The Legal 500

‘A market leader in Spain’, Clifford Chance ‘focuses on client care and getting to know the business’, and has ‘impressive coverage at partner and associate levels’. Telefónica is a key client, which instructed the firm in a significant antitrust case before the Spanish Competition Authority (CNC) for an alleged collective abusive practice together with Vodafone and France Télécom involving text messaging. It also acted for Endesa in three infringement proceedings before the CNC for abuse of dominance and restrictive practices. Practice leader Miguel Odriozola is ‘an authority in Spain and the EU’, and senior associate Begoña Barrantes has ‘excellent technical skills and a can-do, commercial approach’.

At Martínez Lage, Allendesalazar & Brokelmann (MLAB), the ‘overall level of service is really high’ and there is ‘absolute availability when needed’. Clients include Brambles, which it advised on notification of its acquisition of IFCO. It is advising Pavasal in an ongoing cartel investigation by the CNC in the public works sector. Practice head Santiago Martínez Lage and Helmut Brokelmann are ‘very capable lawyers – their strengths are knowledge and empathy’, and Rafael Allendesalazar is also recommended.

Uría Menéndez’ practice fields ‘very good professionals with a high level of knowledge and expertise on competition law’, and practice head Jaime Folguera is particularly well known. The firm has been defending Endesa in various infringement cases before the CNC, and is advising Roca Sanitario in appeals before the General Court against an EC decision concerning an Article 101 infringement. It is advising SC Johnson on the acquisition of Sara Lee’s insecticide business. Other clients include Caja Madrid, La Caixa, Crown Europe and Cemex.

Cuatrecasas, Gonçalves Pereira is advising Madrid’s regional government in a failure to act case brought by the European Commission before the European Court of Justice regarding construction of the M-501 highway. It is advising Grupo Alfonso Gallardo on competition aspects of selling three iron-and-steel works and a cement plant, and is representing the EC in an infringement procedure against the Kingdom of Spain for breach of Article 43 TCE relating to retail commerce. Practice head Cani Fernández is hugely well respected, and Andrew Ward and Irene Moreno-Tapia are also recommended.

DLA Piper recently advised Banco Santander on antitrust and other regulatory matters concerning its €4bn acquisitions of Polish bank Zachodni and BZ WBK Asset Management. It also advised Carlyle on Applus’ acquisition of Velosi, and Abengoa on the €1bn sale of its subsidiary Telvent to Schneider Electric. Practice heads Juan Jiménez-Laiglesia and José María Jiménez-Laiglesia are recommended, as is legal director Alfonso Ois.

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer recently acted for Hewlett-Packard in bringing a complex antitrust suit against Oracle for abuse of dominance. Other highlights included representing Visa Europe in an antitrust investigation relating to inter-change fees carried out by the EC and the CNC. The group also advises clients from the energy sector on regulatory compliance. Francisco Cantos heads the practice.

Garrigues’ sizeable competition practice provides ‘a high level of technical knowledge’, and is well connected. The team’s ‘responses are always quick and reliable’, ‘rigorous and professional’. It is representing various clients in infringement proceedings, merger filings and state aid cases. The five-partner group includes Madrid-based Marcos Araujo, who ‘has the ability to manage legal challenges in the context of real business necessities’, and Luis Ortiz Blanco, whose ‘technical wisdom is notable’.

Linklaters attracts glowing feedback, particularly for its multijurisdictional capabilities. Jaime Pérez-Bustamente leads a quality team and is ‘at the top of his game; he is not only smart and well connected, but an extremely insightful counsel as well’. The team recently advised Grupo ACS on merger control aspects of its hostile bid for Hochtief. International Petroleum Investment Corporation (IPIC) instructed the group on a takeover bid for Cepsa.

Allen & Overy advises on state aid proceedings, litigation and transactions. It is acting for Radio Televisión Española (RTVE) in two annulment proceedings brought by Sogecable and Telefónica, respectively. The team is very diligent and responsive. ‘Brilliant’ practice head Antonio Martínez is ‘always on top of everything when co-ordinating the work of his team’; ‘he is fully committed and aware of clients’ needs’.

Gómez-Acebo & Pombo Abogados provides ‘very good, practical advice’. Co-chairs José María Beneyto and Iñigo Igartua lead a team that is advising new client Allianz on merger control approvals for a joint venture with Banco Popular. It advised Medline on merger control approvals relating to its acqusition of Carefusion, and defended Alcatel’s Spanish subsidiary against claims of alleged unfair trading and antitrust breaches, in a matter that also leaned on the firm’s IP department.

Perez-Llorca continues to go from strength to strength under the leadership of Oriol Armengol. It recently advised Ecoasfalt in cartel proceedings regarding alleged price fixing, Ebara Bombas España in a procedure initiated by the CNC relating to an alleged agreement to fix certain sale conditions, and Gas Natural in antitrust proceedings relating to distribution of assets.

Araoz & Rueda’s team is ‘always available, with a high level of commitment’. The firm is advising Ferroatlántica on the competition aspects of investigation and development and technology transfer agreements, and advised USP Hospitales on merger control issues. Practice head Ainhoa Veiga is ‘really intelligent; she captures the essence of the problem in a second and quickly provides solutions’.

Ashurst LLP has a strong Spanish client base, and is acting for ONO in its opposition to the mergers between Telecinco and Cuatro; and that between Prisa, Telefónica, Telecinco and Digital+. It also acts for ONCE, Devir, and several top-flight Spanish football clubs. Rafael Baena heads the team.

Baker & McKenzie’s ‘excellent’ practice includes Barcelona-based Carles Prat and Madrid-based José Antonio de la Calle, who are recommended along with newly promoted partner Valeria Enrich in Barcelona. The group is representing Jyske Bank Gibraltar before the ECJ in preliminary proceedings submitted by the Spanish Supreme Court.

Bird & Bird’s Antonio Creus has an outstanding reputation. Recent highlights include advising a well-known energy group in merger control litigation, and acting for a leading satellite operator following the switching off of analogue transmissions in Spain in 2010.

CMS Albiñana & Suárez de Lezo’s practice is led by Jesús Alfaro, who has ‘a very high standard of knowledge’, and also includes Diego Crespo, who is ‘extremely responsive’ and has ‘good business acumen’. Senior associate Patricia Liñán is also recommended. Key clients include Endesa, Diageo Spain, Sara Lee and Iberdrola.

Casto González- Páramo heads the team at Hogan Lovells International LLP, which has attracted several new clients including Enagás, which the firm assisted with notification of its acquisition of Gaviota, a liquefied natural gas storage facility. The team also advised Cosmética Técnica on sanction proceedings opened by the CNC against a number of companies producing or distributing hair products.

Jones Day’s clients include Centrica, which it is representing in various proceedings contesting the tariff deficit and CO2 assignments recently implemented by the Spanish government. The practice is co-headed by two of counsel: Marta Delgado Echevarría, who is experienced in EC and antitrust law, and Raimundo Ortega, who focuses on energy and telecoms competition law.

Latham & Watkins LLP’s practice is led by Javier Ruiz Calzado. It recently represented ArcelorMittal in the prestressing steel cartel investigation by the European Commission, obtaining a reduction in fines from €276m to €45.7m. It also acted for Eli Lilly in obtaining EC approval for its acquisition of Pfizer’s animal healthcare business, which was divested as a condition of the clearance for the latter’s merger with Wyeth.

Angel Valdés heads the small but well-respected team at Lupicino Abogados International Attorneys, which recently advised Unilever on a merger filing following its acquisition of Sara Lee. It also acts for Merck, which it is representing in two different proceedings relating to the implementation of a wholesale market price system applied by Merck Sharp & Dohme.

Roca Junyent is representing Real Madrid FC in an appeal regarding the CNC’s antitrust decision relating to football events broadcasting rights, and is also advising TV operator Televisió de Catalunya on the decision. Pedro Callol is ‘a rare combination of a lawyer with a sound knowledge of the law and incredible responsiveness and speed – very good value for money’.

Ramón García Gallardo is the key contact at SJ Berwin. The team recently acted for RREEF Infrastructure to secure clearance from the European Commission for RREEF Pan-European Infrastructure Fund 1, LP taking a stake in a joint venture company managing a thermo-electric solar power plant project in Spain.

Garayar Asociados’ Eduardo Abril is strongly recommended by clients, who praise the team’s ‘industry and technical knowledge’ and ‘excellent response times’. Managing partner Emiliano Garayar is also recommended. Clients include BP’s Spanish subsidiary; Gas Natural; and GDF Suez Group and its Spanish subsidiaries.

Herbert Smith LLP represented Antin and RREEF in merger control proceedings before the EC. Of counsel Álvaro Pascual is recommended.