Antas da Cunha Ecija, a top-tier Portuguese law firm renowned for its technological legal expertise, has officially signed the European Union Artificial Intelligence Pact (EU AI Pact). This significant move positions the firm as a vanguard in responsible AI compliance and implementation across Europe’s rapidly evolving digital regulatory landscape.
By aligning with the EU AI Pact, Antas da Cunha Ecija not only reinforces its strategic legal advisory role in AI governance but also contributes to shaping an ethical and transparent AI future for European organizations navigating the complexities of the EU AI Act. The initiative, launched by the European Commission, encourages early adoption and responsible AI practices before the full application of the AI Act takes effect in 2025.
Aligning Law and Innovation in the Digital Era
Antas da Cunha Ecija has been steadily building its reputation as a leader in technology law. With a multidisciplinary Technology Transactions team, the firm specializes in providing guidance on AI system lifecycle management, regulatory compliance, and ethical deployment frameworks.
Managing Partner Fernando Antas da Cunha emphasized the firm’s forward-thinking vision, stating,
“We see AI not only as a regulatory challenge but also as a strategic opportunity for our clients and the legal profession itself. By signing the EU AI Pact, we underscore our dedication to leading the digital transformation responsibly.”
This ethos reflects the firm’s proactive approach to technology law. Beyond just interpreting legal texts, the firm actively shapes regulatory readiness through advisory services that blend legal precision with practical tech-industry experience.
The recent onboarding of Joana Pinto, a former in-house counsel with more than 25 years of legal experience at global tech companies, further strengthens the firm’s capabilities in high-risk AI assessments and cross-border compliance strategy. Her addition is expected to significantly enrich the firm’s client advisory, particularly in AI governance and risk management.
The EU AI Pact: A Collective Push for Ethical AI
The EU AI Pact, unveiled in 2024, was designed to accelerate the uptake of AI governance principles ahead of the full enforcement of the EU AI Act. The Act—hailed as the world’s first comprehensive AI regulation—came into force on August 1, 2024, and is being implemented gradually over a transitional period, with major compliance deadlines set for mid-2025.
Participation in the Pact is voluntary, yet strategically critical for organizations aiming to stay ahead of regulatory scrutiny. Signatories pledge to adopt best practices around AI risk classification, transparency, ethical usage, and internal training. They are also expected to develop and implement internal policies that align with the EU AI Act’s risk-based framework.
Antas da Cunha Ecija’s decision to join the Pact reflects its broader mission of integrating legal compliance with innovation. According to Fernando Antas da Cunha,
“Building a Full AI Firm — leveraging AI not to replace legal expertise, but to empower our teams and clients through technology-driven strategic solutions — is central to our firm’s vision.”
Navigating a Complex Legal Landscape
The EU AI Act introduces a tiered regulatory model, categorizing AI applications by their risk levels. Unacceptable-risk AI—such as real-time biometric surveillance without consent—is banned outright. High-risk applications, including AI in healthcare, finance, law enforcement, and critical infrastructure, are subject to strict requirements around data governance, human oversight, transparency, and cybersecurity.
Antas da Cunha Ecija is at the forefront of advising clients across these sectors, offering services that range from regulatory due diligence and impact assessments to policy implementation and risk mitigation frameworks.
With penalties under the Act reaching up to €35 million or 7% of annual global turnover, non-compliance is not a viable option. The firm has already begun working with enterprises to prepare for the AI Act’s full rollout, conducting audits and deploying continuous monitoring tools to ensure that AI systems remain within legal and ethical boundaries.
Integrating AI in Legal Practice: A New Paradigm
While much of the firm’s work is focused on helping clients comply with AI rules, Antas da Cunha Ecija is equally invested in reimagining how legal services themselves can evolve through AI integration.
Through the AI Pact, the firm aims to share its insights on implementing AI tools internally to boost efficiency and service quality. From document review automation to predictive legal analytics, AI is increasingly embedded in legal workflows. Yet Antas da Cunha Ecija is clear about the importance of responsible usage.
Joana Pinto highlighted this dual commitment, stating,
“The digital transformation of legal services is an opportunity. By embracing AI ethically and transparently, law firms can offer more strategic and impactful advice, especially in navigating complex regulatory environments like the EU AI Act.”
Training programs and ethical AI governance structures have been launched within the firm to prepare its legal professionals for this transformation. The goal is not to replace human judgment but to augment it—making legal interpretation faster, more accurate, and better aligned with client needs in a tech-driven economy.
Strategic Value for Clients and the Market
For Antas da Cunha Ecija’s clients, many of whom operate in AI-sensitive industries like technology, finance, telecommunications, and healthcare, the firm’s participation in the AI Pact signals more than symbolic alignment. It indicates a preparedness to offer cutting-edge, compliant legal strategies in an environment where regulatory expectations are rapidly rising.
Clients benefit from legal counsel that is not only knowledgeable about current obligations but anticipates future regulatory challenges. This forward-looking guidance is critical in an era where AI governance intersects with data privacy, cybersecurity, competition law, and even international trade frameworks.
The firm’s leadership in the AI Pact also responds to a broader demand in the European business community for ethical AI deployment. Corporations today face growing pressure from consumers, investors, and civil society to demonstrate accountability in their use of emerging technologies.
By adopting and advocating for responsible AI practices, Antas da Cunha Ecija helps its clients gain reputational capital while avoiding legal and operational risks.
Fostering European Collaboration Through the AI Pact
One of the key features of the EU AI Pact is the collaborative ecosystem it fosters. Signatories engage in ongoing dialogue with the EU AI Office and fellow organizations through webinars, workshops, and best-practice forums. These exchanges promote a shared understanding of how to translate abstract regulatory principles into actionable corporate policies.
Antas da Cunha Ecija plans to take an active role in these discussions. By contributing legal insights and case experiences, the firm will help inform the development of sector-specific guidance and implementation templates that can benefit the broader market.
As part of the Pact’s accountability mechanism, each signatory must publish a progress report one year after joining. This transparency builds trust among stakeholders and demonstrates that voluntary commitments are backed by measurable actions.
A Milestone That Signals Broader Industry Change
The signing of the EU AI Pact by Antas da Cunha Ecija represents more than a strategic positioning—it marks a meaningful milestone in the evolution of legal practice in the age of artificial intelligence. The firm joins a select group of institutions driving the integration of compliance, innovation, and ethical responsibility at the European level.
Fernando Antas da Cunha concluded with a forward-looking perspective:
“Embracing the EU AI Pact is part of our mission to lead with confidence, creativity, and purpose in this digital age. We are dedicated to empowering clients and advancing a future where law and technology converge for societal benefit.”
As the EU AI Act continues its phased rollout, the need for trusted legal advisors who understand both the regulatory framework and the technological landscape will only grow. Antas da Cunha Ecija’s leadership in this space not only strengthens its service offerings but also positions it as a transformative force in the digital legal ecosystem of Europe.
