The Legal 500

Garrigues continues to attract key instructions such as advising the Turkish government on its internal law on Integrated Prevention and Pollution Control (IPPC). The group is acting for Photovoltaic Spanish Association (AEF) before administrators to defend the rights of national and foreign investors in renewable energy in Spain, and is assisting the Turkish government with its internal law on Integrated Prevention and Pollution Control (IPCC). Santiago Garrido de las Heras heads the group.

Gómez-Acebo & Pombo Abogados provides ‘valuable opinions’ to clients including the 11 waste management integrated systems, which it advised on the new Waste Bill. New client wins include Urbaser. Pedro Poveda has ‘vast experience in the public and private sectors’, and his ‘training as a university professor grants him even greater professional qualifications within his specialty’. Carlos Vázquez is also recommended.

Uría Menéndez’s key partners are Carlos de Miguel Perales in Madrid and Juan Antonio Loste in Barcelona. The practice is regularly instructed on matters including climate change, oil spills and other contamination. It advised an international airline on the European emissions trading scheme, and another client on the compulsory purchase of a polluted plot affected by the implementation of new railway infrastructure.

Baker & McKenzie provides ‘outstanding service, high responsiveness and deep knowledge of the industry’. Madrid-based Ernesto García-Trevijano is ‘among the top lawyers in this practice in Spain’, and his advice is ‘always strongly founded and solutions-focused’. Xavier Junquera is the key contact in Barcelona. The firm recently advised Turcat (Hutchison) on environmental requirements and administrative controls relating to the Prat Pier Terminal, and assisted ERM in reviewing its internal procedures.

Clifford Chance continues to advise Banco Sabadell as the central counterparty to Sendeco2, the Iberian Carbon Exchange. Other clients include Abengoa; The European Federation of Energy Traders; and Endesa, which it advised on sanction proceedings following an incident at a nuclear plant. Orbeo recently called upon the group for advice on carbon trading in Spain. Juan José Lavilla is ‘very qualified and client-focused’, and ‘an outstanding lawyer’.

At Cuatrecasas, Gonçalves Pereira, Yolanda Guerra and Covadonga del Pozo lead a team that recently acted for Cytec to challenge the decision to deny authorisation for its chemicals plant, having acted for the client on the municipal report that led to the denial. Castellbisbal’s town council instructed the firm to defend the legality of its landscape ordinance. Other clients include Hidrodata, FMC Foret, and Barcelona Regional Council.

DLA Piper advised BBVA in the financing of Urbaser as the awarding party in a public tender for urban waste management in Valencia, and is advising Florida Power & Light Energy on the installation of four thermo-solar power plants. Of counsel José Ignacio Monedero leads the practice.

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer advises clients such as CVC Capital and ACS on Spanish and English law. Managing partner Iñaki Gabilondo heads the team, which also includes Ana López.

Allen & Overy debuts in the ranking following the recruitment of Pablo Mayer and a team from Clifford Chance in 2010. It has been advising Desarrollo Urbanístico Chamartín on the environmental and planning aspects of the partial reform plan for Paseo de la Castellana in Madrid. It also advises renewable energy producers on the environmental matters.

Broseta Abogados’ ‘well managed and coordinated team’ is responsive and knowledgeable. Valencia-based Rosa Vidal heads the team, which counts Concesiones Aeroportuarias among its clients and recently advised it on the design and construction of Castellón Airport. It also advised a real estate developer on urban planning issues affecting its land in the Grao area.

DAC Beachcroft LLP’s key partner is Ricardo Garrido. Leaning on its insurance capabilities, it has been advising Chartis, as the liability insurers of German chemicals company Brenntag, in criminal and civil proceedings following an explosion which polluted the River Umia. It also acted for the liability insurers of an engineering company in one of Europe’s largest pollution cases, the collapse of a waste reservoir in Doñana National Park. Paulino Fajardo led that advice.

Herbert Smith LLP team is ‘business-minded’ and ‘good value for money’. It recently advised Gas Natural on nuclear issues and assisted Berkeley Resources on a new mining project. Ignacio Paz and Miguel Riaño are recommended.