Over 1,200 commercial cases are to be removed from the overburdened court in Olhão and taken on by a new court to be established in Lagoa.The new Commercial Court will be a reality as of September 1st this year and will serve the western Algarve, resolving legal disputes between companies as well as company insolvencies and individual bankruptcies.
The new team will operate from the Center for Studies and Training in Lagoa with a full time judge and a team of eight or nine employees.
Secretary of State of Justice, Helena Mesquita Ribeiro, visited Lagoa and signed the protocol between the municipality and the Justice Institute for the installation of the necessary equipment.
"Taking into account the size of the Algarve region, there was a need to have another court to serve commercial users - and Lagoa is an excellent place," said Ribeiro.
The Secretary of State added that "these courts have a great repercussion in the activity of our companies, which require qualified and timely responses."
The Commercial Court of Lagoa was, for local mayor, Francisco Martins, "an old ambition." and "a necessity" that now has materialised.
The court will occupy 1,100 square metres over two floors and will start off with 1,220 cases to be transferred from the Commercial Court of Olhão.
According to Ribeiro, this transfer will fill “the most critical gap in the region," noting that "there are too many processes, there is a lack of space and there is no ratio between human resources and the amount of work "in the court of Olhão.
Secretary of State of Justice, Helena Mesquita Ribeiro
