The Legal 500

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

Gómez-Acebo & Pombo Abogados is ‘very good across the board, especially for project finance’. It recently advised a group of lenders including Bankia, Banco Popular and Caixabank on the €1bn-plus debt refinancing of Quabit Inmobiliaria, and also acted for securitisation fund Ahorro y Titulización on obtaining €1.5bn of mortgage loans from NCG Banco. Longstanding clients include Aareal Bank, Banesto and WestLB, and Banco Santander is a new client. Verónica Romaní is ‘experienced and knowledgeable’, and practice head Ángel Varela is also recommended.

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

Gómez-Acebo & Pombo Abogados assisted Banco Gallego with the creation of a short-term notes programme, and advised Banca Cívica on derivatives. It advised Banco Gallego on the creation and registration of a short term notes issue programme, including the drafting and negotiation of prospectuses. Practice head Ángel Varela and Verónica Romaní have ‘wide knowledge, expertise and experience’, and are ‘good at working under pressure’.

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

Gómez-Acebo & Pombo Abogados’ 15-partner practice recently assisted GKN with its acquisition of Stromag’s Spanish subsidiary, and advised Impax Asset Management on acquiring a portfolio of renewable energy assets in France and Poland from Eolia Renovables. It also advised Sonatrach on its acquisition, through capital increase, of 3.85% in Gas Natural Fenosa. Practice head Fernando de las Cuevas is recommended, as is ‘dealmaker’ Almudena Arpón de Mendívil y Aldama, who is ‘good under pressure’.

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

Gómez-Acebo & Pombo Abogados’ Juan Viaño is ‘brilliant in his work’ and his team has ‘remarkable professional quality’. Francisco Peña and Gonzalo Ardila have ‘a strong technical background and a practical approach’, and Borja de Obeso is also recommended. Key clients include Carey Value Added, which it is advising on a €1bn insurance guarantee. Martinsa-Fedesa, Aareal Bank and Endesa are also clients.

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

Gómez-Acebo & Pombo Abogados’ four-partner team has ‘very good knowledge of competition law’, and is led by José María Beneyto and Iñigo Igartua. Highlights included representing Plásticos Españoles, and its parent company Armando Álvarez, before the ECJ following a European Commission decision on an industrial bags cartel. It is representing Schindler España in an investigation into the elevator maintenance and repair market.

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

Gómez-Acebo & Pombo Abogados recently assisted Capgemini with a collective dismissal process affecting around 250 employees, as well as subsequent judicial proceedings. It also advised Teka on restructuring; and Valentino on modifying its employment conditions. Practice head Antonio Sempere is ‘extraordinary’, Ignacio Campos is ‘an absolutely outstanding expert’ with ‘great people skills’, and Silvia Bauzá and Miguel Queralt are also recommended.

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

Gómez-Acebo & Pombo Abogados’ three-partner team advises Ecovidrio, a special interest group formed to support glass recycling, on all environmental legal and administrative proceedings. It has also been assisting Factor CO2 with its conversion to a securities business, and advising Recyclia on the development of initiatives relating to electrical waste in compliance with the EC Directive on Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE). Pedro Poveda heads the practice.

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

Fernando Igartua and Fernando de las Cuevas leads Gómez-Acebo & Pombo Abogados’ practice, which provides ongoing advice to Chartis and Cigna on policies and issues relating to their Spanish businesses, and it often represents AXA in litigation. The firm regularly advises Genworth on its mortgage insurance credit policies.

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

Gómez-Acebo & Pombo Abogados’ four-partner practice has been handling a number of patent litigation cases, including representing Novartis in an infringement claim against Germed. It is also representing Eisai in a patent infringement and unfair competition case. On the trade mark side, it is acting for Bacardi in a long-running dispute over the Havana Club rum trade mark. The firm is also active in copyright work, where clients include the Discovery Channel and Google. Gonzalo Ulloa heads the practice.

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

Gómez-Acebo & Pombo Abogados is ‘among the most prominent firms for energy law’. It recently assisted Oman Oil Company with its acquisition of 15% shares in REN, the Portuguese gas and electricity supplier, and is currently advising the shareholders on the creation of Sociedad Promotora Bilbao Gas HUB. Longstanding clients include Endesa, Sonatrach and T-Solar. Carlos Vázquez and Verónica Romaní are the key contacts.

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

Gómez-Acebo & Pombo Abogados has ‘very good knowledge of real estate and planning regulations’, and its work is ‘always of high technical quality’. Highlights included advising Invesco Real Estate on the €39m purchase of a building in Madrid. The key real estate contacts are Iván Azinovic and Alfonso Fernández-Puebla, who are ‘very commercial and pragmatic’. Luis Jiménez-Díaz leads the planning team, which acts for clients such as the Council of Alcobendas.

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

Gómez-Acebo & Pombo Abogados is rated for its ‘deep knowledge’ and ‘commitment to the client’. Its ‘very good insolvency practice’ has been acting for a syndicate of banks led by BBVA in the insolvency of four subsidiaries of Grupo Interbon-Unop. Other mandates included advising a group of lenders – led by Novagalicia, Bankia, Banco Popular, La Caixa, and Ibercaja – on the debt refinancing of Quabit Inmobiliaria. José María Älvarez is the main contact.

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

Gómez-Acebo & Pombo Abogados’ ‘approach, understanding of clients’ businesses, easy communication and technical knowledge is worth paying for’. Almudena Arpón de Mendívil is ‘a great combination of business knowledge and legal expertise’. Clients include Lycamobile, IPC, Warner, and Telefónica.

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

Gómez-Acebo & Pombo Abogados advised Spanish online company Home 24x7 on the Spanish tax consequences of its merger into US-based Alice.com. The team advises Telefónica on various matters such as tax structuring of its managers’ compensation. Other clients include Capgemeni and Repsol. Javier Seijo heads the group.

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

Gómez-Acebo & Pombo Abogados’ ‘outstanding’ team is ‘rated extremely highly for response times and commerciality’. Practice head Carlos Rueda provides ‘clear advice that is to-the-point and reflects commercial sensitivities’. The practice is best known for shipping and aviation finance, and is ‘good in high-value transactions’.