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Praça do Principe Perfeito
Lisbon, Portugal 1990-221 - Hotel +351 215 943 526
- Real Estate +351 917 085 718
- info@martinhalresidences.com
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A discussion about the different ways to move to Lisbon, the lifestyle, the start-up scene, business set up and the lowdown on international schools and healthcare in the city with Chitra Stern (CEO of Martinhal Resorts & United Lisbon International School), Geoffrey Graham (Senior Partner EDGE Lawyers and Miguel Fontes (Executive Director StartUp Lisbon), moderated by Kitty Jones, Real Estate PR Expert.
Kitty Jones – Real Estate Communications and Marketing (Moderator)
Kitty is honoured to host this discussion with western Europe’s leading experts on Golden Visas, international relocation, and lifestyle requirements.
She brings first-hand experience from working in international real estate and resort destinations in Portugal, Spain, the Balkans, and the Caribbean, as well as understanding the key drivers in real estate transactions for homeowners and investors.
Join us for key insights on Portugal, the Golden Visa programme, Lisbon’s vibrant start-up scene, and the host of business and lifestyle benefits to investing, working, and living in Lisbon.
Chitra Stern – CEO at Martinhal Resorts and United Lisbon International School
Owner and founding board member of Martinhal Family Hotels & Resorts (www.martinhal.com) part of the Elegant Group, Chitra is a passionate entrepreneur and real-estate & hotel developer working alongside her business partner and husband, Roman, with a 20-year track record of projects in Portugal. They developed the Martinhal Resort in Sagres in the Algarve from scratch and have successfully expanded the “Martinhal” brand across 3 other properties in the best and most prestigious locations in Portugal. They also brought up four children in Portugal in the process of growing up their business
Their latest project is branded hotel residence (www.martinhalresidences.com) currently in development in Lisbon. The Residences are already 60% sold and construction is set to complete in early 2022. Close by the school, United Lisbon International School is a K-12 school and opened in September 2020 (www.unitedlisbon.school) with an international and experienced faculty and 150 children from 20+ nationalities. The school forms part of a wider Edu Hub (www.eduhublisbon.com) – with innovators, tech companies, and an evolving ecosystem for education and technology.
Chitra is a recipient of the prestigious Deloitte Institute “Accomplished Entrepreneur Award” at the London Business School, “Person of the Year” Award by the International Family Travel Association, and the “Family Traveler Award” for special contribution to the Family Travel Market. Electronic Engineer, Chartered Accountant, and MBA (London Business School).
Between 2017 and 2019, Chitra was on the Committee of Portugal IN, a special task force created by the Portuguese Prime Minister’s office to further enhance Foreign Direct Investment into Portugal (www.portugalin.gov.pt). She is an invited professor for Luxury Marketing at the Nova School of Business and Economics and is the incoming President of the Entrepreneurs Organization (www.eonetwork.org) in Portugal.
Geoffrey Graham – Senior partner at Edge International Lawyers
Geoffrey is a solicitor registered with the Law Societies of England and Wales and Ireland, as well as being a Portuguese lawyer registered with the Portuguese Law Society. After studying law at Birmingham and York, he started his legal career by practising in Belfast, followed by London and then Lisbon where he assisted in the acquisition of two international law practices. Geoffrey has now lived and worked in Portugal for 21 years and has a strong connection to the international communities and institutions in Portugal, including the British and Irish Embassies, having been appointed as Honorary Legal Advisor to the British Ambassador since 2012. He is also a legal advisor recommended by the Irish Embassy, a founder and Director of the Ireland Portuguese Business Network as well as sitting on the Council of the Portuguese UK Chamber of Commerce.
Geoffrey is one of the founding partners of EDGE International Lawyers, a full-service international law firm. EDGE has been one of the pioneering and leading firms in the Portuguese residency by investment and tax programmes, including the Golden Visa and NHR programmes. With their global portfolio of clients and specialties in areas such as, corporate and commercial, real estate, company, and tax, EDGE has provided legal support to international investors on a wide variety of investments and transactions. EDGE’s offering of legal support services to both start-up investors and boutique private clients enables them to provide the full range of services, assisting investors throughout their personal and professional journey to one of Europe’s top 10 start-up hubs.
Miguel Fontes – Executive Director at Startup Lisboa
Miguel is Executive Director of StartUp Lisboa. Founded in 2012 it is a private non-profit association that provides entrepreneurs with office space as well as a support structure – mentoring, strategic partnerships and partner benefits, access to investment, networking activities, and a community based on knowledge and sharing.
Since its inception StartUp Lisbon has supported over 400 start-ups from over 40 different countries and created more than 3,500 jobs.
Miguel holds a degree in Sociology ISCTE and post-graduate in Business Management from INDEG / ISCTE. In Miguel’s professional career he has held a social advisory role to the Prime Minister’s Office; Vice-President and President of the Ibero-American Youth Organization; Secretary General of the 1st World Conference of Ministers Responsible for Youth held under the auspices of the United Nation; as well as several senior roles across the private and public sector
