Multidisciplinary Societies

Legal Framework with Special Focus on Legal Professions, in Particular the Activity of the Solicitor

Table of Contents

1. Introduction

2. Evolution of Structures for the Provision of Legal Services

3. Concept of Multidisciplinary Society

4. Legal Framework of Professional Societies in Portugal

5. Legal Regime Applicable to Solicitors

6. Articulation with the Commercial Companies Code

7. Advantages of Multidisciplinary Societies

8. Legal and Deontological Risks

9. Comparison with Law Firms (Societies of Lawyers)

10. Framework of Multidisciplinarity in the International Context

11. Critical Analysis and Future Perspectives

12. Conclusion

1. Introduction

The practice of legal professions has undergone profound transformations over the last few decades, following the evolution of modern societies, the increasing complexity of legal relationships, and the globalization of the economy.

Traditionally, legal professions were exercised predominantly on an individual basis, with professionals being directly responsible for providing services to their clients. However, the growing complexity of legal matters and the interconnection between different areas of knowledge have led to the need for new forms of professional organization.

Currently, many legal issues are directly related to tax, corporate, accounting, or administrative matters. In this context, the need for professional structures capable of providing integrated responses assumes particular relevance.

It is in this scenario that so-called multidisciplinary societies emerge structures that enable collaboration among professionals from different areas of knowledge, allowing for more efficient, coordinated, and market-adapted action.

Notwithstanding the general nature of the present topic, particular attention will be given to the framework of these societies within the scope of regulated legal professions, with special emphasis on the activity of the solicitor.

2. Evolution of Structures for the Provision of Legal Services

Historically, the practice of legal professions has been characterized by a strong individual component. However, with economic development and the increasing complexity of legal relationships, the need for more organized and collaborative professional structures became evident.

Thus, professional societies emerged, allowing the association of several professionals from the same area. This model enabled significant gains in efficiency, specialization, and resource sharing.

Subsequently, market evolution and the growing interdependence between different areas of knowledge led to the appearance of more integrated models, giving rise to multidisciplinary societies.

These structures seek to address more complex needs that are not confined to a single field of knowledge, reflecting a natural evolution in the practice of legal professions.

3. Concept of Multidisciplinary Society

A multidisciplinary society can be defined as a corporate structure that integrates professionals from different areas of knowledge, enabling the coordinated provision of complementary services.

The main purpose of these societies is to provide clients with an integrated service, avoiding the fragmentation of legal responses and allowing for a comprehensive approach to situations.

In this context, multidisciplinarity translates into an articulation between different fields of knowledge, namely legal, tax, financial, and business-related.

Furthermore, the notion of a multidisciplinary society should be understood from a functional perspective, as it is not limited to the formal coexistence of different professionals but rather implies a true integration of competencies, oriented toward the integrated resolution of complex problems.

4. Legal Framework of Professional Societies in Portugal

In Portugal, legal professions are regulated by their own professional statutes, which define the rules for the exercise of the activity and the deontological duties of professionals.

In the case of solicitors, the practice of the profession is subject to a set of fundamental principles, namely independence, technical competence, responsibility, and respect for deontological norms.

The organization of professional activity can take various forms, including individual practice or the establishment of professional societies.

These societies must respect the limits imposed by the legal regime applicable to regulated professions, and the corporate structure must not compromise the fundamental duties of professionals.

Under the terms of the Commercial Companies Code, societies may take different legal forms, namely private limited liability companies (sociedades por quotas) and public limited liability companies (sociedades anónimas), with the choice of corporate form taking into account the nature of the activity and the objectives of the structure.

In this context, the admissibility of multidisciplinary models must be analyzed prudently, always ensuring compatibility with deontological norms and the structuring principles of legal professions.

Regarding the profession of solicitor, the practice of the activity is regulated by the Statute of the Order of Solicitors and Enforcement Agents, approved by Law No. 154/2015, which establishes the fundamental principles of the profession, namely independence, professional secrecy, and disciplinary liability. This statute is of particular relevance in the analysis of multidisciplinary societies, as it imposes limits on the organization of professional activity, aiming to guarantee the protection of clients' interests and the integrity of the profession.

5. Legal Regime Applicable to Solicitors

The practice of the profession of solicitor is subject to a set of fundamental duties, which assume particular relevance in the context of multidisciplinary societies.

First and foremost, the duty of professional secrecy stands out, constituting one of the essential pillars of the profession, imposing on the solicitor the obligation not to disclose facts or information known in the exercise of their functions.

On the other hand, professional independence is equally of special importance, with the solicitor required to act with technical autonomy and free from external pressures, ensuring impartial action oriented exclusively toward the legitimate interests of the client, pursuant to Article 119 of the Statute of the Order of Solicitors and Enforcement Agents.

Furthermore, under Article 223-A of the same Statute, the possibility of establishing and joining multidisciplinary societies is admitted, provided that deontological duties are respected and the technical and scientific autonomy of professionals is ensured.

In this context, the Statute of the Order of Solicitors and Enforcement Agents, approved by Law No. 154/2015, is of particular relevance in delimiting the limits and conditions under which the practice of the profession may occur within these structures.

Thus, integration into multidisciplinary societies requires special attention to safeguarding professional secrecy, preventing conflicts of interest, and maintaining the solicitor's independence.

6. Articulation with the Commercial Companies Code

Professional societies may take the legal forms provided for in the Commercial Companies Code, namely private limited liability companies or public limited liability companies.

Under this regime, partners may benefit from limited liability, without prejudice to individual liability arising from the exercise of the professional activity.

The choice of corporate form must take into account the scale of the activity, the number of partners, the nature of the services provided, and the society's growth strategy.

It should also be noted that, under the Commercial Companies Code, the establishment of societies requires compliance with specific rules regarding the liability of partners and the management of the society, namely the duty of diligence and loyalty of managers. In this context, the articulation between the corporate regime and the regime of regulated legal professions assumes particular complexity, requiring a harmonious interpretation of the applicable rules.

7. Advantages of Multidisciplinary Societies

Multidisciplinary societies offer various advantages in the context of professional service provision, especially in a scenario marked by the increasing complexity of legal and economic relationships.

First, they stand out for the possibility of providing integrated services, allowing the client to obtain, within a single structure, responses involving different areas of knowledge, namely legal, tax, financial, and business-related. This approach contributes to greater efficiency in problem-solving and to reducing the fragmentation of services.

On the other hand, the articulation between professionals from different areas enables a more comprehensive analysis of situations, promoting more complete and appropriate solutions to the concrete reality of clients.

Furthermore, these structures allow for better resource optimization, namely at the level of sharing infrastructure, technical means, and support teams, contributing to greater organizational efficiency.

From a market perspective, multidisciplinary societies also demonstrate greater capacity to adapt to current demands, characterized by a growing search for quick, integrated, and specialized solutions.

In addition, these societies can contribute to strengthening the competitiveness of professionals, enabling more structured action and greater capacity to respond to larger-scale or more complex projects.

Notwithstanding the identified advantages, it is important to emphasize that the adoption of multidisciplinary models cannot be seen as a universal solution and must be analyzed in light of the specificities of regulated legal professions.

8. Legal and Deontological Risks

Among the main risks are conflicts of interest, the possible limitation of professional independence, and the safeguarding of professional secrecy.

The coexistence of different professional areas within the same structure can give rise to complex situations that require careful management.

In this sense, the admissibility of multidisciplinary structures should depend on the existence of effective control and supervision mechanisms capable of ensuring strict compliance with deontological duties.

9. Comparison with Societies of Lawyers

Societies of lawyers traditionally present a more restrictive regime regarding their composition, normally consisting exclusively of professionals from the same area.

This model aims to ensure the protection of the fundamental principles of the profession, namely independence and professional secrecy.

Comparatively, multidisciplinary societies introduce a greater degree of openness, allowing collaboration between different professional areas.

However, this openness also implies the need to strengthen control mechanisms and ensure the preservation of the essential values of legal professions.

Thus, while the traditional model prioritizes security and professional homogeneity, the multidisciplinary model prioritizes efficiency and service integration.

10. Framework of Multidisciplinarity in the International Context

In various countries, multidisciplinary societies are widely developed, being used primarily in business and consulting contexts.

International experience demonstrates that multidisciplinarity can constitute an added value, provided it is accompanied by an appropriate regulatory framework that ensures the protection of the essential values of legal professions.

In some legal systems, the evolution toward multidisciplinary models has been accompanied by a relaxation of traditional rules, allowing greater integration between different professional areas. However, this evolution has also been accompanied by a strengthening of supervision mechanisms, with the aim of guaranteeing the protection of the fundamental principles of legal professions.

11. Critical Analysis and Future Perspectives

The growing affirmation of multidisciplinary societies in the context of professional service provision represents an adequate response to the demands of an increasingly dynamic and interconnected market.

In this framework, these structures reveal significant potential for the enhancement of legal professions, enabling more integrated, efficient, and client-oriented action.

Indeed, the articulation between different areas of knowledge makes possible a more complete approach to legal situations, especially in matters involving simultaneous legal, tax, and business components.

This integration contributes not only to higher quality in service provision but also to greater proximity to the client, who now has access to faster and more coordinated solutions.

On the other hand, multidisciplinary societies can play a relevant role in modernizing legal professions, promoting more flexible, collaborative, and adapted organizational models to current demands.

In this context, the evolution of these structures should be accompanied by an appropriate interpretation of the existing legal framework, in order to allow their consolidation without prejudice to the fundamental principles governing the practice of legal professions.

International experience demonstrates that multidisciplinarity, when properly framed, can constitute a significant added value, contributing to strengthening the competitiveness of professionals and improving the quality of services provided.

Thus, the development of multidisciplinary societies in Portugal presents itself as an opportunity for sustained evolution, based on the enhancement of knowledge, cooperation between professionals, and adaptation to new market realities.

12. Conclusion

Multidisciplinary societies assume, in the current context, growing relevance in the organization and provision of professional services, reflecting the need for more integrated, efficient, and adapted responses to the complexity of legal and economic relationships.

The articulation between different areas of knowledge allows for a more complete and coordinated approach to situations, constituting a significant added value for clients and for the professionals themselves.

Within the scope of legal professions, this evolution represents an opportunity for enhancement and modernization, enabling the development of more collaborative and market-adjusted models of action.

In this context, the existing legal framework, namely that provided for in Law No. 154/2015, plays a fundamental role in defining the conditions under which these structures can operate, simultaneously guaranteeing the quality of services provided and public trust.

Thus, multidisciplinary societies configure not only an evolutionary trend but a concrete opportunity to strengthen the relevance of legal professions, based on cooperation between fields of knowledge, organizational efficiency, and the capacity to adapt to new realities.

In summary, the development of these structures should continue to assert itself in a sustained manner, contributing to more integrated, qualified, and client-oriented service provision.

Cristiana Alexandra - Leiria, 2026