Areia Global Launches in Lisbon to Provide Focused U.S. Tax and Estate Counsel for Americans in Portugal

Founded by U.S. attorneys with cross-border experience, the firm provides targeted U.S. tax and estate planning advice for Americans living in or moving to Portugal, with a business model built around collaboration and clarity.

A Focused Firm for a Complex Profile

“International advice that works for other expats often doesn’t work for Americans,” said Sasha Young da Silva, Managing Partner. “Because the U.S. taxes its citizens no matter where they live, Americans have an entirely different legal profile, and that requires purpose-built guidance.”

At the same time, many U.S.-based advisors lack experience with outbound planning. “They may not be thinking about PFIC risks in a Golden Visa fund, or how to structure gifts or inheritance when a spouse is a nonresident alien,” she added. “We fill that gap.”

Areia Global is deliberately narrow in scope, serving only U.S. citizens navigating Portuguese tax and legal systems and doing so only across these two jurisdictions. That narrow focus allows the firm to move efficiently, answer client questions quickly, and offer targeted, actionable advice.

“By concentrating on one client profile and one bilateral relationship, we’re able to deliver advice without needing to ‘get up to speed’ on every new matter,” said Young da Silva. “We pass that efficiency along to clients in our pricing.”

Launch Presentation and Reception

The firm introduced its services at a professional presentation attended by local law firms, private funds, relocation specialists, and Areia Global’s U.S. corporate trustee partner. The session outlined how the firm partners with local advisors to ensure that U.S. legal considerations, from estate planning and compliance to trust structuring and citizenship renunciation, are properly integrated into cross-border strategies.

“We’re not a one-stop shop,” Young da Silva highlighted during the presentation. “We’re the U.S. legal seat at the table. Our job is to coordinate with local professionals, not replace them.”

Built for All Americans

Areia Global serves clients across a broad range of income and asset levels: some are families with full advisory teams, while others are retirees with simpler goals who want clarity so they can take action on their own.

“What unites our clients isn’t wealth; it’s complexity,” said Young da Silva. “They’re making major life transitions across legal systems, and they understand the risks of getting it wrong. Whether someone needs a single strategy session or a full estate overhaul, our goal is the same: deliver real answers they can use.”

Key services include:

· Pre-emigration tax planning

· Structuring cross-border inheritances and trusts

· Navigating U.S. tax risks of Portuguese investments

· Advising on expatriation and exit tax issues

· Supporting mixed-nationality families on U.S. estate and gift planning

· Commissioned white papers and advisor support

In addition to its client work, Areia Global is frequently commissioned by private funds, law firms, and wealth managers to prepare technical white papers on topics affecting U.S. clients. These materials are used to inform internal teams, support client outreach, and build stronger compliance practices around U.S. taxpayers.

“We aim to be a resource to the broader ecosystem of professionals who work with Americans here,” said Young da Silva. “When they have the right information, clients get better results.”

The firm also hosts occasional webinars and virtual office hours to help advisors stay current on evolving U.S. tax rules, particularly as currency fluctuations, new tax proposals, and foreign investment compliance continue to grow more complex.

Grounded in Cross-Border Experience

Areia, Portuguese for sand, is as poetic as it is literal about the realities of international life. “The sand, the sea… It’s what connects us. It’s what connects our coasts. It also expresses the reassurance we hope to bring our clients around one of the most frustrating aspects of international living.” For Young da Silva, who is originally from Aruba, the connection is personal.

“Living across legal and cultural systems can be very rewarding, but it comes with a lot of paperwork,” she said with a smile. “It’s easier when you have clean structures, informed planning, and a team that works together.”

As Americans continue to build lives in Portugal, Areia Global offers a rare combination: U.S.-qualified legal insight, a focused cross-border lens, and a client-first approach that balances responsiveness with substance.

For more information, visit www.areiaglobal.com.