With a sizeable intellectual property team spread across the globe, Bird & Bird‘s presence in the Spanish market is undeniable, as it represents leading pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies as well as cutting edge R&D facilities in a range of matters. Apart from its focus on the life sciences sector, the team is also regularly sought by clients in tech-centric industries, acting for these in patent litigation, licensing, strategic expansions and the management of portfolios. Patent licensing specialist José Miguel Lissén and prosecution expert Mariano Santos spearhead these efforts, accompanied by Manuel Lobato and associate Maria Fernandez. Changes to the team include the departure of Teresa Mercadal in 2021, and the subsequent arrival of associate Marta Arteaga in February 2022, who joined from Baylos.

The intellectual property team at Clifford Chance is recognised for its extensive cross-border patent litigation expertise, offering ‘real depth‘ when protecting a range of clients' assets. With a notable focus on the life sciences and healthcare sector, the firm’s client portfolio features a mix of domestic and international clients from the consumer goods, retail, biotechnology, media, pharmaceutical and telecoms industries. As a ‘star player‘ in the market, Miquel Montañá leads the team’s efforts in Barcelona, working alongside the ‘extremely knowledgeable‘ Josep Montefusco, who acts as the co-head of the firm’s tech practice, and associate Adrián Crespo, noted for his ‘great analytical mind‘.

Considered a ‘benchmark in the sector‘, boutique firm Grau & Angulo excels in a range of IP issues, demonstrating market-leading expertise in relation to injunction proceedings, patent infringement and counterclaims. Apart from a particular focus on pharmaceutical patents, the firm also acts for notable clients in the fashion, automotive, entertainment, telecoms, and food and beverage industries, having seen an increase in electronic and IT patent litigation in recent years. The leadership team includes the Barcelona-based Javier Huarte, one of the ‘best patent attorneys for manufacturers and marketers of generic drugs‘, Alejandro Angulo and Madrid-based partner Jesús Arribas. Recently promoted Ignacio Pontijas supports the team in Madrid, specialising in patent litigation in the life sciences space.

Gómez-Acebo & Pombo‘s intellectual property team continues to consolidate its standing as a leader in the field, distinguished by its ‘excellent knowledge‘ and strong focus on patent litigation in technology-heavy sectors, including the life sciences and telecoms industries. Co-led by biotechnology and plant variety expert Jesús Muñoz-Delgado and litigation specialist Sofía Martínez-Almeida, the practice’s expertise also extends to the protection, commercialisation and licensing of patents. Among its key clients, the team acts for the likes of Acciona, Hermes and Carrefour, and held its first event in the metaverse in 2021. Gonzalo Ulloa is another key contact for litigation.

The IP and unfair competition practice at Uría Menéndez is active in a range of advisory and contentious matters, covering patent infringements, revocation actions, market strategies, nullity proceedings and third-party patent rights. The practice covers the chemical, pharmaceutical, biotechnological, sanitary, cosmetic and general consumer goods sectors. Montiano Monteagudo and Ingrid Pi share leadership of the team, heading the practice from Barcelona and Madrid, respectively. Monteagudo has a particular focus on the healthcare and life sciences sector, while Pi, noted for having ‘sound knowledge‘ of relevant matters, is regularly involved in patent litigation applicable to the life sciences and plant patent space. In December 2021, José Massaguer retired from the firm.

The litigation and IP practice at Eversheds Sutherland benefits from an extensive global network, sourcing expertise from various international offices to advise clients in the pharmaceutical sector on a variety of high-value patent disputes. Apart from its experience acting for national and multinational pharma clients, the firm has recently expanded into the industrial engineering and retail industries, providing contentious and non-contentious advice to major companies. The Madrid-based team is led by Kiko Carrión, whose practice focuses on dispute resolution in the health and life sciences sector, alongside José Mariano Cruz and Marta González. Other notable practitioners include legal director Inmaculada López and Eduardo Buitrón, a key contact from the senior associate ranks.

With a multidisciplinary approach considered ‘tremendously efficient and effective‘ at the forefront of its offering, the industrial and intellectual property team at Garrigues counts domestic and international corporates among its main clients. Its expertise extends to patent drafting, filing, prosecution, transfer pricing and exploitation agreements. Recently, the practice has also seen growth in the audiovisual, life sciences, software, automotive and fashion industries. Madrid-based partner Carolina Pina and the Lisbon-based João Miranda de Sousa co-head the practice, combining experience in arbitration and complex IP transactions, as well as pan-EU infringement actions. In Bilbao, Mónica Arizti is a standout with ‘great knowledge‘, acting as head of the firm’s technical patent department.

With a notable intellectual property and digital business offering, CMS Albiñana y Suárez de Lezo exhibits particular expertise in contentious matters surrounding patent and utility model infringements. Among its key clients, the firm is often retained by companies in the healthcare and life sciences sectors, acting for these in e-health, regulatory and advertising matters. The Madrid-based team features María González Gordon at the helm, a seasoned practitioner specialised in dispute resolution in this field. Senior associate Ricardo Gómez-Barreda supports these efforts, acting in a range contentious and non-contentious matters. In November 2021, the firm saw the arrival of counsel Jaime Bello from Gómez-Acebo & Pombo, joining after Sofia Ramos, who left Telefónica to join the firm in September 2021.

Deloitte Legal‘s IP and IT law department is characterised by a multidisciplinary team supported by 13 local offices, offering a broad range of services including in relation to the exploitation of IP rights, legal proceedings concerning the validity and infringement of IP rights (IPRs), the drafting of license agreements, and tax and transfer pricing issues; the practice showcases a further focus in the manufacturing and media sectors. Dulce Miranda, who provides ‘great added value‘, leads the practice from Madrid, spearheading the firm’s representation of clients in the health and life sciences industry. TMT expert Raúl Rubio, an arrival from Baker McKenzie in September 2021, departed the firm in January 2023 to join Pérez-Llorca.

Elzaburu‘s patent department is linked with the firm’s litigation, legal and business, and anti-counterfeiting and anti-piracy offerings, making up a multidisciplinary practice acting in patent litigation, patent infringement matters, preliminary injunctions, anti-piracy, third-party oppositions, unfair competition and patentability analysis. Based in Madrid, the team is jointly led by Patricia Salama, Antonio Castán and Javier Fernández-Lasquetty, with the practice retained by the likes of Airbus and Xiaomi and other clients in the telecoms, tech, retail and pharmaceutical sectors. The three-partner leadership team is accompanied by litigation specialist Enrique Armijo Chávarri and associate María Cadarso, noted for patent enforcement.

The intellectual property and technology practice at Pérez-Llorca combines expertise in patent litigation and transactional matters, defending the rights of clients with regard to a range of intangible assets. Such matters include patents and trade secrets, advertising, trade marks and software infrastructures. With 2021 arrival Eduardo Castillo at the helm, the team represents multinational technology, pharmaceutical, life sciences and entertainment clients. Further changes to the team included the arrival of infringement specialist counsel Álvaro de Castro in September 2021, and litigation expert Rais Amils in 2022. Raúl Rubio constitutes another significant addition to the team, joining in January 2023 from Deloitte Legal.