The Legal 500

Cuatrecasas, Gonçalves Pereira enjoys ‘a strong reputation’ for tax work. It advised Enel on tax aspects of its investment in Endesa, and provided tax advice on the Medgaz subsea gas pipeline project. Barcelona-based Alejandro Escoda and Madrid-based Eduardo Ramírez are recommended.

Garrigues has ‘strength-in-depth in its massive tax team’, which is led by Ernesto Jiménez. It recently advised Iberia on aspects of its planned merger with British Airways and represented Ebro Puleva on the €526m sale of its sugar business branch to British Sugar. Ongoing clients include Zurich, Galp Energia, Orangina Group and BBVA.

Uría Menéndez is highly respected for its ‘quality, high-end tax work’. The practice recently advised Morgan Stanley Infrastructure on purchasing assets of Gas Natural’s distribution businesses in Madrid. It also advised British Airways on tax aspects of its proposed merger with Iberia, and advised on the integration of Cuatro into Telecinco, the first merger within the Spanish free-to-air TV sector. Rafael Fuster leads the nine-partner team.

Baker & McKenzie’s tax practice provides ‘excellent, professional and personable advice’. Recent highlights include acting on a complex cross-border deal for CNOOC, involving a joint venture with Bridas Energy Holdings. Pedro Aguarón heads the Barcelona office, while Rodrigo Ogea is the key contact in Madrid. María Antonia Azpeitia is admired for her VAT work, while Luis Briones and Rodrigo Ogea are also recommended.

Miguel Klingenberg heads the tax department at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, which also includes Silvia Paternain. The finance tax team regularly advises international investment banks including Deutsche Bank and Morgan Stanley on financing structures and transactions. Recent highlights include advising Credit Suisse on a UCITS investment structure and ABN Amro on tax issues regarding its Spanish equity and derivatives portfolio.

Allen & Overy’s ‘outstanding’ practice is led by Carlos Albiñana and also includes of counsel Enrique López de Ceballos, ‘an expert in wealth planning’ who ‘has excellent interpersonal skills’. The team is advising international energy renewables group Eolia Renovables de Inversiones on its internal tax restructuring, and recently advised Iberia on various asset finance transactions to renew and increase its aircraft fleet through operating leases.

Eduardo Gracia heads the tax department at Ashurst LLP, which is advising Caja Madrid on tax aspects of the Iberia and British Airways merger. The team has also been advising Banco Santander, Bankinter and VidaCaixa on alleged breaches of EU law on withholding tax over dividends paid to Spanish Collective Investment Institutions (CIIs) and pension funds.

CMS Albiñana & Suárez de Lezo recruited Felipe Alonso and a team of lawyers from Baker & McKenzie in 2009. Recent instructions include advising on a tax inspection involving €90m, acting for a bank on a tax claim, and advising a listed company on a claim for payment of taxes amounting to €137m. Santiago Díez is recommended.

Jose Ignacio Jiménez-Blanco leads the tax team at Clifford Chance, which incorporates wealth management and private banking practices. Of counsels Pablo Serrano de Haro and Roberto Grau are recommended for their ‘deep knowledge about tax legal matters’. Recent work highlights include advising Banco Santander on its international real estate transactions such as disinvesting in €200m assets in France.

At Gómez-Acebo & Pombo Abogados, Heribert Padrol heads a tax team of 36 fee-earners. Recent work includes advising Gas Natural Fenosa on taxation of gas distributors, and acting for new client Giorgio Armani on indirect taxation and restructuring matters arising from its acquisition of a distribution business in the Iberian market. The firm also received new instructions from Banco de España, Cygnus Asset Management and Flir Systems.

Linklaters SL’s tax practice is led by Javier Garcià-Pita, who joined the firm in 2009. This small team of senior lawyers recently represented a group of Permira funds in acquiring eDreams, a leading online travel agency. It also acted for Telvent GIT on issuing $200m senior subordinated unsecured bonds on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange’s Euro-MTF Market.

Araoz & Rueda’s ‘very efficient’ tax practice recently advised the owners of Conservas Garavilla on all tax structures regarding the sale of a stake in the company to MCH Private Equity. It also advised Ibersuizas on taxes concerning its acquisition of an ice-cream company. Practice head Álvaro de la Vía is ‘knowledgeable and practical’ and the team is ‘very committed to achieving its goals’.

DLA Piper Spain S L’s tax practice is headed by transfer pricing and litigation specialist Carlos Rodríguez Barrigüete. It advised Mercapital on buying a majority stake in Grupo Diagnostico Recoletas, a hospital owner-operator. Other clients include Alstom, Banco Santander, Caja Madrid and Coca-Cola.

Hogan Lovells International LLP’s tax department is ‘excellent, responsive and innovative’. The team advised Banco Pastor on new tax lease and tax tonnage structures for the financing and acquisition of vessels. Practice head Miguel Ángel Sánchez has ‘first-class legal skills’.

Latham & Watkins LLP advised on Norsk Hydro’s acquisition of Vale’s aluminium business and acted for Torresol Energy regarding project financing for the development of two thermosolar power plants. Jordi Domínguez heads the department.

Perez-Llorca’s key clients include Alpha Tiger, Bunzl, Foster Wheeler and Telefónica. Recent highlights include advising E.ON on the Spanish tax aspects of the reorganisation of assets acquired from Endesa. Javier Fernández Cuenca and Clara Jiménez are recommended.

Pintó Ruiz & Del Valle’s expertise includes the taxation of not-for-profit organisations, companies and real estate transactions, and non-resident and international tax planning.

SJ Berwin regularly advises on matters including tax planning of private equity funds, tax planning, and M&A transactions. It has particular presence in the energy and infrastructure sector, and also acts for high-net-worth individuals. The ‘competent and capable’ Alberto Ruano heads the practice, while the ‘reliable’ Roberto Pomares and Carlos Pazos are also recommended.

Bird & Bird (Spain) LLP’s ‘excellent tax practice’ is led by the highly rated José María Cusí, who specialises in international tax matters. The practice's expertise includes tax structuring of real estate transactions, transfer pricing, private equity tax planning, and designing tax-efficient remuneration schemes for employees.

Broseta Abogados’ ‘top-notch’ practice includes Javier Morera, who has ‘good business insight and tax knowledge’, and the reputable Luis Trigo. Recent work includes providing tax advice to a client of financial services boutique Arcano on restructuring its investment funds.

León Barriola heads the tax practice at Eversheds Lupicinio, which recently advised on a tax inspection. Clients include Akzo Packaging Coatings and Caja Madrid.

Fornesa, Prada y Fernández Abogados’s small but growing tax practice is led by José Luis Prada. The team represents some impressive clients on international taxation issues including restructuring and M&A.

Herbert Smith LLP’s ‘strong team’ offers ‘deep knowledge, experience and excellent response times’. Recent highlights include advising on Magnum Capital’s acquisition of Teknon Healthcare. Practice head Nicolás Martín is recommended.

The ‘technically outstanding’ Roca Junyent’s key contacts are the ‘superb’ Juan Alberto Urrengoechea Salazar and Juan Isidro del Saz, who is described as ‘one of the best Spanish tax lawyers’.

Ventura Garcés & López-Ibor, Abogados’ Jordi Vilalta is highly regarded for his tax expertise, particularly corporation tax. He is frequently involved in tax structuring for Spanish and cross-border M&A.