With an international network of offices to rely on for additional expertise, the renowned Clifford Chance‘s IP team offers comprehensive advice on licensing, market strategy, infringement and litigation in relation to copyright issues. Sought by clients operating in a wide variety of sectors, the firm is retained by national and multinational consumer goods, retail, biotechnology, media, pharmaceutical, telecoms and industrial companies. Seasoned IP expert Miquel Montañá leads the Barcelona-based practice, with extensive experience in IP dispute resolution. Josep Montefusco, co-head of the firm’s tech practice, supports the team in litigation, unfair competition and advertising law, with senior associate Juan Cuerva de Cañas also noted.

The intellectual property practice at Garrigues remains a standout player, characterised by a ‘high level of knowledge‘, leveraged to assist internet platforms, content providers, sports organisers as well as leading companies in the fashion, retail and automotive industries. Apart from its sizeable offering, which encompasses infringement actions, database rights, image rights, reputation rights, preliminary injunctions and licensing, recent areas of growth for the firm include audiovisual, AI, augmented reality and software matters. IP and digital business reference and ‘excellent‘ Carolina Pina, based in Madrid, heads the team alongside expert prosecutor João Miranda de Sousa in Lisbon, backed by Cristina Mesa, an ‘outstanding‘ lawyer in technology matters, and principal associate Antonio Muñoz, who is focused on art and entertainment law issues. Ricardo López Alzaga is another key contact from the associate ranks.

Bird & Bird houses a sizeable team of IP practitioners with knowledge of the communications and life sciences sectors, acting for major software, pharmaceutical, biotech and R&D facilities in a range of issues. Such matters include infringement claims, complex litigation, the protection of rights in musical works, and collecting societies. At the forefront of these efforts are José Miguel Lissén and Mariano Santos, notable in litigation and information technology matters, respectively. Trade secrets expert Antonio Cueto is also noted alongside IP specialist Manuel Lobato and associates Maria Fernandez and Marta Arteaga, the latter of whom joined from Baylos in February 2022.

With an integrated team spread across 57 offices globally, ECIJA‘s IP expertise is sought out by private entities and public authorities; key areas of work include market strategy, audiovisual content distribution, copyright creation and regulatory compliance. Notable figures in the practice include founding partner and chairman Hugo Écija, focused on the media and new technologies sectors; managing partner Alejandro Touriño, an expert in IT law, intellectual property, innovation and entrepreneurship law; and Cristina Villansante, a key contact for digital transformation projects. Joining from DA Lawyers, José Antonio Suárez and Helena Suárez are also key contacts at the firm. Elena Ordúñez is another recent arrival, joining from PONS IP.

Elzaburu is recognised for its multidisciplinary approach, offering services across a broad spectrum of copyright matters including the purchasing of rights, the negotiation of royalties, licensing agreements, dispute resolution, regulatory compliance and antipiracy. The firm exhibits a strong focus on the entertainment industry, advising both national and international clients with links to theatre, motion picture, television and live shows. Antonio Castán, who also heads the firm’s litigation offering, leads the practice alongside legal and business leader Javier Fernández-Lasquetty and Mabel Klimt, who was recently promoted to managing partner and is recommended for audiovisual media productions.

With over 30 active practitioners spread across the country, boutique firm Grau & Angulo‘s expertise extends to a variety of matters encompassing design and copyright litigation, domain names, licensing, unfair competition and anti-counterfeiting. IP transactional expert Ignacio Marqués leads the group from Barcelona, which is often sought by clients in the automotive, entertainment, telecoms, healthcare and fashion industries. Maite Ferrandiz, a key figure in IP litigation is noted alongside Sonia Santos, active on the cross-border front for both litigation and advisory work.

Gómez-Acebo & Pombo is a well-known name in the intellectual property space, with a client roster featuring household name nationral and international companies, for which the firm offers full support in contractual, regulatory, transactional and litigation matters. Apart from infringement proceedings, settlement negotiations, advertising strategies and interim injunctions, the firm has recently seen an uptick in work related to emerging technologies, an area in which it is well placed to assist thanks to its G_AP metaverse initiative, an AI-powered channel. Jesús Muñoz-Delgado, who is well versed in technology transfers, heads these efforts alongside litigation specialist Sofía Martínez-Almeida in Madrid, supported by senior associate Bárbara Sainz De Vicuña and Barcelona-based associate Anna Viladás Jené.

The ‘exceptional‘ intellectual property practice at Uría Menéndez showcases expertise in both an advisory and litigious context, acting in purchase agreements, regulatory compliance, infringement claims, administrative proceedings and counterclaims. The firm attracts clients from a wide range of sectors thanks to its ‘impeccable‘ advice, including from the chemical, pharmaceutical, biotechnological, healthcare, cosmetic and general consumer goods industries. An experienced litigator in commercial matters and unfair competition, Carles Vendrell and Montiano Monteagudo, who acts in a range of IP, IT and unfair competition matters, lead the practice from Madrid and Barcelona, respectively. Working alongside Monteagudo in Barcelona, ‘top notch lawyer‘ and counsel Francisco Javier García receives praise for his broad knowledge of IP issues. In October 2021, the firm saw the departure of Rafael Sánchez Aristi.

The intellectual property and digital business offering at CMS Albiñana y Suárez de Lezo focuses on copyright, software and digital technologies, with notable expertise in IP litigation. Apart from advising clients in the media, tech, entertainment, e-commerce and banking sectors, the firm is also regularly sought by clients in the life sciences and healthcare sector; the firm is capable in a range of transfer agreements, software licensing, outsourcing agreements, publishing contracts and the assignment of film rights. IP litigator María González Gordon stands at the helm of the department, overseeing senior associate Ricardo Gómez-Barreda, who is active across the spectrum of contentious and non-contentious work.

With a global network of over 60 offices to draw from, Eversheds Sutherland‘s entertainment, media and IT group is often retained to represent multinational companies in royalty disputes, plagiarism claims, and issues arising from breaches of publishing contracts. The Spain-based team, led by Vicente Arias, whose practice encompasses design strategies, intangible asset protection and the acquisition of technological content, is highly sought by clients in the music and audiovisual sectors. Associate Lara Barrasa is also noted for her focus on new technologies.

The intellectual property and technology department at Pérez-Llorca demonstrates its capabilities in copyright matters by offering a multidisciplinary approach covering trade secrets, distribution agreements, regulatory compliance, software development agreements and image rights. Led by technology and intangible assets expert Andy Ramos Gil De La Haza, who was promoted to the partnership in January 2022, the team’s client portfolio features multinational technology, pharmaceutical, entertainment, luxury goods and software companies. Backing these efforts is associate Andrea Sánchez, who is focused on new technologies and privacy issues. In September 2021, IP litigation specialist Eduardo Castillo joined the firm, followed by the arrival of Rais Amils in January 2022; the firm also hired Raúl Rubio from Deloitte Legal in January 2023.