Linklaters' cross-European practice specialises in merger control matters, as well as providing experience in cartel and state aid-related work. M&A expert Jaime Pérez-Bustamante leads the practice and has particular expertise in competition matters in the financial services, healthcare, energy, and retail and distribution sectors. His team includes counsel Fredrik Löwhagen, who is a dual-qualified Spanish and Swedish lawyer and is known for acting in EU and Spanish merger control and state aid cases. Also notable is senior associate Juan Passás, who has experience advising on the competition aspects of business transactions, acting in infringement proceedings before the competition authorities, and advising on antitrust, merger control and EU law.

Cuatrecasas is known for handling complex cartel investigations, including abuse of dominant position cases and subsequent appeals before the Spanish Competition Authority (CNMC) and Spanish Supreme Court. An ‘expert in his field’, Andrew Ward has experience in national and EU merger control, antitrust, state aid and anti-dumping cases, as well as in compliance training and investigations. He co-leads the practice with competition and EU law specialist Irene Moreno-Tapia, whose expertise also includes antidumping and regulatory cases. Notable in the team is Cani Fernández, who is particularly active in merger control proceedings and investigations initiated by the CNMC.

Specialising in antitrust matters, Allen & Overy provides international expertise, as well as experience in private and public enforcement and administrative contentious cases. Practice head Antonio Martínez handles a range of competition and merger control proceedings before the European Commission and the CNMC. His team was boosted by the arrival of senior associate Enrique Ferrer, who joined from J&A Garrigues SLP in 2019 and brings experience in antitrust proceedings before the CNMC and Spanish courts.

Boutique firm Martínez Lage, Allendesalazar & Brokelmann (MLAB) specialises in EU and competition law, with particular expertise in the regulated sectors. The firm also has notable experience in litigation before the EU and national courts. Founder and president of the firm Santiago Martínez Lage is known for advising on ​​free movement of goods, member state liability and legal privilege. He co-leads the practice with Rafael Allendesalazar, who represents companies, as well as public and private bodies, in front of the competition authorities, and Helmut Brokelmann, who specialises in merger filings, cartels and other infringement proceedings.

Experienced in merger control cases, Ashurst LLP is particularly active appealing the CNMC's decisions before the courts, as well as representing clients before the European Court of Justice. ‘True expert’ Rafael Baena is ‘smart, quick, always available’ and covers matters from merger control and abuse of dominance to cartels and competition law in Latin America. He leads a team that was boosted by the 2018 arrivals of Pablo Garcia-Manzano, the former deputy secretary of state for the Spanish Ministry of Energy, Tourism and Digital Agenda, who focuses on procedural rights, competition in regulated sectors and public procurement, and counsel Pablo Garcia Mexía, who specialises in competition-related issues in the internet and IT fields.

Baker McKenzie specialises in multi-jurisdictional matters in the pharma, healthcare and media sectors. The firm is experienced in advising clients on vertical agreements, as well as providing a growing merger control practice. Barcelona-based Carles Prat advises on abuse of dominant position matters, and Valeria Enrich, who is also based in Barcelona, has expertise in the chemical, pharmaceutical, food, cosmetics and retail sectors. Since publication, Alberto Escudero has left the firm.

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer

Herbert Smith Freehills LLP’s team provides expertise in damages, public law and unfair trade practices, across a range of competition and antitrust matters. The firm has experience acting in cartel-related investigations, including dawn raids and judicial reviews, as well as in merger control and damage claims cases. In terms of sector expertise, the practice is particularly seasoned in the retail, distribution, energy, infrastructure and digital markets areas. The ‘pragmatic, quick and efficient’ Henar González Durántez leads the team and represents clients before the competition authorities and courts, with a focus on dawn raids, cartels and investigations into unfair practices.

Marimón Abogados has experience in a range of competition and EU law matters, notably related litigation. The firm also provides expertise in the fast-moving consumer goods, pharma, sports, retail and transport sectors. Madrid-based Diego Crespo specialises in merger control and infringement procedures before EU and Spanish enforcement authorities, as well as appeals before the courts. He co-leads the team with Barcelona-based Stefan Rating, who joined from legacy firm Rating Legis SLP in 2018 and is known for advising Spanish and international clients on complex competition issues.

The broad practice of BROSETA Abogados is particularly experienced in domestic and international merger control matters, notably in Latam jurisdictions. The firm also advises companies and public administration bodies on state aid issues. José Manuel Sipos joined from PwC Tax & Legal Services in 2018, bringing experience in advising national and multinational companies on competition regulations and representing clients before the Spanish, European and Latin American authorities. He co-leads the team with senior adviser Luis Berenguer, who specialises in competition, industrial property, bankruptcy, corporate and insurance law. Carlos Vérgez left for CMS Albiñana y Suárez de Lezo in 2018.

Competition boutique DelaCalle Abogados SLP has an international focus and specialises in cartel investigations and advice on merger control assignments with a multi-jurisdictional component. Cartel expert Sanna Orkan co-leads the practice with José Antonio de la Calle, who advises companies, trade associations and government agencies in a wide range of industries. The team represented Eurowag before the CNMC in a merger control investigation following its acquisition of a group of companies.

King & Wood Mallesons' competition team has experience advising across a range of sectors, from energy and infrastructure to industrials and investment funds. As well as acting domestically, the firm is known for representing clients in Latin America, notably in competition matters related to cross-border M&A. Alfredo Guerrero co-leads the practice with Ramón García-Gallardo, who acts for clients before the Spanish competition authority and the courts, as well as specialising in EU and competition litigation before the EU Commission and the European courts in Belgium and Luxembourg.

The ‘excellent’ MVA ASOCIADOS has ‘huge expertise and knowledge in competition matters’, advising clients before Spanish and EU institutions and courts. The ‘well-coordinated’ firm is focused on compliance matters, infringement proceedings, merger control and damages claims. Competition and regulatory specialist Eduardo Abril leads the practice and is an ‘excellent lawyer - pragmatic, sharp and quick’; he is also well regarded for his ability to ‘think outside the box when needed’.