The Legal 500 > Europe, Middle East & Africa > Spain > EU and competition

Cuatrecasas specialises in merger control and preventative antitrust advice. Cani Fernández leads the practice and has experience in advising Spanish and international companies across the competition field. Counsel Irene Moreno-Tapia is head of the Barcelona team and her expertise covers investigations, merger control and competition appeal cases. The department represented Air Liquide and Gasmedi in matters arising from a medicinal gases investigation by Comisión Nacional de los Mercados y la Competencia. The firm is also acting for British American Tobacco in an appeal before the Supreme Court, challenging a judgment that defines the scope and content of certain promotional activities. Other key clients include Agrolimen and Cementos Portland.

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has experience across the sector, with particular expertise in multi-jurisdictional competition matters. Practice head Álvaro Iza specialises in merger control matters before the European Commission and the Spanish competition authority. He leads a practice that includes Francisco Cantos and counsel Enrique Carrera, who has significant EU state aid experience. In a recent highlight, the team is representing Volvo Renault Trucks in all Spanish private damages litigation following the European Commission’s decision to impose cartel fines of almost €3bn. The firm also advised Hochtief AG on the merger control aspects of its takeover bid for Abertis, and the subsequent agreement between ACS Group, Hochtief AG and Atlantia to jointly acquire control over Abertis.

Martínez Lage, Allendesalazar & Brokelmann (MLAB) is a boutique firm specialising in private litigation linked to antitrust and unfair competition cases. The firm ‘digs deep into the details of the business in respect to competition law’. The team is led by founding partners Santiago Martínez Lage and Rafael Allendesalazar; and the ‘knowledgeable and trusted’ Helmut Brokelmann, who is ‘sharp in his analysis’. Also notable is Paloma Martinez Lage, who has ‘a deep understanding of each case’. The practice is representing Renfe in the appeal against a fine imposed by the Spanish competition authority for allegedly colluding with Deutsche Bahn, as well as acting for Orange Spain in its appeal against the €29.5m fine imposed by the Comisión Nacional de la Competencia, for abuse of a collective dominant position with Telefonica and Vodafone.

Allen & Overy is ‘truly impressive, fast and valuable’, particularly in merger control matters and representing clients before the Spanish competition authority. Practice head Antonio Martínez is ‘a stand-out competition law partner’, and his team is representing Accenture in infringement proceedings by the Spanish competition authority, relating to a number of public tenders for the development and maintenance of software. In another recent highlight, the practice is acting for Altadis in investigations related to the tobacco industry in Spain. Other key clients include Red Eléctrica de España, Axion and Novartis.

Specialising in merger control and cartel-related litigation work, Linklaters stands out for its ‘technical knowledge and wide experience in antitrust matters, as well as its dedication to clients’. Jaime Pérez-Bustamante leads the team and has experience in the competition aspects of M&A transactions. Also notable is counsel Fredrik Löwhagen, who has particular expertise in EU state aid law, and senior associate Juan Passás, who is ‘a pleasure to work with, knowledgeable on antitrust and always there when you need him’. The team is advising Rhôneon on the public merger of its affiliate Zodiac, a global manufacturer of residential pool equipment, with Fluidra. In another highlight, the practice is representing Banco Santander in relation to the antitrust investigation by the Spanish competition authority into interest-rate derivatives attached to syndicated loans.

The ‘responsive’ team at Ashurst LLP ‘provides clear and practical solutions to complex matters’, particularly in relation to cartel investigations, merger control and litigation before the European Court of Justice. ‘Smart, quick and reliable’ practice head Rafael Baena is ‘a true expert with a deep commercial understanding of the industry’ and combines ‘an outstanding knowledge of local, EU and comparative law with the ability to provide extremely practical and concise advice’. The team represented HP before the Supreme Court in its appeal against a decision of the Spanish competition authority. In another highlight, the firm acted for Hyundai in its appeal before the Audiencia Nacional against the €4.5m fine imposed for participation in an exchange of information cartel in the Spanish automobile sector.

The main areas of expertise for the ‘results-driven and client-focused’ team at Herbert Smith Freehills LLP are in the retail, distribution and digital markets. The firm also has particular experience in cartel investigations and complex cross-border mergers. The ‘outstanding’ practice head Henar Gonzalez is ‘pragmatic, quick and efficient’. Her team advised Eroski on the sale of 98 outlets of Dapargel to the German group Douglas, and successfully acted for Abengoa, achieving the reduction of a fine imposed by the Spanish competition authority from €44m to €0.4m.

‘Outstanding’ legacy firm Marimón Abogados merged with boutique firm Rating Legis SLP, which also specialises in competition law. The combination boosts the firm’s ability to ‘carefully analyse the situation and provide the best legal assistance’. ‘Valuable competition lawyer’ Diego Crespo, who ‘has a deep knowledge of the consumer goods sector, and provides creative solutions’, leads the practice with ‘detail-oriented’ Stefan Rating. The ‘professional and well-coordinated team’ also includes senior associate Yolanda Martínez, who specialises in competition and regulatory law, notably in the pharmaceutical sector. The practice is advising key client Unilever on competition matters that arise in its day-to-day activities in Spain.

DelaCalle Abogados SLP is a specialist competition boutique with ‘expertise in legislation’. The ‘detailed and professional’ José Antonio de la Calle leads the practice and is known for his ‘availability and responsiveness’. Also notable is antitrust specialist Sanna Orkan. The team represented American Express Global Business Travel in a merger control investigation following its acquisition of Barceló’s minority shareholding in its Spanish joint venture. In another recent highlight, the firm represented Solidal Condutores Eléctricos in an appeal before the National High Court related to a fine of €44.7m for alleged price fixing and contracts distribution collusion.

Gold Abogados is a boutique firm, which has experience in cartel investigations, abuse of a dominant position, state aid and contentious administrative appeals, among other areas. Gerard Pérez Olmo is the firm’s lead partner in the area.

King & Wood Mallesons specialises in advising Latin American countries on the competition aspects of cross-border M&A deals. Leading the practice is Alfredo Guerrero and Ramon Garcia Gallardo, who is experienced in proceedings before the European Commission and the European Court of Justice. The team is representing Valencia Club de Fútbol in state aid proceedings opened by the European Commission, which concern a guarantee granted by the Valencia regional government to the Fundación Valencia CF. In another highlight, the group is advising the German investment company Aurelius Group on competition issues arising from the acquisition of Abelan Board Industrial.

The ‘superb and thorough’ MVA ASOCIADOS has ‘a deep knowledge of competition, particularly in the energy sector’. The team focuses on compliance matters, infringement proceedings and merger control, providing ‘in-depth technical knowledge and an ability to translate this expertise into pragmatic hands-on action’. The practice is led by the ‘pragmatic, sharp and quick’ Eduardo Abril, who is ‘an expert in the field, with great knowledge of the industry’ and an ability to ‘think outside-of-the-box’. The team advised Armando Álvarez on competition issues arising from the company’s acquisition of Envaflex, as well as representing Gas Natural Fenosa, in an appeal against the fine imposed by the Spanish competition authority.