News

New Competition Law in Timor-Leste

Fri, 10 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0100

Law No. 1/2026, of 25 March, establishes the Competition Law framework in Timor-Leste, promoting free competition through the prohibition of restrictive practices, the introduction of a mandatory merger control regime, and enforcement by a new competent public authority with supervisory and sanctioning powers (with the Central Bank of Timor-Leste acting in the financial sector); it applies, in principle, to all economic activities, with oil, natural gas and minerals excluded, prohibits agreements and abuses (including dominance, economic dependence and purchasing power), allows efficiency-based exemptions, requires prior notification of certain concentrations, provides for market studies and fines of up to 10% of turnover, will enter into force on 21 September 2026, and its effectiveness will depend on the establishment of the authority, with companies advised to assess its impact on their activities.

See our Legal Alert here.

Guide to Doing Business in Timor-Leste

Mon, 02 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Timor-Leste is Asia's youngest nation, having restored its independence in 2002. Since then, it has shown remarkable resilience, pursuing economic development with a young and dynamic workforce, a rich cultural heritage, and growing business potential.

Timor-Leste has significant prospects for economic growth, particularly in the oil and gas and critical minerals sectors. While oil and gas account for 90% of the country’s total exports, new opportunities are emerging to further develop its hydrocarbon resources. Projects such as Chuditch and Greater Sunrise reinforce Timor-Leste’s role in energy production and supply within the APAC region. At the same time, the global demand for critical minerals – such as lithium, cobalt, and rare earth elements – places the country in a strategic position to integrate into the global supply chain. Although its mining sector is still developing, partnerships with international companies are driving the exploration and extraction of these valuable resources. Since 2008, Timor-Leste has been a member of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, ensuring a legal framework that supports adequate reporting.

Additionally, agribusiness plays a crucial role in the country's economic diversification, with coffee accounting for 7% of total exports. The country’s rich soil and favourable climate offer opportunities for expanding agricultural production, positioning Timor-Leste as a key supplier for the region.

Timor-Leste’s natural beauty and rich history lends itself to the development of the country as a new and emerging tourist destination. A range of opportunities for tourism investment have been identified including Díli waterfront developments, development of popular landmarks and holiday resorts.

See our Guide here.

The kick-start of the mining industry in Timor-Leste

Wed, 10 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Timor-Leste’s economy remains heavily reliant on oil and gas revenues, with the Petroleum Fund (Fundo Petrolífero de Timor-Leste) serving as the country’s primary source of income. Offshore natural gas projects, such as Greater Sunrise, continue to hold significant potential. However, an essential step on Timor-Leste’s path to long-term prosperity is the diversification of its economy to generate employment and sustain growth.

The nation is therefore undergoing a period of economic transition, seeking to move beyond hydrocarbons and broaden its economic base. One particularly promising avenue lies in the development of a mining sector.

Timor-Leste is still vastly under-explored, and mining activity is at a very early stage of development, offering considerable opportunities for future growth. Following the successful completion of the first round of the Mineral Public Tender in 2023, on 24 November 2025, ANM announced the second mineral public tender for awarding exploration and evaluation licences for metallic minerals, gemstones, industrial minerals, radioactive minerals, and rare earth minerals.

See our Guide here.

JLA, together with Morais Leitão, is pleased to have contributed to the 2024 edition of @CliffordChance Unilateral Option Clauses Survey

Fri, 06 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

JLA, together with Morais Leitão, is pleased to have contributed to the 2024 edition of @‌CliffordChance Unilateral Option Clauses Survey. Read the full survey here: https://www.cliffordchance.com/expertise/services/litigation_dispute_resolution/international_arbitration/unilateral-option-clause.html.
#internationalarbitration #unilateraloptionclause #asymmetricalarbitrationclause #arbitrationclause

Morais Leitão and JLA Announce Strategic Partnership

Wed, 27 Nov 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The new partnership between the two firms will facilitate synergies in the provision of legal services between the two continents, linking the Portuguese-speaking markets and Southeast Asia.

Morais Leitão, one of the leading Portuguese law firms with a strong international presence, and JLA, Advogados e Consultores (“JLA”), a leading law firm in Timor-Leste, announce the establishment of a strategic partnership aimed at facilitating international cooperation in legal matters. This alliance strengthens investment flows between Portugal and Southeast Asia and allows both firms to better serve their clients with a specialised legal service offering covering jurisdictions in Europe, Africa and Asia.

With this partnership, Morais Leitão expands its presence in Asia and adds Timor-Leste to its network, which already includes offices in Portugal, Angola, Cape Verde, Mozambique and Singapore. This is another step in the renewal of Morais Leitão's strategy for the Asian market, which was reinforced last year with the opening of an office in Singapore with a permanent team.

At the same time, JLA strengthens its links with the Portuguese-speaking markets and reinforces its own internationalisation. Both firms are well placed to provide cross-disciplinary legal solutions in sectors such as infrastructure, energy, mining, oil and gas, and the public sector.

This new collaboration represents a significant step forward in connecting investors, businesses and legal expertise between Europe and Asia, capitalising on the links of the Portuguese language and common legal culture. Clients of both firms will benefit from an efficient network of multidisciplinary legal advice in booming markets. This partnership comes at an opportune time as investor interest in both regions continues to grow.

Martim Krupenski, Managing Partner of Morais Leitão, commented:
“Our new partnership with JLA is a key element of our global strategy. It allows us to extend our reach in Asia and respond to the growing demand for multi-jurisdictional legal services. This collaboration reinforces our commitment to facilitating our clients’ international growth by providing comprehensive and excellent legal support across continents.”

Lukeno Ribeiro Alkatiri, Managing Partner of JLA, adds:
“We are very excited about our partnership with Morais Leitão, a firm recognised for its expertise and international presence. This alliance will allow us to offer our clients enhanced legal solutions by combining our in-depth knowledge of the Timorese market with the global experience that Morais Leitão offers.”

The partnership not only strengthens Morais Leitão’s presence in Asia, but also expands JLA's legal capabilities, creating opportunities for clients and potential clients of both firms.

About Morais Leitão
Morais Leitão, Galvão Teles, Soares da Silva & Associados (“Morais Leitão”) is a leading and experienced full-service law firm in Portugal. Internationally recognised, its reputation stems from the excellence and high level of the services provided to clients, solid ethical values and a distinctive approach with cutting-edge solutions, reflected in the successive and consistent recognition in awards granted to the firm and its individual lawyers.
Specialised legal services in the main areas of law and in different sectors of the economy are a benchmark of the firm leading to its involvement in the most important operations in Portugal, as well as in high value cross-border transactions and disputes.
Through the network Morais Leitão Legal Circle, we present a team of more than 450 professionals, with offices in Portugal (Lisbon, Porto and Funchal (Madeira Island)), Singapore, Angola, Mozambique, Cape Verde and Timor-Leste.

About JLA
JLA, Advogados e Consultores (“JLA”) is a leading law firm in Timor-Leste, providing specialised legal services to local and international clients. With in-depth knowledge of the legal and business landscape in Southeast Asia, the firm specialises in corporate law, energy and infrastructure, administrative law, tax, procedural law and arbitration. Through strategic partnerships, JLA offers personalised legal solutions that meet the needs of companies operating in different sectors and markets.