Pedro Cortés

About the Lawyer
Pedro Cortés is currently Managing Partner of Rato, Ling, Lei & Cortés – Advogados e Notários (Lektou). He has initiated his career as a lawyer in the office in 2003. He is currently a LL.M. Candidate in Gaming Law and Regulation (2020-21) at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV). Under the program, he is enrolled in a Legal Externship with the Nevada Gaming Control Board.
Experience
Pedro Cortés began his career as a lawyer in 2003 at Lektou, where he is now Managing Partner. He has extensive experience in gaming, corporate and M&A, capital markets, and banking and finance. He is qualified to practice as a lawyer in Macau, Portugal, Brazil (São Paulo), China (as a cross-border Macau lawyer), and East Timor. He is a member of the IAGA (International Association of Gaming Advisors), HKIoD (Hong Kong Institute of Directors), IBA (International Bar Association), CIArb (Chartered Institute of Arbitrators), and HKIA (Hong Kong Institute of Arbitrators).
Specialty
Pedro Cortés specializes in gaming law, corporate law, M&A, capital markets, and banking and finance. He possesses particular experience assisting clients on regulatory issues and acquisitions within the gaming industry. He actively participates in the negotiation of new gaming concession contracts.
Education

• Law Degree: Portuguese Catholic University – Lisbon School of Law (2000)
• Post-Graduation in International Management: Porto University – Faculty of Economy (2001)
• LL.M. Candidate in Gaming Law and Regulation: University of Nevada, Las Vegas (2020-21)

The Firm
Rato, Ling, Lei & Cortés – Lawyers (Lektou) is a Macau SAR-based law firm with more than 30 years of experience in legal practice in Macau. The firm provides a wide range of legal services, including issuing legal opinions, advising on Macau Law, helping international companies to start their businesses in Macau, and assisting in the reorganization of economic groups with connections to Macau.
In 2016, Lektou partnered with Zhong Yin Law Firm in the People’s Republic of China and Fongs in Hong Kong to open a new office in Hengqin Island, Zhuhai, PRC – ZLF Law Firm. This is the first law office that unites firms from the two Special Administrative Regions and Mainland China. In 2021, the law firm opened an office in Shenzhen and anticipates expanding to other locations and jurisdictions.
In 2017, Lektou opened an office in Lisbon, Portugal, as part of its internationalization strategy to position itself as a legal player in the platform between the PRC and Portuguese-speaking countries.
The academic and professional background, the update and specialization, together with the experience of the lawyers of Lektou, are the key to answering the increasing demands of the firm’s worldwide clients.
Achievements and Recognition

• Awards:
  • No specific awards mentioned directly attributed to Pedro Cortés.
• Industry Rankings:
  • No specific rankings mentioned directly attributed to Pedro Cortés.
• Leadership Roles:
  • Managing Partner of Rato, Ling, Lei & Cortés – Advogados e Notários (Lektou) .
• Major Case Successes:
  • No specific major case successes mentioned directly attributed to Pedro Cortés.
• Contributions to Award-Winning Projects:
  • Regular contributor to legal and non-legal publications and speaker at conferences relating to the gaming industry .