The Legal 500

Within Banking and finance, Garrigues is a second tier firm,

Garrigues’ practice is part of the firm’s wider corporate department, with Rafael González-Gallarza among the key banking partners. It advised Vallehermoso División Promoción (VDP) on rescheduling and repackaging an aggregate of €1.5bn over 200 real estate financing transactions with some 20 different banks. The team advised Grupo Peterson on structured finance for its acquisition of a 10% capital stake in YPF, which was sold by Repsol YPF.

Within Capital markets, Garrigues is a first tier firm,

Javier Ybañez, head of the overall corporate department at Garrigues, is a key player in capital markets. Other experts include José Luis Palao and Gonzalo García-Fuertes. The team assisted International Consolidated Airlines with its listing on the London Stock Exchange, and acted for Sacyr Vallehermoso on its nominal €200m offering of senior unsecured convertible notes. Other clients include BBVA.

Within Corporate and M&A, Garrigues is a first tier firm,

‘A very prestigious firm’, Garrigues ‘knows the industry and has the soft skills to differentiate it from other firms’. It advised Iberia on its merger with British Airways, and acted for BBVA on its acquisition of additional shares in Turkiye Garanti Bankasi. It advised Iberdrola on acquiring Brazil’s electrical distribution company Elektro Eletricidade e Servicos. Managing partner Fernando Vives is highly respected, and other key names are M&A expert Ramón Girbau; Javier Ybañez, who is ‘very experienced in stocks and acquisitions’; and Sergio González Galán, who gives ‘high-level service in acquisitions and negotiations’.

Within Dispute resolution , Garrigues is a first tier firm,

Garrigues’ recent instructions include an ICC arbitration over a contract dispute involving a high-value construction project in Qatar. It also acted for Amadeus in a dispute with one of its airline clients, and for Endesa in a dispute regarding its long-term gas supply contracts. Practice head Carlos de los Santos is recommended for his ‘global vision, intelligence, experience and mediation skills’. Of counsel José María Alonso heads the international arbitration team.

Within EU and competition, Garrigues is a second tier firm,

Garrigues’ sizeable competition practice provides ‘a high level of technical knowledge’, and is well connected. The team’s ‘responses are always quick and reliable’, ‘rigorous and professional’. It is representing various clients in infringement proceedings, merger filings and state aid cases. The five-partner group includes Madrid-based Marcos Araujo, who ‘has the ability to manage legal challenges in the context of real business necessities’, and Luis Ortiz Blanco, whose ‘technical wisdom is notable’.

Within Employment, Garrigues is a first tier firm,

At Garrigues, ‘the overall level of service is nothing short of outstanding’ due to the levels of ‘partner involvement, technical knowledge of the team’ and ‘quality of advice based on experience and good business judgement’. It advised Gestamp Automoción on the absorption of Edscha and Esa. Other clients include Telefónica and Kraft. Lead partner Vicente Calle is ‘in another league’, displaying ‘emotional intelligence, negotiating capability and commitment to the process’.

Within Environment, Garrigues is a first tier firm,

Garrigues continues to attract key instructions such as advising the Turkish government on its internal law on Integrated Prevention and Pollution Control (IPPC). The group is acting for Photovoltaic Spanish Association (AEF) before administrators to defend the rights of national and foreign investors in renewable energy in Spain, and is assisting the Turkish government with its internal law on Integrated Prevention and Pollution Control (IPCC). Santiago Garrido de las Heras heads the group.

Within Insurance, Garrigues is a first tier firm,

Garrigues’ Álvaro López-Jorrín ‘dominates the insurance legal environment and all the matters around it’, while Fernando Vives enjoys an equally good reputation. The insurance team, which is part of Javier Ybañez’s corporate department, recently advised Banco Santander on its 25-year strategic insurance distribution agreement with Zurich, in which Zurich will acquire a 51% stake in its life insurance, pension and general insurance operations in certain Latin American countries. Other clients include Allianz and Aegon.

Within Intellectual property, Garrigues is a second tier firm,

Garrigues has ‘a great team of multidisciplinary lawyers in this area’. It is representing Google Spain in a claim filed by an individual seeking to enforce their right to be removed from the internet. It is also acting for Procter & Gamble in a trade mark infringement matter, and for Casa Tarradellas in an appeal following the refusal of a trade mark on the grounds of lack of distinctive character. The team includes João Miranda de Sousa, Carolina Pina, Dulce Miranda and Maria Teresa Fernández Mateos.

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, Garrigues is a first tier firm,

Under the umbrella of the wider corporate practice, Garrigues’ team has ‘deep knowledge of project financing’ and regulatory issues, particularly for renewable energy. This ‘superior’ group advised a syndicate of domestic and international lenders on financing the construction and operation of the new Móstoles hospital. It advised a syndicate of lenders on the financing of Acciona’s Spanish renewable energy portfolio, and Renovalia Wind Energy on the financing of the Pedra Larga wind farm in Mexico. Marcos Botella has ‘optimum understanding of the dynamics of processes’, and José Miguel Pinillos is ‘solid in confrontations’. Senior associate Rodrigo Berasategui is recommended as ‘a translator of structures and ideas’. Corporate head Javier Ybañez oversees the group. José Guardo recently joined Clifford Chance’s banking and finance team.

Within Real estate, Garrigues is a first tier firm,

Garrigues’ team is ‘very proactive and has a deep expertise in the real estate market’. The team’s large size is a key factor: it ‘makes them capable of rendering the service within the agreed deadlines’. Recent mandates include advising Lazora on purchasing municipally subsidised residential developments in Madrid, and advising Apiv as buyer on the sale and leaseback of 28 service stations owned by Eroski Group. Felipe Yannone heads the department, and is recommended along with Héctor Muñoz, whose ‘ability is extraordinary’, and Lorenzo Clemente, who has ‘enough experience to focus the negotiations on relevant issues and to find solutions for each specific problem’.

Within Restructuring and insolvency, Garrigues is a first tier firm,

Garrigues is recommended for its ‘knowledge and expertise, practical vision and proactive approach’. The team ‘works hard and takes a lot of care’, giving clients full confidence. It is advising on Mediapro’s insolvency, and on the refinancing of its parent company Imagina. It is also acting for three of Viajes Marsans’ main financial creditors including Banco Santander. Practice head Antonio Fernandez, Adrián Thery and Borja García-Alamán are recommended.

Within TMT, Garrigues is a third tier firm,

Garrigues’ ‘magnificent’ team has been advising Televisa on divesting its 40% participation in La Sexta, and assisting Tuenti on its mobile virtual network operator’s (MVNO) project in telecoms, privacy and e-contracting law. The team resides within the corporate department, and includes IT specialist José Ramón Morales and telecoms and media expert Javier Marzo.

Within Tax, Garrigues is a first tier firm,

The huge tax department at Garrigues ‘has up-to-date high technical knowledge on very difficult items’, and is ‘flexible, quick and practical’. It also has ‘an excellent relationship with the tax office’. It advised Allianz regarding a joint venture agreement with Banco Popular, and Liberty on taking a majority stake in PRISA. It assisted BBVA on a €5bn debt and share issuance to the US financial market. Ernesto Jiménez heads the group, and Ángel Calleja ‘really takes care of the client and makes sure that a comprehensive approach is taken’.

Within Transport, Garrigues is a third tier firm,

Garrigues’ shipping team is staffed by ‘strong professionals with good knowledge of the business’. Manuel Torres heads the group, which recently advised Astilleros de Sevilla shipyard regarding the cancellation of three shipbuilding contracts. It is advising Astilleros de Sevilla shipyard regarding three cancelled shipbuilding contracts. Other clients include RaetsMarine and Norwegian Hull Club.