Industry focus: TMT in Spain

ECIJA’s TMT team includes firm founder Hugo Écija, who is particularly active advising media corporations; media and intellectual property specialists Alejandro Touriño and Juan Salmeron; M&A and private equity partner Emilio Prieto; and IT and data protection specialist Alonso Hurtado. Recent highlights include advising Netflix on regulatory matters relating to three shows and on television financing.

The team at Garrigues provides an information technology-focused service, dealing with matters relating to data protection and privacy, regulatory and competition law, and internet liability. The practice is co-led by José Ramón Morales, who also heads the firm’s technology and outsourcing group; regulatory expert Javier Marzo; and Carolina Pina, who has experience in media and intellectual property law and digital business. Alejandro Padín, who specialises in IT and data protection, is also noted. The group is currently advising the Computer and Communications Industry Association on challenging the potential implementation of digital services taxes.

Uría Menéndez advises clients in areas such as cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and fintech. In addition to assisting with e-commerce matters, the practice provides transactional and M&A-related advice to clients in the media and telecoms sectors. Other key areas of work include issues related to disruptive technology and advice on investigations and litigation. Pablo González-Espejo, who focuses on commercial law and regularly acts for Latin American clients, heads the team. Intellectual property and unfair competition specialist Borja Sainz de Aja is also recommended and advises clients in the electronics, microelectronics and software sectors. E-commerce and data protection specialist Leticia López-Lapuente, who leads the firm's e-commerce and data protection groups, was recently promoted to partner.

Clifford Chance provides a full-service offering, advising on regulatory, commercial, financing, cybersecurity, competition, intellectual property and litigation matters in the TMT sector. The team regularly represents telecoms and media operators in contentious administrative procedures. Jaime Almenar provides ‘a pragmatic approach and alternative solutions’ in his regulatory advice on telecoms and tech transactions. Regulatory specialist Carme Briera, who advised Ifema on the development of a free wi-fi network in Madrid, is recommended for her ‘knowledge of the sector’ and ‘high-quality work’. Highlights included advising Magnetar Capital on the corporate and financial restructuring of the Eurona Wireless Telecom group.

Javier Torre de Silva leads the TMT practice at CMS Albiñana y Suárez de Lezo with telecoms specialist Jorge Sánchez, who has experience in projects involving underwater high-capacity fibre infrastructure. The team provides regulatory advice and has particular experience in the telecoms area. Other key areas of work include film production and finance, content distribution, digital marketing, machine-to-machine and Internet of Things agreements, e-commerce, outsourcing advice, big data and defamation cases. José Luis Piñar, who focuses on IT and data protection law, is also recommended. The group is currently advising BT España on day-to-day regulatory, commercial and data protection matters.

The TMT practice at DLA Piper focuses on technology, with clients in the manufacturing, retail, consumer products and pharmaceutical sectors. The practice also contains a gambling and gaming group led by Paula González de Castejón, who has extensive experience in the medical, pharmaceutical and biotech sectors, and a technology outsourcing group. Diego Ramos, who advises on distribution and sales agreements, international data transfers, information management and data protection, heads the team.

Gómez-Acebo & Pombo provides a ‘personalised service’ across the sector, including on regulatory issues in media and telecoms, finance, tax, technology outsourcing, data privacy, e-commerce and consumer protection. The practice has a growing niche specialism in audiovisual content. Corporate and commercial lawyer Almudena Arpón de Mendívil leads the team and is currently advising Círculo Fortuny, a member of the European Cultural and Creative Industries Alliance, on anti-counterfeiting measures and selective distribution. Senior associate Isabela Crespo, who specialises in data protection, is also recommended.

Pérez-Llorca advises public and private technology companies and telecoms and media providers on taxation, data protection, compliance, e-commerce and disputes. The practice has acted for clients in the e-commerce, software, payment services, technology and advertising sectors. New team head Andy Ramos Gil de la Haza joined from Bardají & Honrado and specialises in intellectual property, technology and matters relating to video games. The practice also includes José Ramón de Hoces, who focuses on administrative and regulatory matters, and Pedro Fernández, who leads the firm’s venture capital and start-up practice.

Ramón y Cajal Abogados’ TMT practice has a technology focus, dealing with matters concerning data protection, cybersecurity, online gaming, outsourcing and cloud computing, as well as audiovisual rights and intellectual property. The practice has clients in the software, IT services, finance, gaming and advertising sectors. The team is currently advising NetEnt, a Swedish gambling company, on regulatory matters and IT agreements. Norman Heckh who is noted for his ‘business approach’ and has extensive experience in data protection, e-commerce and distance selling, and gaming, heads the practice with Antonio de Mariano Sanchez Jauregui.

Boutique law firm Abril Abogados, SL focuses on intellectual property rights enforcement and on digital infringement in the TMT sector. Intellectual property litigator Ignacio Temiño Ceniceros heads the team, which also includes advertising and compliance specialist Carolina Montero and Ruben Canales, who focuses on the entertainment arena. Recent highlights include advising Nissan on its advertising campaign related to the Uefa Champions League.

Bird & Bird provides advice on commercial transactions, arbitration, cybercrime, IT litigation, privacy and data protection for clients in the technology and media sectors. The team is led by Pablo Berenguer, who focuses on commercial and IT law. Recent highlights include advising eBay on data protection matters and its new payments business. Alexander Benalal left the firm in 2020; Guadalupe Sampedro left in 2021.

Intellectual property specialist Vicente Arias Máiz heads the team at Eversheds Sutherland Nicea, which focuses on the entertainment sector, with clients in the music and television industries. The practice handles matters including IP litigation and data privacy and security issues. The team also includes Celia Bouzas, who leads the privacy unit within the department.

EY Abogados offers a full-service TMT practice, drawing on the firm’s public law, litigation, M&A and competition expertise. The practice particularly focuses on transactional advice and on data protection.  Blanca Escribano, who has an ‘outstanding comprehension of legal intricacies’, heads the team. She provides advice on commercial, regulatory and litigation matters to clients including content producers, network and service providers, and distributors. The practice also includes regulatory and litigation expert Sofía Fontanals, who has extensive experience in TMT compliance and regulatory issues, and in electronic communication networks and digital marketing.

The team at Hogan Lovells International LLP is highly focused on information technology and data privacy matters. Gonzalo F. Gállego  , who has expertise in cybersecurity and privacy, heads the practice. Recent highlights include advising Clarity AI on the launch of its artificial intelligence service, and assisting Molinapps with the implementation of a hosting platform for the storage and sharing of medical data.