several other conferences that take place in various countries.

Professor Vale authors several works regarding arbitration, namely the Angolan Arbitration Law- Commented. She is an enthusiastic of new technologies, fostering an innovative approach to the dispute resolution process.

Short CV

Full CV

Arbitrator

Sofia Vale sits as sole arbitrator and on three-member Tribunals, in ad hoc arbitrations and arbitrations promoted by Angolan and Foreign Arbitration Centres.

Arbitrations

Legal Expert

Sofia Vale has been carrying out a strong activity as Legal Expert, issuing legal opinions to support judicial and arbitration actions (brought before angolan and foreign courts)

Legal Opinions

Arbitrator

Sofia Vale sits as sole arbitrator and on three-member tribunals, in ad hoc arbitrations and arbitrations promoted by angolan and foreign arbitration Centres. She participates in national and international arbitrations, which concern, in particular, to disputes regarding Construction Agreements, Concession Agreements (PPP/PFI) and Facility Agreements.

Arbitrations

Legal Expert

Sofia Vale has been carrying out a strong activity as Legal Expert, issuing legal opinions to support judicial and arbitration actions (brought before angolan and foreign courts) in the various fields of law in which she acts (Company and Commercial Law, Corporate Governance, PPP/PFI, Administrative Law, Banking and Financial Law). She is often part of the team of attorneys who represent a party before arbitral tribunals, acting as their consultant.

Legal Opinions

Academic Career

Teaching & Coordination

Professor at the Faculty of Law of Agostinho Neto University, Sofia Vale is Head Professor of Commercial Law since 2004

Currently lectures at the Master Programs

Faculty of Law of Agostinho Neto University

- Tax Law
- Master Program on Company Law
- Master Program on Civil Law
- Master Program on Criminal Law
- Maritime Law

University Katyavala Bwila, in Benguel

- Civil Law

Centre of Public Policy and Local Governance of the Agostinho Neto University

Coordination of various Post-Graduation Courses at the Faculty of Law of Agostinho Neto University

- Coordinator of the Post-Graduation Course in Company Law from 2010 to 2013 – 1st and 2nd editions.
- Coordinator of the Post-Graduation Course in Compliance and Anti-Money Laundering from 2011 to 2013 – 1st and 2nd editions.
- Coordinator of the Post-Graduation Course in Financial Markets from 2011 to 2013 – 1st and 2nd editions.
- Executive Coordinator of the Post-Graduation Course in Oil and Gas from 2007 to 2012 – 1st to 3rd editions.

Currently lectures at the Master Programs

Faculty of Law of Agostinho Neto University

- Tax Law
- Master Program on Company Law
- Master Program on Civil Law
- Master Program on Criminal Law
- Maritime Law

University Katyavala Bwila, in Benguel

- Civil Law

Centre of Public Policy and Local Governance of the Agostinho Neto University

Coordination of various Post-Graduation Courses at the Faculty of Law of Agostinho Neto University

- Coordinator of the Post-Graduation Course in Company Law from 2010 to 2013 – 1st and 2nd editions.
- Coordinator of the Post-Graduation Course in Compliance and Anti-Money Laundering from 2011 to 2013 – 1st and 2nd editions.
- Coordinator of the Post-Graduation Course in Financial Markets from 2011 to 2013 – 1st and 2nd editions.
- Executive Coordinator of the Post-Graduation Course in Oil and Gas from 2007 to 2012 – 1st to 3rd editions.

Testimonials

Recognition & Appreciation

I have the great pleasure of working with Sofia Vale in several arbitrations in which she intervenes as President or Co-Arbitrator. She is a proactive person, a talented jurist and an exceptional professional.

Lino Diamvutu

Lawyer and Assistant Professor at Fac. of law

Sofia is a world class arbitrator, both in terms of knowledge and professional attitude. Solid and attentive to detail, she has a strong legal culture that allows her to address any legal issue in her areas of expertise. Its inherent intellectual integrity is the best guarantee of impartiality and independence. And her multicultural life experience enables her to understand the subtleties of international commercial disputes, revealing a patent impartiality and neutrality.

Agostinho Miranda

Lawyer and Arbitrator

Sofia Vale has an international mindset, but at the same time a strong knowledge of the specifics of the legal framework in her adopted country, Angola, not to mention being one of the main academic figures in national law.