The Legal 500

Within Banking and finance, Araoz & Rueda is a third tier firm,

Araoz & Rueda acted for Spanish solar power player OPDE on financing and advised Deutsche Bank on Spanish aspects of refinancing a secured revolving credit facility for Toys R Us. Other clients include Goldman Sachs, BNP Paribas, Link Financial and IFC. Clifford Hendel heads the group.

Within Corporate and M&A, Araoz & Rueda is a second tier firm,

Pedro Rueda and Francisco Aldavero head Araoz & Rueda’s highly respected practice. It recently advised private equity fund Ibersuizas on its acquisition of Ice Cream Factory Comaker. The team also acted for USP Hospitales on its joint venture with Hospital Arttysur Bahía de Algeciras for the management and ownership of a new hospital to be built in Los Barrios. Other clients include Associated British Foods, Grupo Malakoff Médéric, Votorantim Cimentos and Caser Seguros.

Within Dispute resolution , tier 4

Araoz & Rueda represented Estudio 2000, the Spanish distributor of Puma, in ad hoc breach of contract arbitration against the German manufacturer. Iñigo Rodríguez-Sastre joined the firm in May 2010 from Clifford Chance and focuses predominantly on national arbitration, while Clifford Hendel mainly acts on international matters. The practice also includes Alejandro Fernández de Araoz.

Within EU and competition, Araoz & Rueda is a third tier firm,

Araoz & Rueda acts for clients including 3i Europe, Sucursal en España, Conservas Garavilla, Dimargrasa and Ferroatlántica. In 2010, the team represented Grupo Caser in responding to a statement of objections by the Spanish Competition Authority regarding the health insurance sector. It also defended Cosmo TV against government fines regarding obligations to finance the Spanish film industry. Ainhoa Veiga is the key contact.

Within Employment, Araoz & Rueda is a third tier firm,

Alfonso Suárez heads Araoz & Rueda’s employment practice, which advised real estate and construction company Gestión Técnica de Montajes y Construcciones on a redundancy plan, and perfume company Sensient Fragances on executive recruitment and contract terminations. The team also advised consultancy firm Astek on dismissal proceedings.

Within Intellectual property Other recommended firms

Within Projects and energy, Araoz & Rueda is a third tier firm,

Araoz & Rueda’s dedicated energy practice has broad experience in advising on issues faced by the hydrocarbons, electricity and gas sectors. The team is regularly involved in financing and construction for renewable energy and biodiesel plants, and the creation of joint ventures. Recent highlights include advising OPDE on €103m financing for two solar farms. Francisco Solchaga is the key contact.

Within Real estate Other recommended firms

Within Restructuring and insolvency, Araoz & Rueda is a third tier firm,

Iñigo Rodríguez-Sastre joined Araoz & Rueda in 2010 from Clifford Chance and now co-heads the restructuring and insolvency team alongside Alejandro Fernandez de Araoz, who is ‘experienced and committed with strong business acumen’. Clients include Ingeniería Fotovoltaica Ensol, BNP Paribas, Metropoli Proyectos Urbanísticos, Gala Capital and Coronel Tapioca.

Within Tax, tier 4

Araoz & Rueda’s ‘very efficient’ tax practice recently advised the owners of Conservas Garavilla on all tax structures regarding the sale of a stake in the company to MCH Private Equity. It also advised Ibersuizas on taxes concerning its acquisition of an ice-cream company. Practice head Álvaro de la Vía is ‘knowledgeable and practical’ and the team is ‘very committed to achieving its goals’.