The Legal 500

Garrigues’ 18 lawyers have ‘an unmatched knowledge of the market’. Renowned practitioner Santiago Garrido de las Heras heads the practice, and his expertise includes renewable energy as well as administrative and legal environmental advice. The team advises public authorities, private companies and associations on EU climate change provisions, has particular experience in drawing up Emission Reduction Purchase Agreements and supervises and advises on Kyoto Protocol project-based mechanisms.

Gómez-Acebo & Pombo Abogados continued its work – including developing a policy and legal framework – on the Ukraine Carbon Market Facilitation Programme, a model for the country’s mid- and long-term Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions and GHG emission reduction potential. The firm also received instructions from new clients including Ihobe, Pignus and Tracemar. Pedro Poveda heads the department.

Uría Menéndez’s environment practice has an excellent reputation, with recent instructions involving climate change, oil spills and other contamination. Highlights included advising an international airline on the European emissions trading scheme, and advising a client on the compulsory purchase of a polluted plot affected by the implementation of railway infrastructure. Carlos de Miguel Perales heads the Madrid team, while Juan Antonio Loste is the key contact in Barcelona.

Baker & McKenzie’s practice is highly recommended for due diligence and general legal advice on complex environmental issues including soil and groundwater remediation. Examples of recent work include advising one of the largest education groups in Spain on the construction of facilities at a university campus. The ‘knowledgeable and highly committed’ Xavier Junquera heads the Barcelona team, while Ernesto García-Trevijano leads in Madrid.

Clifford Chance’s practice covers the full spectrum of environmental work and is expert on carbon trading issues. Juan Jose Lavilla leads the team, which recently advised Banco Sabadell on its role as central counter-party of SendeCO2, the Mediterranean carbon trading exchange, including structuring the platform and drafting relevant agreements.

Cuatrecasas, Gonçalves Pereira offers ‘good know-how and impressively quick response times’. It recently advised Portland Valderrivas on environmental obligations. It also advised Grupo Enel Viesgo regarding the application of Spanish regulations to the European emissions trading regime.

DLA Piper Spain S L’s environment practice is led by of counsel José Ignacio Monedero, a public law expert who has held various public positions. The team recently advised Florida Power & Light Energy on the environmental and administrative issues of installing four thermosolar plants in Spain. Other clients include BBVA and Banesto.

Vicente Sierra heads the environment practice at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer. Key clients include JT International, CSL Behring, Cargill and Bayer.

Broseta Abogados has been acting for Concesiones Aeroportuarias on the completion of work at Castellon Airport. The experienced Rosa Maria Vidal Monferrer heads this ‘diligent, responsible and knowledgeable’ team, which also includes Fernando Raya Medina.

The ‘professional, honest and hardworking’ Ricardo Garrido heads the practice at Davies Arnold Cooper LLP, which recently acted for the liability insurers in relation to the collapse of a waste reservoir at Doñana National Park, the largest pollution case of the decade in Europe.

Ignacio Paz heads the environment practice at Herbert Smith LLP’s recently opened Spanish office. Miguel Riaño is also part of this ‘very professional and client-focused’ team, which has particular expertise in renewable and alternative energy.