The Legal 500

Within Banking and finance, Gómez-Acebo & Pombo Abogados is a second tier firm,

Gómez-Acebo & Pombo Abogados counts Banco Santander among its key clients and recently advised it as lead party during various transactions. Examples included financing the acquisition of shares in CLH. The team also advised the banking syndicate led by Banco Español de Crédito on MAXAM’s debt refinancing, and acted for Grupo Amma on its global debt refinancing.

Within Capital markets, Gómez-Acebo & Pombo Abogados is a second tier firm,

Gómez-Acebo & Pombo Abogados’ highlights included advising on the securitisation of mortgage bonds issued by five savings banks within the framework of AYT Cédulas Cajas Global FTA, and advising Caixanova and Caixa Galicia on the merger that resulted in Novacaixagalicia. It acted for Allianz SE on the acquisition of 60% of Europensiones, Eurovida and Popular Gestión. The practice is noted for its ‘valuable opinions’, and clients particularly recommend practice head Ángel Varela and Fernando Igartua.

Within Corporate and M&A, Gómez-Acebo & Pombo Abogados is a second tier firm,

Gómez-Acebo & Pombo Abogados’ ‘excellent’ team advised Grupo Interbank on the acquisition of Inkafarm, and gave regulatory and merger advice on the union of savings banks CaixaNova and Caixa Galica to form Novacaixagalicia. It also represented the sellers in the sale of fashion retailer Buy Vip to Amazon. Fernando de las Cuevas heads the team, which also includes the ‘extremely efficient’, ‘customer and results-oriented’ Rubén Ferrer.

Within Dispute resolution , Gómez-Acebo & Pombo Abogados is a second tier firm,

Gómez-Acebo & Pombo Abogados’ ‘premier’ practice ‘always has a wonderful attitude towards the client’. It litigated for Viajes Iberojet in pursuing a €37m debt claim. Francisco Peña is ‘particularly valuable’, Gonzalo Ardila is ‘a trusted adviser with excellent technical skills and is very reliable and keen to add value’, and Borja de Obeso is also recommended.

Within EU and competition, Gómez-Acebo & Pombo Abogados is a third tier firm,

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.

Within Employment, Gómez-Acebo & Pombo Abogados is a second tier firm,

Gómez-Acebo & Pombo Abogados’ ‘excellent’ employment practice was instructed by Eurohypo to negotiate with unions on a change in working hours, and represented Capgemini España in a collective conflict process regarding the interpretation and application of the state collective bargaining agreement applicable to consulting companies. New clients in 2011 included Altadis, the Spanish subsidiary of Imperial Tobacco, as well as Valentino and GDF Suez. Practice head Antonio Sempere and Ignacio Campos are recommended.

Within Environment, Gómez-Acebo & Pombo Abogados is a first tier firm,

Gómez-Acebo & Pombo Abogados provides ‘valuable opinions’ to clients including the 11 waste management integrated systems, which it advised on the new Waste Bill. New client wins include Urbaser. Pedro Poveda has ‘vast experience in the public and private sectors’, and his ‘training as a university professor grants him even greater professional qualifications within his specialty’. Carlos Vázquez is also recommended.

Within Insurance, Gómez-Acebo & Pombo Abogados is a second tier firm,

Gómez-Acebo & Pombo Abogados acts for clients such as Hansard, Caser and AXA. It recently advised Allianz on insurance aspects of its €145m acquisition of 60% of Spanish companies Europensiones, Eurovida and Popular Gestión. Fernando Igartua and Fernando de las Cuevas are recommended.

Within Intellectual property, Gómez-Acebo & Pombo Abogados is a first tier firm,

Gómez-Acebo & Pombo Abogados handles patent instructions for a number of pharmaceuticals clients and has been increasing its presence in the telecoms and electronics sectors. In trade marks, areas of expertise include banking and finance, and it has been representing Apple in relation to copyright, defending it against a claim made by a Spanish organisation that manages the IP rights of musicians and other performers. Clients recommend practice head Gonzalo Ulloa.

Within Legal market overview,

The ‘Big Three’ Spanish firms – Cuatrecasas, Gonçalves Pereira; Garrigues; and Uría Menéndez – maintain their reputation for excellence. Gómez-Acebo & Pombo Abogados is also a strong player. Other notable Spanish firms include Perez-Llorca and CMS Albiñana & Suárez de Lezo.

Within Projects and energy, Gómez-Acebo & Pombo Abogados is a second tier firm,

Gómez-Acebo & Pombo Abogados’ team of ‘highly qualified professionals’ is ‘clearly a sure bet when requesting legal advice’. It advised a consortium led by Acciona and Grupo Puentes regarding a construction and operational contract for a new hospital in Vigo, and advised new client Endesa Energía on regulatory matters. Carlos Vázquez has ‘extensive knowledge and a great sense of customer service’, and ‘looks for solutions instead of problems’.

Within Real estate, Gómez-Acebo & Pombo Abogados is a first tier firm,

Gómez-Acebo & Pombo Abogados’ team includes Ivan Azinovic, who has recently advised on numerous sale-and-leaseback transactions, and planning expert Luis Jiménez-Díaz. Recent instructions include advising Standard Life Investments regarding a forward funding agreement with Citygrove to develop a 250-room hotel in Barcelona that was rented to Travelodge. It advised Makro on buying a plot of land in Seville to develop a new wholesaler centre. ICA Mexico is a new client.

Within Restructuring and insolvency, Gómez-Acebo & Pombo Abogados is a second tier firm,

Gómez-Acebo & Pombo Abogados ‘gives advice in a very professional way’. It has been advising Martinsa-Fadesa and subsidiaries on insolvency proceedings and debt restructuring. The team also advised a lender syndicate led by Banesto on Gestair’s debt restructuring, and another group of lenders led by Caja Madrid on restructuring Filmax Group’s bank debts. ‘Brilliant’ practice head José María Álvarez is recommended, as are Francisco Peña and Maria José Paz-Ares.

Within TMT, Gómez-Acebo & Pombo Abogados is a second tier firm,

Gómez-Acebo & Pombo Abogados’ clients include Apple, which it is defending against an extrajudicial claim made by Spanish collecting society AIE. It is also advising Playtech on liberalisation of the gaming industry in Spain. Almudena Arpón de Mendívil heads the group.

Within Tax, Gómez-Acebo & Pombo Abogados is a third tier firm,

Gómez-Acebo & Pombo Abogados’ ‘overall level of service is excellent due to its deep knowledge of the business and tax regulations in Spain and the EU’. Highlights included advising Allianz on Spanish tax implications of its €145m acquisition of 60% of the Spanish companies Europensiones, Eurovida and Popular Gestión. Practice head Heribert Padrol and Enrique Ortega are ‘very accessible, and have strong knowledge and experience’.

Within Transport, Gómez-Acebo & Pombo Abogados is a third tier firm,

Gómez-Acebo & Pombo Abogados is adept in shipping and aircraft finance. Clients include Ahorro Corporación, which it recently advised on restructuring the lease structure for Hull 160. Other clients include Novacaixagalicia, Naviera Elcano and Seatruck. Carlos Rueda leads the practice.