The Legal 500

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

Gómez-Acebo & Pombo Abogados recently acted on Instituto de Crédito Oficial’s near €23bn securitisation, Europe’s largest. It advised Caixa Galicia and a syndicate on Afirma Grupo Inmobiliario’s debt refinancing. Fernando Igartua, Ángel Varela and Carlos Rueda are the practice’s leading individuals.

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

Gómez-Acebo & Pombo Abogados regularly acts for issuers, fund managers and originators, and recently advised Instituto de Crédito Oficial on its near €23bn securitisation. Equity capital markets highlights included advising Abu Dhabi’s International Petroleum Investment. On the debt side, it advised Caja de Ahorros y Monte de Piedad de Córdoba on a state-guaranteed bonds issuance. Fernando Igartua and Ángel Varela are recommended.

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

Fernando de las Cuevas heads Gómez-Acebo & Pombo Abogados’ sizeable corporate practice, which was involved in one of the most significant private equity deals in Spain recently when it advised AlpInvest on acquiring Fortis’ interest in Fondo Nazca II, F.C.R. It also advised Caixanova on selling a stake in R Cable y Telecomunicaciones to CVC Capital Partners. New clients include Crown Holdings and Nordzucker.

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

The ‘intelligent, professional and effective’ Francisco Peña heads the team at Gómez-Acebo & Pombo Abogados, which is praised for its ‘speed in understanding problems and proposing solutions’. It has been particularly active in creditor- and debtor-side insolvency cases. Recent highlights include bringing a claim for Viajes Iberojet against Viajes Marsans, pursuing payment of a €37m debt.

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

Gómez-Acebo & Pombo Abogados provides ‘exceptionally clear advice’ and ‘out-of-the-box thinking in complicated and critical matters’. It recently advised LVMH regarding the European Commission’s review of antitrust rules applying to distribution systems and guidelines on vertical restrictions. Almudena Arpón de Mendívil is ‘absolutely reliable, with such a deep knowledge and experience that you quickly realise you are in the best possible hands’.

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

Gómez-Acebo & Pombo Abogados recently recruited several new lawyers to join the practice headed by Antonio Sempere. It has also attracted new clients including River Island Spain, Trea Capital Partners and Banco Pastor. Another new client was AICE (Asociación Industrias Cárnicas de España), which the team advised on issues affecting 80,000 employees at associated companies. It also advised Japan Tobacco International on restructuring in the Canary Islands.

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

Gómez-Acebo & Pombo Abogados continued its work – including developing a policy and legal framework – on the Ukraine Carbon Market Facilitation Programme, a model for the country’s mid- and long-term Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions and GHG emission reduction potential. The firm also received instructions from new clients including Ihobe, Pignus and Tracemar. Pedro Poveda heads the department.

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

Fernando Igartua’s group at Gómez-Acebo & Pombo Abogados receives instructions from insurers including Axa, Marsh and Hansard. Recent highlights include advising Genworth on negotiating a credit insurance policy, and on modifying a reassurance contract with Caser. The team also includes Fernando de las Cuevas, who heads the firm’s corporate department.

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

Gómez-Acebo & Pombo Abogados is ‘one of the market leaders for IP work’, with Gonzalo Ulloa, Jesús Muñoz-Delgado, Sofía Martínez-Almeida and of counsel Juan José Marín also recommended. The team has been protecting the Tupperware trade mark in Spain and other European countries, and carried out infringement actions against a Spanish IT company regarding the registration and use of the iPhone trade mark in Spain. Other instructions included advising Philip Morris International on anti-counterfeiting measures.

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

The team at Gómez-Acebo & Pombo Abogados is ‘professional and always accessible’ and has been particularly active in renewable energy, advising on solar, photovoltaic and wind projects. Fernando Igartua and Carlos Rueda co-head the practice, whose clients include Endesa, Commerz Real, Caja Madrid, MBIA and the government of Cantabria.

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

Gómez-Acebo & Pombo Abogados has acted on numerous significant financings and refinancings, including advising a bank syndicate led by Eurohypo AG on Orangeburg’s acquisition of a Madrid shopping centre. Among the firm’s longstanding clients are property developer Agrupación Urbanística Espacio Del Motor, BP Oil and Caixa Nova. Madrid-based Victoria Llavero heads the practice, which also includes Ivan Azinovic, Barcelona-based José Ángel Cano and Valencia-based José Manuel Palau.

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

In May 2010, Gómez-Acebo & Pombo Abogados created a company restructuring team headed by José María Álvarez. Key instructions include representing longstanding client Martinsa-Fadesa and subsidiaries in insolvency and restructuring. Other highlights included advising Arcis Neumáticos as a possible buyer of Neumáticos Argi during its liquidation process.

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

Gómez-Acebo & Pombo Abogados provides ‘well thought out advice’ and has ‘a deep knowledge of the Spanish market’. It recently acted on a number of international outsourcing projects, and regularly advises US company Clearwire on litigation, employment, corporate, commercial and regulatory matters. On the media side, it has been advising on co-production projects for films. Almudena Arpón de Mendívil is ‘extremely responsive to clients’ needs’, and Juan José Marín has ‘impressive knowledge’.

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

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.

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

Gómez-Acebo & Pombo Abogados represents shipowners and shipyards on ship financing and related tax. Key clients include Ahorro Corporación, Caixanova, Naviera Elcano and Seatruck. Carlos Rueda heads the department, which also includes Ángel Varela.