The Legal 500

Boasting one of the market’s most powerful teams of litigators, Cuatrecasas, Gonçalves Pereira is ‘ a first choice’ for many domestic and international clients seeking top-notch representation on both Court litigation and arbitration. The team most notably assisted Enel on a number of prelitigation issues connected with its €43.7bn joint acquisition, together with Acciona, of Spanish energy giant Endesa. Antonio Hierro, one of the firm’s most experienced litigators, earns praise for being ‘ a dominant figure as a litigator and one of Spain’s best-respected arbitration specialists’. British American Tobacco also instructed the practice in connection with a number of class actions brought by several smokers’ associations and the Regional Government of Andalusia against several tobacco producers. Heads of department Jorge Badía and Álvaro Mendiola are also well-regarded.

Garrigues’ first-class dispute resolution department is one of the largest in the market, covering all areas of dispute resolution in both civil and criminal cases. With Miguel Moscardó at the helm, the firm houses several of Spain’s most experienced litigators, including the ‘ leading light’ José Maria Alonso and the ‘ absolut talent’ Fernando Pantaleón. In a recent intruction, it was involved in a €450m dispute between the majority shareholders of an important company in the touristic, hotel, construction and services sector. Arbitration is another great strength, particularly in handling matters for Latin American companies, which undertake arbitrations through the Madrid courts. Other clients of the practice include Endesa, Amadeus and Iberdrola.

Also highly regarded for its ‘ phenomenal contentious capability’, Uría Menéndez was recently involved in a €3bn cross-border arbitration in Geneva in connection with the termination of a project for the prospection of natural gas. The matter was led by the ‘ incredible litigator’ Jesús Remón, the ‘ extremely well-respected’ José Miguel Fatás, and the ‘ thorough and highly professional’ Miguel Virgós. On another recent instruction, the team represented Grupo Lar in a €43m dispute connected with the termination of a sale and purchase agreement. A number of high profile Spanish and international clients regularly call upon Uría Menéndez for their most complex and high value contentious issues, including Philip Morris, Repsol and Iberdrola Wells Fargo Bank National Association.

Perez-Llorca’s first-rate litigation team owes much to expert partner David Arias’ stellar reputation as both a litigator and an ICC arbitrator. Clients say that Arias is ‘ a solutions-driven litigator with perfect understanding of the client’s needs’. Solidly seconded by the hugely experienced founding partner José Pedro Pérez-Llorca, the team has been further strengthened by the recent promotion of Félix J. Montero to partnership. Allianz Mapfre instructed the practice in connection with a €83.5m claim for damages connected with the fire at the Windsor tower in Madrid, one of the country’s most high profile cases. The team also advised the Council of Europe Development Bank in proceedings brought in Spain in connection with a number of financial agreements.

Clifford Chance’s litigation capability in renowned for its ‘ high quality and immense experience’. Lead partner José Antonio Caínzos, hugely admired by clients, receives praise for being ‘ one of the clear frontrunners, combining meticulous reasoning with a down-to-earth approach’. The firm boasts broad expertise in litigation, as well as international and domestic arbitration, and other forms of alternative dispute resolution. Highlights include representing Endesa in a €150m claim for damages filed by Iberdrola as a consequence of a take-over bid for Endesa. Barcelona-based partner Miguel Montaña is one of the most admired contentious IP specialists in Spain. Montserrat López-Bellosta has recently been appointed as partner.

One of the market’s most highly praised dispute resolution boutiques, B Cremades & Asociados is regularly involved in high-profile claims and arbitrations, with founding partner Bernardo Cremades, being regarded as ‘ one of the very few senators of the profession, boasting outstanding expertise in commercial disputes’. The firm is a member of TAGLaw, a global alliance of independent law firms.

Baker & McKenzie’s dispute resolution practice has been one of its busiest in the past couple of years. The firm recently hired criminal law expert Mar de Pedraza from Garrigues, who is now the partner in charge of the criminal law department. Both heads of department Jesus de Alfonso, in Barcelona, and José Antonio Rodriguez, in Madrid, have been regarded as ‘ undoubtedly two of Spain’s heavyweight litigators’. Rodriguez led one of the team’s most high profile disputes, having represented the Kingdom of Spain, specifically a number of high ranking officials from various Ministries of the Spanish State, in claims abroad involving the ‘Forum de las Culturas Barcelona 2004’. Arbitration is also a major strength.

At DLA Piper, Josep. M. Julià heads up the firm’s contentious team, which recently launched a white-collar crime practice. José Ignacio Monedero, former chairman of the Spanish Association of State Lawyers, has also joined the litigation team as of counsel, bringing more than 18 years’ experience in the disputes section of the Spanish government. The team represented major Spanish cable operators, Ono, R Cable, Euskaltel and Telecable in a dispute against Sogecable, regarding television broadcast agreements for football matches.

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer’s well-respected dispute resolution team is spearheaded by the ‘ extremely knowledgeable’ Vicente Sierra and by the ‘ very competent’ Rafael Murillo. The practice is particularly active in product liability litigation, shareholders disputes and general commercial litigation, as well as in a number of arbitration cases. Highlights include representing a leading tobacco company in a significant number of product liability claims filed by individual smokers and associations.

Fielding a team of 30 fee-earners, including six partners, Gómez-Acebo & Pombo Abogados offers a broad range of expertise, spanning high-end litigation, arbitration and ADR. The firm’s best-known practitioners include Francisco Peña, Joaquín García-Romanillos and Barcelona-based Javier Bejar, who have advised long standing clients such as Juan Pedro Domeq, Mercapital and Nike. Recent additions to the practice’s strong client portfolio include EDF Electricité de France, Telefonica and Union Fenosa.

Ramón Hermosilla & Gutiérrez de la Roza results from the merger between dispute resolution boutique Bufete Ramón Hermosilla and small corporate firm Gutiérrez de la Roza, which took place in January 2009. The firm boasts highly impressive expertise in litigation and arbitration, with Ramón Hermosilla Gimeno picked out by industry experts ‘ a first-class lawyer and litigator’. The team was notably involved in two €154m shareholders disputes, on behalf of a national distribution company due to shareholders conflicts. Arbitration highlights include a €60m ICC proceeding on behalf of a distribution company. Partner Pedro Rodriguez Rodero, formerly at Clifford Chance, is also highly recommended.

Clifford Hendel and Alejandro Fernández de Araoz are corporate boutique Araoz & Rueda’s best-known litigators, collecting praise for their strong experience in both international and domestic disputes. Recent highlights include representing a contractor of a LNG storage and regasification facility located in A Coruña, in a ICC arbitration brought by its subcontractor. Twinings and Company, a subsidiary of Associated British Foods, also instructed the team regarding a claim against a former distributor located in the Canary Islands.

Bird & Bird was recently involved in a major dispute, regarding a failed SAP R/3 implementation carried out by a leading multinational consultancy. The firm is also representing Brompton Bicycle Limited in Spain on a copyright infringement case before the Spanish Courts. The matter was led by the ‘ phenomenal specialist’ Manuel Lobato.

CMS Albiñana & Suárez de Lezo fields 11 fee-earners focused on disputes, including two partners. The practice has been busy with several insolvency procedures, mainly representing the banks. Its ‘ profoundly experienced’ arbitration team has recently been involved in a number of arbitrations before the ICC and the Madrid Arbitration Club, particularly representing clients in the renewable energy sector. Carlos Aguilar Fernández, praised for providing ‘ very detailed advice’, and Juan Ignacio Fernández Aguado, ‘ an extremely pragmatic litigator’, are recommended.

Well-known for its busy insurance disputes practice, Davies Arnold Cooper LLP’s contentious team is led by managing partner Ignacio Figuerol, who is also an experienced arbitrator. Paulino Fajardo focuses on mediation and is also recommended. The practice most notably represented Spanair and its insurers in the criminal proceedings arising out of the high-profile aircraft accident at Madrid’s Barajas Airport, in August 2008.

Jones Day’s litigation and arbitration practice is spearheaded by Mercedes Fernández, ‘ a very good disputes lawyer’, who has advised a number of clients in the energy sector, as well as in the real estate sector. The team represent both Spanish and foreign clients within Spain and outside of Spain, having developed particular expertise in cases involving Latin America. Highlights include being involved in a case between a major energy company and a sovereign state, which value is in excess of $1bn, regarding the devaluation of the state’s currency.

Jesús Giner Sánchez is Linklaters SL’ head of the litigation practice and co-leader of the restructuring and insolvency team. The team notably represented Real Madrid in a €32m international arbitration involving a contractual dispute. Javier de Carvajal, ‘ a rising star litigator’, is also recommended.

Lovells LLP’ most admired experts in this field include José Luis Huerta, Bernardino Muñiz and Ignacio Tirado. The firm boasts a wealth of experience in arbitration, having been involved in a number of cases before de ICC and the Madrid Court of Arbitration. Highights include representing a client against a major consumer association, in a claim arising from the blackout which occurred in Barcelona in July 2007. Other clients include Real Sociedad de Futbol and Red Electrica de España.

Ramòn y Cajal’s powerful dispute resolution team has represented several top corporates on high-end complex litigation, as well as on a number of arbitration cases. In a large team of ‘ highly able litigators’, white-collar crime specialist Álvaro Sanchez, Jaime Guerra Calvo, Ramón Fernández Aceytuno and insolvency specialist José Maria Ayala stand out the most.

Barcelona-based Roca Junyent is also well-respected in the market for its fine dispute resolution team. Màrius Gili, head of department, has been in practice since 1972, and has led disputes before several courts, including the Constitutional Court, the Supreme Court, the High Court of Catalonia, and Provincial Courts. The team advises a broad range of domestic and international clients, from major corporates to local companies, as well as consumer organisations and associations.