The Legal 500

Within Banking and finance, CMS Albiñana & Suárez de Lezo is a third tier firm,

Gracia Sainz leads the practice at CMS Albiñana & Suárez de Lezo, which advised a syndicate of banks led by Banesto on the €18m refinancing of Group Ayuso, and represented La Caixa on the leveraged buyout (LBO) financing granted for the acquisition of Grupo MGO.

Within Capital markets, CMS Albiñana & Suárez de Lezo is a third tier firm,

CMS Albiñana & Suárez de Lezo’s expert five-partner team includes managing partners Cesar Albiñana and Rafael Suárez de Lezo. The team is advising Deutsche Bank on registration and deregistration of collective investment schemes in Spain with the Spanish securities regulator, Comision Nacional del Mercado, and is acting for Rustica on a takeover bid with the purpose of delisting the company. Clients say the team ‘helps with urgent matters by giving quick answers’.

Within Corporate and M&A, CMS Albiñana & Suárez de Lezo is a second tier firm,

The ‘outstanding group of lawyers’ at CMS Albiñana & Suárez de Lezo is ‘always helpful’, and ‘innovative in finding solutions to meet business needs’. César Albiñana is trusted ‘to deal with the most complex and sensitive matters’ and Antonio Pino is ‘a seamless manager of complex transactions’. Luis Miguel de Dios is also recommended. The team advised Unipapel on selling Spicers’ continental business to DS Smith, and on the sale of Spicer’s UK and Ireland business to Better Capital. Other clients include Iberdrola and Lloyds TSB.

Within Dispute resolution , CMS Albiñana & Suárez de Lezo is a second tier firm,

CMS Albiñana & Suárez de Lezo gets ‘very good results’. Practice head Carlos Aguilar is ‘excellent in difficult disputes’. José Antonio Rodríguez Álvarez and José Antonio Rodríguez Álvarez are the other partners.

Within EU and competition, tier 4

CMS Albiñana & Suárez de Lezo’s practice is led by Jesús Alfaro, who has ‘a very high standard of knowledge’, and also includes Diego Crespo, who is ‘extremely responsive’ and has ‘good business acumen’. Senior associate Patricia Liñán is also recommended. Key clients include Endesa, Diageo Spain, Sara Lee and Iberdrola.

Within Employment Other recommended firms

Within Intellectual property Other recommended firms

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, CMS Albiñana & Suárez de Lezo is a second tier firm,

One of the key clients for CMS Albiñana & Suárez de Lezo’s communicative and experienced team is Iberdrola, which the firm represented in litigation against a Royal Decree which imposed an obligation to acquire and use indigenous coal, partially vetoing its purchase in international markets. The firm also acts for Acciona and Red Eléctrica España. Practice head Félix Plasencia has ‘huge experience in the energy sector’. Javier Torre de Silva is also recommended.

Within Real estate Other recommended firms

Within Restructuring and insolvency, CMS Albiñana & Suárez de Lezo is a third tier firm,

CMS Albiñana & Suárez de Lezo’s four-partner practice displays ‘terrific knowledge’. It advised SOS Cuetara on insolvency issues, and also acts for Caja Madrid. Juan Ignacio Fernández Aguado heads the group.

Within TMT Other recommended firms

Within Tax, CMS Albiñana & Suárez de Lezo is a third tier firm,

CMS Albiñana & Suárez de Lezo’s practice is headed by renowned tax litigator Felipe Alonso in Madrid, and also includes Javier Lorite in Seville. The firm recently advised an Ibex 35 listed company in a €137m tax payment claim.