The Legal 500

Within Banking and finance, Baker & McKenzie is a third tier firm,

Baker & McKenzie’s clients say the team ‘runs when we are in a hurry, but takes time when we need deep study of a particular subject’. In 2011, it advised Bombardier on a letter of credit facility with a syndicate of financial institutions. Rossanna D’Onza is ‘brilliant, a hard worker and 100% involved in projects’, and regulatory experts Fernando Álvarez-Ude and María Gracia Rubio have ‘huge experience and knowledge’.

Within Capital markets Other recommended firms

Within Corporate and M&A, Baker & McKenzie is a third tier firm,

Baker & McKenzie provides ‘quick and accurate responses’; its lawyers ‘involve themselves in the business and the transactions’. It advised CITIC Heavy Industries on buying Gandara-Censa, and represented Marriott International during the two-phase acquisition of 50% of AC Hoteles’ 80-property hotel management business. Barcelona-based Jorge Adell and Madrid-based Maite Diez head the practice, and are recommended along with Enrique Carretero and Enrique Valera.

Within Dispute resolution , Baker & McKenzie is a third tier firm,

Baker & McKenzie recently represented Greenstone Asesores in arbitration relating to a private equity transaction with a Spanish consulting firm. It is also acting for Transportes García Villalobos in an M&A dispute, and Emed Mining in international arbitration against Red Creek. José Ramón Casado heads the team in Madrid, and Fernando de la Mata leads in Barcelona, where Víctor Mercedes is also a partner in the team.

Within EU and competition, tier 4

Baker & McKenzie’s ‘excellent’ practice includes Barcelona-based Carles Prat and Madrid-based José Antonio de la Calle, who are recommended along with newly promoted partner Valeria Enrich in Barcelona. The group is representing Jyske Bank Gibraltar before the ECJ in preliminary proceedings submitted by the Spanish Supreme Court.

Within Employment, Baker & McKenzie is a first tier firm,

Baker & McKenzie, which is ‘top of the line technically’, advised Sony Spain on employment issues relating to the sale of its largest manufacturing plant to Ficosa and Comsa Emte; and advised Kesa Electricals on a salary freeze affecting its 700-strong Spanish workforce. The highly rated Alejandro Valls heads the practice from Barcelona. Madrid-based Fermin Guardiola is ‘a fantastic litigator and negotiator with an excellent track record’. David Díaz is ‘very professional, thoughtful and helpful’.

Within Environment, Baker & McKenzie is a second tier firm,

Baker & McKenzie provides ‘outstanding service, high responsiveness and deep knowledge of the industry’. Madrid-based Ernesto García-Trevijano is ‘among the top lawyers in this practice in Spain’, and his advice is ‘always strongly founded and solutions-focused’. Xavier Junquera is the key contact in Barcelona. The firm recently advised Turcat (Hutchison) on environmental requirements and administrative controls relating to the Prat Pier Terminal, and assisted ERM in reviewing its internal procedures.

Within Intellectual property, Baker & McKenzie is a second tier firm,

Baker & McKenzie’s practice is led by José María Méndez in Madrid and Carles Prat in Barcelona. In 2011, it helped Marriott to acquire all IP rights of AC Hoteles and set up the licence structure for the creation of a new global co-branding with two joint venture companies. It also advised Danone on an IP protection strategy for its new yoghurt packaging.

Within Projects and energy, Baker & McKenzie is a third tier firm,

Baker & McKenzie advised Banco Sabadell and Novacaixagalicia on the financing of a 10MW wind-powered generator in Minnesota. Other clients include BP and Elektra Holding. The firm’s key energy partners are Francisco Escat in Madrid and Xavier Junquera in Barcelona. For project finance, Rossanna D’Onza and Fernando de la Mata are the contacts in Madrid and Barcelona, respectively.

Within Real estate, tier 4

‘The overall level of service is great’ at Baker & McKenzie, which recently advised Motorola on Spanish real estate aspects of the sale of its wireless networking business to Nokia Siemens. Clients recommend Jesús Conde and Xavier Junquera, who are the Madrid and Barcelona team heads respectively.

Within Restructuring and insolvency Other recommended firms

Within TMT, Baker & McKenzie is a second tier firm,

Baker & McKenzie’s team is ‘excellent in all aspects, particularly with response times’, and it demonstrates ‘knowledge, flexibility and value for money’. The firm advises Telecom Italia on regulatory matters, and Cable & Wireless, AT&T and Iridium are also clients. Maite Diez and José María Méndez lead the practice. Raúl Rubio shows ‘flexibility and commitment’.

Within Tax, Baker & McKenzie is a second tier firm,

Baker & McKenzie acted for Torreal on its acquisition of Saba, and Dresser-Rand on its acquisition of Guascor. Madrid practice head Rodrigo Ogea is ‘a very technical lawyer with a very practical approach to tax problems’. Pedro Aguarón is the key contact in Barcelona. Clients also recommend Luis Briones and María Antonia Azpeitia in Madrid for their ‘tailor-made solutions and swift responses’.