The Legal 500

Within Banking and finance, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP is a first tier firm,

Spain managing partner Iñaki Gabilondo heads Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer’s practice group, which also includes Ana López and advises on both Spanish and English law. In 2010, the team acted for CVC and ACS on financing their €1.5bn joint acquisition of a 25.83% stake in Abertis. The team also advised Schweizerische Nationalbank on transferring Spanish mortgage assets held by UBS to a Swiss entity controlled by the client.

Within Capital markets, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP is a first tier firm,

Armando Albarrán heads the ‘high-profile’ Madrid practice at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer. The group advised the issuer on Amadeus IT Holding’s IPO and acted for Afirma Grupo Inmobiliario on a €842m rights issue. The team advises two of Spain’s main debt issuers: Gas Natural and Repsol. Counsel Fernando Bautista handles securitisation matters, while Ana López and Iñaki Gabilondo are recommended for debt capital markets work.

Within Corporate and M&A, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP is a first tier firm,

For many clients, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer is the ‘first choice when doing big corporate transactions’. Armando Albarrán is ‘one of those few sophisticated lawyers who deliver advice in an understandable and commercial manner’. The firm plays a leading role in major corporate M&A transactions, private equity deals and restructurings. Recent highlights include acting for Gas Natural on its merger with Unión Fenosa and Unión Fenosa Generación, and advising a consortium of real estate focused private equity funds led by RREEF on the €1.2bn sale and leaseback of some 1,000 bank branches and landmark buildings throughout Spain.

Within Dispute resolution , Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP is a third tier firm,

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer’s ‘client-centric’ practice is led by Vicente Sierra, who is ‘totally committed and devoted’. The team also includes the ‘very professional’ Rafael Murillo. Key clients include JT International, HSH Nordbank, Sony and Cargill. Recent work includes acting for one of the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies in administrative and civil proceedings relating to a medication that was withdrawn from the market.

Within EU and competition, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP is a first tier firm,

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer performs remarkably strongly on antitrust matters for Spanish corporations and leading multinationals. Recent highlights include acting for Mediapro on a complex dispute with Sogecable over Spanish football TV broadcasting rights. The practice received new instructions from Abertis and Indra, and also represents L’Oréal, Thyssen and Visa Europe. Practice head Francisco Cantos is ‘very business-oriented and a good communicator’, while Álvaro Iza is ‘efficient and capable with very good experience’.

Within Employment, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP is a third tier firm,

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer’s ‘excellent’ employment practice is praised for its ‘high level of technical knowledge and quick responses’. Clients include Bristol-Myers Squibb, Continental, Nomura, Sara Lee, UPS, UBS and WPP. In 2010, the group advised BAE Systems on various issues concerning its Spanish subsidiaries including new hires and the closure of a representative office.

Within Environment, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP is a second tier firm,

Vicente Sierra heads the environment practice at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer. Key clients include JT International, CSL Behring, Cargill and Bayer.

Within Insurance, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP is a second tier firm,

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer advises domestic and international companies, including longstanding clients Zurich, Alliance and Chartis. Javier Gómez-Acebo is recommended.

Within Intellectual property, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP is a third tier firm,

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer’s practice is headed by Sergio Miralles, who ‘provides intelligent solutions’. The firm regularly advises clients from the pharmaceuticals, retail and TMT sectors on IP litigation and data protection. It represents new client Bristol-Myers Squibb, alongside Johnson & Johnson, OKI Systems Ibérica and Weight Watchers.

Within Legal market overview,

Spain is dominated by the historical ‘Big Three’ domestic firms – Cuatrecasas, Gonçalves Pereira, Garrigues and Uría Menéndez. The UK firms of Clifford Chance, Linklaters SL and Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer follow closely, particularly when competing for top-end transactions, and newcomer Herbert Smith LLP has made a good first impression in the market.

Within Projects and energy, tier 4

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer’s broad practice is led by Álvaro Iza. The team provides financing and regulatory advice on renewable energy projects, including acting for HSH Nordbank on solar projects throughout Spain. Ana López is recommended.

Within Real estate, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP is a first tier firm,

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer offers an ‘excellent level of service’ for real estate transactions. Juan Gómez-Acebo heads the practice, which counts among its clients Orion Capital Managers, Carlyle and Alpha Pyrenees, as well as the real estate divisions of Banco Santander, Banco Popular and Caja de Ahorros del Mediterraneo. The practice recently acted for a consortium of real estate funds led by RREEF Alternative Investments, Area, and Europa Fund on BBVA’s €1.2bn sale and leaseback of a portfolio of around 1,000 bank branches and landmark buildings throughout Spain.

Within Restructuring and insolvency, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP is a first tier firm,

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer acted on the debt restructuring of Metrovacesa, following its debt-to-equity swap granted in 2009 by the former controlling shareholders. The group also advised senior lenders on restructuring Panrico’s debt facilities. Finance partner Iñaki Gabilondo and insolvency partner Vicente Sierra co-head the practice.

Within TMT, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP is a third tier firm,

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer counts Abertis, BT and Mediapro among its clients, with corporate partner Antoni Valverde as the key contact for TMT matters. The firm recently provided pre-litigation advice to Sony regarding film distribution contracts.

Within Tax, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP is a second tier firm,

Miguel Klingenberg heads the tax department at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, which also includes Silvia Paternain. The finance tax team regularly advises international investment banks including Deutsche Bank and Morgan Stanley on financing structures and transactions. Recent highlights include advising Credit Suisse on a UCITS investment structure and ABN Amro on tax issues regarding its Spanish equity and derivatives portfolio.

Within Transport, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP is a third tier firm,

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer’s ship finance practice is led by Iñaki Gabilondo and includes Miguel Klingenberg, who advises on tax structures. Senior associate Jaime Rossi is also recommended.