Rising Stars

Firms To Watch: Industry focus: Retail

Pérez-Llorca is equipped to provide multidisciplinary advice in the retail sector, acting for clients in real estate, restructuring, employment and intellectual property matters.

Industry focus: Retail in Spain

Baker McKenzie

Led by IP expert Cristina Duch in Barcelona and copyright and trade mark specialist María Dolores Garayalde in Madrid, Baker McKenzie‘s retail sector team exhibits strength in matters relating to data protection, employment and intellectual property. Recently, a key area of work for the firm has been in relation to vertical agreements, with household name brands seeking its assistance in this field.

Key clients

Esprit


Grupo Bimbo


Puig – Charlotte Tilbury


Bogaris


Work highlights


  • Advised Joe Jeans regarding the review and implementation of its compliance programme.
  • Assisted Honda Europe with a review of several documents relating to compliance and suppliers, including notification letters, compliance clauses and complaints channel policy.
  • Advised Walgreens Boots Alliance on the sale of Alliance Healthcare businesses to AmerisourceBergen Corporation.

Bird & Bird

Supported by an international retail and consumer group network, Bird & Bird’s expertise in the retail space extends to intellectual property, trade mark, corporate, data protection and real estate advice. M&A expert Lourdes Ayala is accompanied by Antonio Cueto at the helm of the department, with the latter specialising in IP matters relevant to global fashion brands and retail clients. Also noted is Mariano Santos, who deepens the practice’s IP expertise, with particular knowledge of trade marks in a Spanish and European Union context.

Practice head(s):

Lourdes Ayala; Antonio Cueto


Other key lawyers:

Mariano Santos


Testimonials

‘They know the trade mark procedure very well and advise on how to obtain registration avoiding actions by the trade mark office or third parties.’

‘The attention, solidity and speed. Mariano Santos is a fundamental part of the team, because of his connections, efficiency and knowledge.’

Key clients

Procter & Gamble


Bodegas Benjamin de Rothschild and Vega Sicilia


Buy My Car


Costa Coffee


Hard Rock Limited


Homeserve Spain


Inter Ikea Systems


Jollibee Foods Corporation


Kaspersky Lab UK


Kfc Restaurants Spain


Lenovo


Llaollao Spain


Tax Down


Taco Bell


The Needo


Toogoodtogo


Trip Advisor


Iwg


Vegan Junk Food


Vans


Privalia


Grupo Cortefiel


Union Group


Chrome Hearts


Tax Down


Tommy Hilfigher


Mediterra Capital


We Are Knitters


Work highlights


  • Advising Hard Rock on its franchise network in Spain, including the review and localisation of franchise agreements for retail food stores and for hotel facilities.
  • Advising Jollibee on its arrival to Spain and its expansion in the country, with the negotiation of the relevant lease agreements, and other corporate and commercial matters.
  • Advising HomeServe in relation to the acquisition of Atecal 2005, and Sanimamp 2001.

Cuatrecasas

Cuatrecasas’ retail and consumer team has a multidisciplinary approach when acting for the likes of El Corte Inglés, Alibaba and Mango, with its experience extending to corporate, tax, labour, litigation and IP advice. Key examples of recent work include the team’s advice to El Corte Inglés regarding a refinancing of its bank debt with 20 financial institutions involved. Key practitioners include the Madrid-based Cristóbal Cotta, in the firm’s finance department, and Javier Rodríguez Alonso, a tax specialist.

Key clients

El Corte Inglés


CVC Capital Partners


Aareal Bank


Bogaris Retail


CaixaBank


Alibaba


Carson


Ceetrus


Inmobiliaria Colonial


Mango


Toys “R” Us


Work highlights


  • Advised El Corte Inglés on refinancing its bank debt, signed with the support of approximately 20 financial institutions and subject to sustainability criteria.
  • Advised CVC Capital Partners on acquiring 24.99% of Sonae MC.
  • Advised Carson on selling 10 supermarkets operated by Carrefour and Cash Lepe in Madrid and Andalusia.

DLA Piper

DLA Piper‘s retail team is often retained by clients to advise on retail operations and market consolidation projects. Real estate specialist Orson Alcocer leads the team, which also includes Diego Ramos, a recognised expert in commercial, technology and IP. Among other highlights, the firm advised Amundi in relation to the sale of multiple Carrefour hypermarkets, and also had a role advising Little Caesar Enterprises on IP and regulatory matters.

Practice head(s):

Orson Alcocer


Other key lawyers:

Diego Ramos


Key clients

Amundi


Little Caesar Enterprises


Puig


Lego S.A.


THG plc


Taurus Capital


Navega Capital


Kapalua Trading


Nutreco Iberia


Sonoma


Stuart Delivery


Bacardi


Work highlights


  • Advised Amundi on the sale of nine Carrefour hypermarkets, five in Spain and four in Italy.
  • Advised Little Caesar Enterprises on IP and regulatory matters for in-shop and distance sales in the context of its large-scale expansion in Spain.
  • Advised Puig in relation to several bilateral financing agreements.

Garrigues

The retail practice at Garrigues offers ‘broad knowledge of legal and commercial/market aspects‘, as noted by clients who also appreciate the firm’s ‘availability to go the extra-mile‘. Co-led by Mónica Martín De Vidales and Álvaro López-Jorrín, it remains a leader in the retail field thanks to its capabilities in M&A transactions as well as unfair competition, IP, real estate, tax and litigation. Recently, this type of work was exemplified by the team’s advice to Eco Mora concerning a range of assets, including real estate properties.

Other key lawyers:

Hector Muñoz; Blanca Isabel Jiménez; Gonzalo Rincón


Testimonials

‘Dedication and close service by the entire team.’

‘Close treatment, knowledge of the sector and the type of operations such as the project in question.’

‘Expertise and knowledge of M&A. Availability to go the extra-mile to help the client engineer the best deal. Trusted advisors. Ability to mobilise different topics.’

‘Knowledge and expertise. Strategic thinking. Trusted advisors. Adaptability. Professionalism.’

‘Team’s availability and engagement as well as broad knowledge of the legal and commercial/market aspects of the deals.’

‘Hector Muñoz, Blanca Isabel Jiménez and Gonzalo Rincón, with the relevant expertise have demonstrated broad knowledge of the deals and availability to assist the client.’

Key clients

Deoleo


Mahou


Carrefour Group


Monat Group


Younique Group


Eco Mora


Square Asset Management


Uvesco


Opcapita


Grupo Ibérica De Congelados


Samsung


Nueva Expresión Textil


Mutua Madrileña Automovilista


Great Hill Partners


Dea Capital


Marie Brizard


Hyundai


Work highlights


  • Advised Eco Mora on the acquisition of the assets related to 18 supermarkets, and nine real estate properties, as well as the subrogation of Eco Mora in 26 franchises, from Condis.
  • Advised on the strategic alliance between El Corte Inglés and Grupo Mutua.
  • Advising Grupo Uvesco and its partners on the sale of a majority stake of Grupo Uvesco to PAI Partners.

Gómez-Acebo & Pombo

The retail and fashion group at Gómez-Acebo & Pombo balances the needs of clients in the industry by providing a comprehensive offering with regard to employment, commercial contracting, trading regulations, intellectual property and unfair competition matters. Leadership of the team is divided between Sofía Martínez-Almeida in Madrid, regarded for her IP and IT experience in relation to the retail and fashion sectors, and Iñigo Igartua in Barcelona, a specialist in the M&A space and a recurrent figure in front of the Spanish and EU competition courts and tribunals. Senior associate Isabela Crespo is another standout in the team, with a strong focus on data protection and privacy matters as they relate to e-commerce and cybersecurity.

Other key lawyers:

Isabela Crespo


Key clients

Carrefour


Diageo


Giorgio Armani


Maus Freres


Media Markt


Metro/Makro


Rodamco


Verdecora


Toys R Us Iberia


Mercadona


Havaianas


G-Star


Pandora


Work highlights


  • Advised Carrefour and Carmila on the amendment of a large number of lease agreements on commercial premises in shopping centres as a result of Covid-19.
  • Advising Armani Group with regard to its daily retail activity in Spain and Portugal including advising and negotiating lease agreements, data protection issues and agency agreements.
  • Advised Pandora on data protection and consumer matters including compliance with regulation on sales periods, display of price indication, and sanctioning proceedings before consumer authorities.

Hogan Lovells International LLP

Hogan Lovells International LLP‘s consumer department is distinguishable for its global, cross-practice approach, with the firm sought out by retail clients for a range of national and international commercial, distribution and contract law matters, with a further focus in the regulatory sphere. Alex Dolmans leads the Madrid-based team with extensive corporate experience, as he also heads the firm’s corporate, M&A and commercial practice. On the dispute resolution front, Jon Aurrekoetxea is a key name to note, having been promoted to the partnership in January 2021. At the senior associate level, Adrián Fernández is a standout, noted for supporting retail clients in corporate and commercial matters alongside Dolmans.

Practice head(s):

Alex Dolmans


Key clients

Douglas Spain


AmerisourceBergen


Alantra


Wizink Bank


Groupon Spain


Work highlights


  • Advising Douglas on various commercial contracts and corporate matters in Spain.
  • Advised AmerisourceBergen on its acquisition of Alliance Healthcare Businesses from Walgreens Boots Alliance.
  • Advised Alantra on its acquisition of a majority stake of Surexport.

Uría Menéndez

With an interconnected food and beverage and retail sector practice, Uría Menéndez offers an extensive package to its clients, which it accompanies in major transactions and multiple aspects of online distribution extending to the design of platforms, the negotiation of relevant agreements and IP competition matters. Patricia Vidal, a competition law expert, leads the practice alongside Borja Sainz de Aja, who is recognised for his broad expertise in matters surrounding IP, unfair competition and litigation.

Other key lawyers:

Nuria Porxas; Alejandro Abad


Testimonials

‘Familiarity with the company, its structure, way of working and expectations regarding legal delivery.’

‘Nuria Porxas is the senior reference person within Uría. In order to provide a high-level legal perspective and coordinate multidisciplinary teams when necessary Alejandro Abad is the associate to turn to on a day-to-day basis, giving practical legal input fast and responding to expectations.’

Key clients

Alibaba


Mahou


Prénatal


Calida Holding


Santander Consumer Finance


Glovoapp23


Primark


Inditex


H&M