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.
Industry focus: Retail in Spain
Baker McKenzie
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.
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.
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.
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.
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