B. Cremades & Asociados > Madrid, Spain > Firm Profile

B. Cremades & Asociados
CALLE GOYA 18
2ND FLOOR
28001 MADRID
Spain

Spain > Dispute resolution Tier 3

B. Cremades & Asociados possesses a successful track record in disputes across various sectors, including construction, pharmaceuticals, banking, energy, telecoms, and transport, but particularly excels in commercial and investor-state arbitrations. The team’s particular strength lies in handling multijurisdictional matters, including issues related to the annulment and enforcement of arbitral awards. Bernardo Cremades, the founder of the firm and head of the team, is a veteran in commercial and investment arbitration, frequently representing clients before the ICC, ICSIF, PCA, and other international arbitration bodies. Other key figures include the dual-qualified Bernardo M. Cremades Jr., knowledgeable in investment treaties and corporate finance matters, along with arbitrators Ángel Tejada and Javier Juliani Aznar.

Practice head(s):

Bernardo M. Cremades; Bernardo M. Cremades Román

Other key lawyers:

Ángel Tejada; Javier Juliani Aznar; José María López Useros; Patrick Byrne; Sandra Cajal Martín

Key clients

Dunor Energía S.A.P.I. de C.V.

Compañía de Inversiones Mercantiles, S.A. (CIMSA)

Mr. Raimundo Santamarta Devis

Comercializadora Mediterránea de Viviendas, S.L.

Multiple expropriated shareholders

Comunidad Judía de Madrid & Federación de Comunidades Judías de España

Glenn Maud, Dereck Quinlan and Cruz Holdings Limited

Inversiones Continental (Panamá), S.A.

Work highlights

  • Representing Compañía de Inversiones Mercantiles, S.A. (CIMSA) in a dispute that arose out of the breach of a shareholders’ agreement.
  • Acting as counsel for Inversiones Continental (Panamá), S.A. in an ICSID dispute against the Republic of Honduras regarding the forced liquidation of Banco Continental.
  • Acting as counsel for Raimundo J. Santamarta Devis regarding two pharmaceutical corporations owned by dual nationals of Venezuela and Spain.

Latin America: International firms > International arbitration Tier 5

B. Cremades & Asociados is a pioneer in the Spanish market in the international arbitration field. It has decades of experience in investor-state arbitration thanks to hugely experienced founding partner Bernardo Cremades. The Madrid-based firm represents an impressive variety of Spanish and Latin American businesses primarily in commercial arbitrations (a segment where it is very much to the fore) as well as handling high-value construction disputes. Energy, oil and gas, and infrastructure cases are also a forte for the team. Bernardo Cremades Jr is another prominent figure who now leads the majority of the firm’s Latin America-related cases. Ángel Tejada and José López Useros  provide further senior-level support.

Practice head(s):

Bernardo Cremades; Bernardo Cremades Jr

Key clients

Inversiones Continental (Panamá)

Compañía de Inversiones Mercantiles (CIMSA)

Mr. Raimundo Santamarta Devis

Hidroeléctrica San Lorenzo

Comercializadora Mediterránea de Viviendas

Dunor Energía

Work highlights

  • Represented Compañía de Inversiones Mercantiles (CIMSA) in a dispute arising from the breach of a shareholders’ agreement.
  • Acted as counsel for Inversiones Continental (Panamá)  in an ICSID dispute against the Republic of Honduras regarding the forced liquidation of Banco Continental.
  • Acted as counsel for Raimundo Santamarta Devis, a dual national of Venezuela and Spain, and the owner of two pharmaceutical corporations, concerning measures taken by authorities of Venezuela against the client’s properties and assets.

Firm Overview:

B. Cremades & Asociados was founded in 1969 by the lawyer and professor Bernardo Cremades, a world-renowned professional in the field of dispute resolution. It distinguishes itself as the first specialist arbitration practice in Spain as well as the first Spanish firm to participate in investor-State arbitration. The firm has always had an international orientation, and recognition by the world’s main legal directories.

The firm has achieved a high degree of specialization in the field of arbitration and litigation in general. Members of the firm participate as party counsel or arbitrators in domestic and international arbitrations, including both commercial and investment protection arbitrations. In the litigation practice, the firm represents national and international clients at all levels in civil, commercial, contentious-administrative and European Union proceedings, and also provides advice and consultancy services on legal proceedings abroad.

With a strong international vocation, B. Cremades & Asociados is a member of TAGLaw, a network of high-quality law firms with a presence in more than 90 countries that can assist B. Cremades & Asociados when its lawyers act abroad or in multi-jurisdiction proceedings.

Main Areas of Practice:

Arbitration & ADR:

■ Bernardo M Cremades has participated as counsel or arbitrator in over 400 arbitration proceedings. He is one of the most experienced arbitration practitioners in the world and the undisputed leader in the Spanish-speaking market.

■ In the field of investor-State arbitration, members of the firm have participated in many high-profile investment arbitrations as counsel, party-appointed arbitrator or presiding arbitrator.

■ In the field of commercial arbitration, the firm has strong expertise in arbitrations in various sectors, including energy (oil, gas, natural resources and other consumables), construction, engineering, pharmaceuticals, transportation, telecommunications, intellectual property, national and international procurement, corporate arbitration, joint ventures, international sale of goods and distribution contracts. The firm is also highly experienced in disputes involving FIDIC construction contracts.

■ The firm has considerable experience in arbitrations relating to capital markets and the banking sector, including proceedings arising from the issuance of preferred securities by Spanish savings banks.

■ The firm is familiar with the most widely used arbitration rules, including ICSID, ICC, UNCITRAL, SCC, AAA, ICDR, PCA, LCIA, DIS, TAS, IACAC, WIPO, CRCICA, CIMA, the Association of Swiss Chambers of Commerce and the Court of Arbitration of Madrid. The firm also has substantial experience in disputes under bilateral and multilateral investment treaties, including NAFTA and the ECT.

■ Members of the firm structure and present disputes before Dispute Adjudication Boards and regularly serve on dispute adjudication boards in major infrastructure construction projects.

Litigation:

■ The firm specialises in complex litigation and handles all types of civil, commercial and contentious-administrative disputes, as well as appeals before the Spanish courts at all levels.

■ The firm assists clients abroad or in multi-jurisdictional proceedings before international institutions such as the Court of Justice of the European Union or the European Court of Human Rights.

■ The firm regularly manages complex cross-border litigation proceedings, including matters related to restructuring and insolvency proceedings; family and inheritance disputes; mortgage foreclosure; and matters related to arbitral proceedings such as the recognition and enforcement of awards and interim measures as well as annulment proceedings.

■ The firm has experience in commercial litigation matters related to real estate, energy, commodities, corporate, banking and cross-border transactions, as well as in all types of civil law disputes.

■ Notable experience in matters relating to the United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods, distribution contracts, transportation, patents and trademarks, turn-key contracts, infrastructures of various kinds, construction in general, energy, oil, gas, mining, raw materials and natural resources.

■ The firm is active in legal proceedings before courts in the United States as several of its associates and partners are admitted to the bar in various U.S. jurisdictions. The firm has participated in the United States in class actions, debt recognition, recovery of works of art plundered by the Nazi Regime, and the recognition and execution of judgments or foreign arbitral awards.

 

Department Name Email Telephone
Investor-state and international commercial arbitration Bernardo M Cremades bcremades@bcremades.com +34 914237200
Domestic arbitration and ADR Angel M Tejada a.tejada@bcremades.com +34 914237200
Investor-state and international commercial arbitration Bernardo M Cremades Jr. bcr@bcremades.com +34 914237200
Domestic arbitration and ADR Javier Juliani jjuliani@bcremades.com +34 914237200
Investor-state and international commercial arbitration José M López Useros jmlopez@bcremades.com +34 914237200
Investor-state and international commercial arbitration Patrick T. Byrne p.byrne@bcremades.com +34 914237200
Photo Name Position Profile
Patrick T.  Byrne photo Mr Patrick T. Byrne Patrick Byrne,  a dual citizen of the United States and the Republic…
Rodrigo Cortés Calvo photo Mr Rodrigo Cortés Calvo Rodrigo Cortés Calvo’s practice focuses on domestic and international ad hoc and…
Bernardo Cremades photo Mr Bernardo Cremades Bernardo M. Cremades is senior partner of the Spanish law firm, B.…
Bernardo M. Cremades Jr. photo Mr Bernardo M. Cremades Jr. Bernardo M. Cremades, Jr., admitted to practice law in Madrid, the State…
Javier Juliani photo Mr Javier Juliani Javier is a partner in the litigation and arbitration group of B.…
José M. López Useros photo Mr José M. López Useros José M. López Useros actively participates in investment arbitration proceedings and in…
Ángel M Tejada photo Mr Ángel M Tejada Angel M. Tejada is a partner in the arbitration and litigation group…
Number of lawyers : 20
English
French
Spanish
German
TAGLaw

Diversity

Since its establishment in 1969, B. Cremades & Asociados has been committed to maintaining a high level of diversity among its workforce. It is through B. Cremades & Asociados’ diversity of culture and backgrounds that it is able to offer its clients a highly specialized and developed practice in areas of international law. The firm is comprised of a large mix of nationalities and languages with legal training from a multitude of both common law and civil law jurisdictions. The maintaining of B. Cremades & Asociados’ strong commitment to cultural diversity allows the firm’s teams to work together in a highly creative, collaborative, and innovative environment, where diversity of opinion is encouraged rather than repressed. The firm’s differences in background, language, perspectives and training fortifies the firm’s strong values and ensures the provision of a tailored service to meet and exceed clients’ needs. B. Cremades & Asociados is focused on ensuring the continuity of its diversity and making it a larger part of our future growth.

In recent years, B. Cremades & Asociados has become increasingly committed to addressing the under-representation of women on international arbitral tribunals and increasing the appointment of women in arbitration and has signed the Equal Representation in Arbitration Pledge. Similarly, the firm has sought to increase its engagements of women or female-led teams of experts.

Pro Bono / Community

B. Cremades & Asociados maintains a strong record of working in and seeking to serve the needs of the community at large. The firm has taken on a number of pro bono cases including, more recently, advocating for the return to its rightful owner of artwork stolen by the Nazis during the Holocaust. The firm’s commitment to exercising a social conscience is evidenced by the numerous cases in which the firm has been involved in over the course of its long and rich history.

The firm is further devoted to ensuring the passing on of its knowledge and expertise to the next generation of lawyers. A number of the firm’s partners are regularly engaged and volunteer with universities and law student groups in discussing the development of exciting and pressing legal issues. The firm expends its time and resources both at home and abroad in furthering the development of the law and ensuring that these conversations take place in an open and inclusive environment.