The Legal 500

Clifford Chance’s practice is ‘small, but very good at litigation’, and José Antonio Caínzos is a ubiquitous presence in the firm’s cases. This is a broad practice, but is especially experienced in antitrust litigation, where it recently defended Endesa against an abuse of dominance claim filed by Centrica; and criminal cases, where it is acting for ABN against a former manager. Highlights included acting for Martinsa-Fedesa in a €1.57bn directors’ liability action against its former chairman and controlling shareholder. On the arbitration side, the team is acting for Abengoa in its claim against Mexico, under the terms of the bilateral investment treaty (BIT) between Mexico and Spain, after the company was prevented from operating a hazardous waste landfill plant in the country.

Cuatrecasas, Gonçalves Pereira’s ‘large practice is very good at litigation’. Highlights included defending Corporación Uniland against lawsuits arising from its acquisition of Giant Cement Holding, and representing healthcare data provider IMS in proceedings against Infonis for breach of sui generis, IP and unfair competition laws. Other clients include Mitsubishi and BBVA. Jorge Badía and Álvaro Mendiola jointly head the practice.

Carlos de los Santos heads the group at Garrigues, where the ‘level of service is outstanding’, and which handles civil and commercial litigation, and domestic and international arbitration. Fernando Pantaleón is ‘an outstanding civil and litigation lawyer’ with ‘deep knowledge of civil law’. Jaime Iglesias is ‘brilliant, and a hard worker who is very involved in clients’ issues’. Clients include the Ministry of Works and Transport of Namibia, which the team represented in opposition to ex parte measures granted in favour of Ineco after its contract to upgrade two Namibian airports was terminated.

Uría Menéndez’s ‘excellent team’ recently acted for Iberdrola in a $350m dispute over a tariff review carried out in Guatemala, under the terms of the Spain-Republic of Guatemala BIT. In 2011, it advised Banco CAM on a claim to enforce a put option in a joint venture agreement. Other instructions came from Galletas Gullón, BBVA, Novacaixagalicia, and Telefónica. Practice head Jesús Remón is widely recognised as a leading figure in the market. Miguel Virgós, José Miguel Fatás and Álvaro López de Argumedo are also recommended.

CMS’ ‘extremely dedicated and professional team’ is ‘always very committed’. Key clients include Deoleo, which it has represented in a number of cases, including a recent claim brought by Union de Capitales concerning the lawfulness of a shareholders’ meeting that was held to discuss the company’s refinancing needs. Bankia is also a client. Javier Mendieta is ‘proactive and knowledgeable in every action and court case’, and is ‘good in negotiations, extremely hardworking, and reliable’. Juan Ignacio Fernández Aguado and José Antonio Rodríguez Álvarez are also recommended.

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer’s clients are ‘very pleased with the service’, praising the firm’s ‘proactive approach’ and ‘broad industry knowledge’. It covers areas such as insolvency, where it advised EADS on Alestis’ insolvency proceedings; and product liability, where instructions included defending Grünenthal against a damages claim filed by AVITE, a consumer association for Spanish victims of thalidomide. Rafael Murillo and ‘very experienced’ practice head Vicente Sierra are recommended.

Gómez-Acebo & Pombo Abogados’ Juan Viaño is ‘brilliant in his work’ and his team has ‘remarkable professional quality’. Francisco Peña and Gonzalo Ardila have ‘a strong technical background and a practical approach’, and Borja de Obeso is also recommended. Key clients include Carey Value Added, which it is advising on a €1bn insurance guarantee. Martinsa-Fedesa, Aareal Bank and Endesa are also clients.

Perez-Llorca is regularly instructed in multi-jurisdictional disputes, and its client roster includes Abengoa, Barclays, CBRE, Isolux, Prosegur, Técnicas Reunidas, and Total. Founding partner José Pedro Pérez-Llorca and David Arias have extensive experience in international arbitration and litigation. The firm also handles white-collar criminal cases.

Allen & Overy is representing a number of international and national banks in various judicial cases over interest rate swap transactions and the sale of financial products. It is also acting for 15 investment funds against the Kingdom of Spain in an investment treaty arbitration concerning breach of the Energy Charter Treaty, and is currently involved in a $30m ICC arbitration concerning a hotel management and licensing agreement. Antonio Vázquez-Guillén and Borja Fernández de Trocóniz are recommended.

Baker & McKenzie recently recruited José María Alonso, former co-managing partner at Garrigues, who is ‘particularly good in arbitration’ and is ‘making big improvements’; Alonso’s ‘advice has always been excellent, resulting in success’. The team is defending ArcelorMittal in a breach of barter contract brought by Coperfil, relating to two large plants owned by both companies. Alfonso Gómez-Acebo is ‘a top lawyer’, and Fernando de la Mata, Víctor Mercedes and José Ramón Casado are also recommended.

Álvaro Lobato heads DLA Piper LLP’s practice, which is ‘knowledgeable, focused on the client, and always responds in good time’. It recently acted for BP against claims challenging the exploitation of oil installation contracts.

Hogan Lovells International LLP’s group is ‘doing very well’, and has attracted clients such as the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Metrovacesa, Foster Wheeler, HCC Europe, Grupo Mahou San Miguel, Metrovacesa, Barclays, and Ford Credit Europe. José Luis Huerta and Alejandro López head the practice.

Jones Day has ‘a good reputation’ and is ‘doing great things’. Mercedes Fernández heads the team, which regularly acts in commercial disputes inside and outside Spain. Many of its cases relate to investments in Latin America.

Linklaters’ Francisco Malaga ‘provides excellent advice and support’, and ‘responds quickly, providing well-structured concepts in complex litigation’. The firm acts for a number of banks, and is representing Banesto in a mis-selling claim, as well as advising it in insolvency proceedings relating to several real estate companies. The team also represented TRW in an unfair competition claim against Fagor.

Araoz & Rueda is ‘doing very well at the moment’. It is representing a number of investors in arbitration against Enel Green Power, and advising Estudio 2000, the Spanish distributor of Puma. Iñigo Rodríguez-Sastre heads the group, which also includes Alejandro Fernández de Araoz and arbitrator Clifford Hendel.

Ashurst LLP’s ‘outstanding team’ is praised for its ‘excellent performance’: its lawyers ‘respond quickly’ and ‘provide commercial solutions to problems’. The firm acts for numerous financial institutions, and is also advising Inforcyl, a transport group owned by National Express, on a potential claim against GFI concerning a default on a software contract. Practice head Daniel Jiménez is ‘an excellent lawyer’.

Bird & Bird, which is ‘very good for IP and regulatory matters’, is also involved in the investment protection SCC arbitration against the Kingdom of Spain, where it is representing two foreign investors in the energy sector in Spain. It is also acting for Exact Software, Everis, ArcelorMittal, and EDF. Managing partner Javier Fernández-Samaniego is the key contact.

DAC Beachcroft LLP’s Paulino Fajardo is well known for his international experience, particularly in insurance and civil liability disputes. Miguel Relaño and environmental law expert Ricardo Garrido is also highly respected. The firm has been representing Spanair and Mapfre in criminal and civil litigation following the MD-82 aircraft accident at Barajas Airport.

Herbert Smith Freehills LLP has ‘an excellent reputation for litigation’ and provides ‘a highly valued service’. It is representing the Spanish government in international arbitration with 25 investment funds regarding its new photovoltaic legislation and the Energy Charter Treaty. It is also involved in arbitration concerning a wastewater treatment plant in India. Christian Leathley and department co-heads Eduardo Soler-Tappa and Manuel Rivero are recommended.

Santiago Hurtado heads Broseta Abogados’ practice, which has been defending the Bankia savings banks in litigation concerning IRS contracts; and representing Bankinter in similar cases. Other clients include Network Steels and Diego Zamora.

Deloitte’s clients include Banco Popular, Flex and García Carrión. Director Marina Fontela is ‘very focused on the client and on providing solutions’. The team also includes Silvia García.

Ecija Abogados acts in IP and IT disputes for media and technology clients, and is well versed in freedom of information law. Clients include BT, Business Software Alliance, Jazztel and Colt. Javier López is ‘very accessible, always fast in his responses, and very practical’.

GOLD Abogados (Gómez, Olmo & Da Veiga Abogados, S.L.P.) focuses on regulatory work, and provides ‘a tailor-made service’; its lawyers are ‘immediately available, responsive and dedicated’. Raúl Da Veiga is ‘an experienced litigator’ and ‘a magnificent professional’, who is ‘enthusiastic and extraordinarily convincing in court’. Clients include Ono.

Lupicinio Abogados International Attorneys’ key clients include Unilever, Bankia and CBRE. León Barriola and Esther Cubillo are the key contacts in Madrid and Barcelona, respectively.

Ramón y Cajal Abogados has recently represented Martinsa-Fadesa and Telefónica. Madrid-based Pedro Ramón y Cajal heads the litigation and insolvency department. Luis Briones joined the Barcelona office from Jausas.

Rivero & Gustafson Abogados is praised for its very partner-led practice. Sebastián Rivero is ‘an indefatigable worker who goes in-depth and really cares for his clients’, and managing partner John Gustafson is ‘a top-notch litigator who is always available and efficient’. Clients include GMAC and Bankia.

Simmons & Simmons LLP provides ‘value for money’ and ‘good results’. Practice head Andrés Mochales is ‘one of the best insolvency lawyers in Spain’, and Fernando Aizpún and Ricardo Orive are also recommended.

Ventura Garcés & López-Ibor, Abogados’ clients include GECAS and Meliá Hotels International. The group is led by Ana Ribó in Barcelona, and Alfonso López-Ibor and Santiago Thomas de Carranza in Madrid.