The ‘top-level expertise’ at Garrigues covers private equity as well as ‘the fiscal aspects necessary for good global customer advice'. The firm provides legal and tax advice to local and international funds, management teams, finance providers and other industry players. M&A specialist José Manuel Martín leads the practice and has experience in a range of transactions, including leveraged buyouts. Notable in the team are Fernando Vives, who is an expert in securities, general corporate and insurance matters; Álvaro López-Jorrín, who focuses on transactional work for local and international private equity clients; Victor Chiquero, who advises on M&A, private equity investments and leveraged buyouts; and principal associate Félix Ferreño, who is known for M&A, as well as advising corporates and international private equity funds.

Linklaters has a broad fund practice ranging from fund transactions, leveraged buyouts and distress deals, to equity and debt investments. The firm’s clients include domestic and international private equity houses, as well as real estate funds, sovereign wealth funds and distressed debt investors. The team is co-led by Víctor Manchado, Alejandro Ortiz, Carmen Burgos, Lara Hemzaoui, Alexander Kolb, Pedro De Rojas and Adolfo Guerrero. Also notable is managing associate Esteban Arza, who advises on M&A and private equity deals. In a recent highlight, the department assisted Rhône Capital with the cross-border merger between its controlled portfolio company, the Zodiac Group, and the Spanish listed company Fluidra.

Uría Menéndez has experience advising on formation and fundraising, as well as equity investments and debt financing. Known for public and private M&A, the firm provides expertise in distressed M&A, debt-for-equity transactions, turnarounds and restructurings, with particular strength in advising the private equity industry on Latam transactions. Francisco San Miguel focuses on domestic and international private equity and banking M&A. He co-leads the practice with Manuel Echenique Sanjurjo, who specialises in M&A, private equity and general corporate law. Also notable are Latam expert Juan Miguel Goenechea Domínguez, who acts in cross-border public and private transactions, and Christian Hoedl, whose forte is M&A and private equity matters.

Specialising in advising private equity funds on M&A transactions, Allen & Overy is also experienced in debt and corporate restructurings, insolvencies and distressed investment transactions. The practice is co-led by Íñigo del Val, who focuses on domestic and cross-border transactions; Ignacio Hornedo, who specialises in M&A, disposals, private equity deals, joint ventures and commercial contracts; equity capital markets expert Fernando Torrente; and Juan Hormaechea, whose expertise covers structured finance transactions, acquisition financing, margin lending and equity derivatives.

The multi-disciplinary team at Ashurst LLP is made up of specialists in corporate, finance, real estate, tax and dispute resolution. The firm’s experience includes restructuring, distressed debt, leveraged buyouts (LBO) and management buyouts. The department advises national and international funds, on the buy and sell sides, in transactions ranging from more typical LBOs to infrastructure deals, opportunistic investments and special situations. Jorge Vázquez leads the practice and has expertise in M&A, private equity transactions, restructuring and insolvency, as well as distressed investing. The department advised doBank (now doValue) on the acquisition of 85% of Altamira Asset Management from Apollo.

‘Top firm’ Baker McKenzie is known for its expertise in multi-jurisdictional matters and M&A transactions, as well as for providing a dedicated funds task force. The firm also has particular experience in the real estate sector. Javier Menor advises international and domestic clients on private equity, M&A, strategic alliances and competition. He co-leads the practice with Luis Casals, who focuses on leveraged buyouts, acquisitions and disposals for private equity funds, infrastructure funds and corporations.

Gómez-Acebo & Pombo advises on tax structuring, fund formation, finance and transactional matters. The firm also assists funds and their managers on formation, investments and financing. In addition, the practice has a specialism in advising venture capital funds in the technology sector. Iñigo Erláiz has expertise in private equity deals and advising sponsors and target companies. He co-leads the team with the ‘outstanding’ David González, who focuses on M&A, private equity, venture capital and restructuring, notably involving clients in the infrastructure, energy and technology sectors.

Cross-border specialist Latham & Watkins LLP brings to its private equity practice expertise in finance, capital markets, regulatory matters, employment, competition and tax. The firm primarily advises global private equity houses, as well as providing a domestic advisory capability. Manuel Deó leads the team and is known for private equity Spanish buyouts work. In a recent example, his department advised the Carlyle Group on the acquisition of Spain-based wine and cava producer Codorníu.

Specialising in private equity M&A transactions, Pérez-Llorca provides expertise in fund work, distressed acquisitions and venture capital. Practice head Pablo González Mosqueira advises national and international clients on corporate transactions, including M&A, the formation and dissolution of joint ventures, capital markets transactions and private equity deals. Notable in his team is Alejandro Alberte, who was promoted to partner in 2018 and has experience in advising on corporate transactions, particularly in the energy and infrastructure sectors.

DLA Piper specialises in multi-jurisdictional work, with a sector-driven approach. The firm is active assisting private equity investors, hedge funds and other institutional investors with the financing of Spanish and cross-border deals, as well as the refinancing of troubled companies. Practice head José María Gil-Robles joined from J&A Garrigues SLP in 2019 and is known for local and international M&A deals, as well as assisting private equity investors, hedge funds and other distress players. He can call on the expertise of Enrique Chamorro, who was promoted to partner in 2019 and has experience in cross-border transactions and corporate restructurings.

Herbert Smith Freehills LLP has experience in private equity transactions, acting for sponsors, sellers, financing banks and management. The firm also advises private equity funds acting as buyers. The practice has sector expertise that includes the key areas of TMT, healthcare, professional services, real estate, energy and retail. Alberto Frasquet assists investment banks, private equity houses and corporations with a range of corporate and capital markets transactions. He co-leads the team with Nicolás Martín, who is a specialist in private equity and tax.

The 'highly creative, proactive and pro-deal' Hogan Lovells International LLP is known for its global reach, as well as its focus on the regulated sectors. The firm advises domestic and international clients, particularly in Latam jurisdictions, on a range of private equity deals. Graciela Llaneza leads the practice and specialises in advising financial investors on domestic and cross-border private equity transactions, as well as Spanish and international companies on M&A deals.

Specialising in multi-jurisdictional work, EY Abogados has broad private equity and funds-related expertise across a range of sectors, including alternative investment, real estate, debt and infrastructure funds. The firm is experienced in fund inceptions through to dissolutions and disposals, as well as restructurings, buyouts and portfolio sales. Francisco Aldavero specialises in corporate, M&A, commercial contracts and litigation. He co-leads the practice with Barcelona-based Simeón García-Nieto, who is known for his corporate and commercial expertise; Pablo Tramoyeres, who focuses on commercial and M&A matters; and Susana Gomez Badiola, who joined from KPMG Abogados in 2019 and has experience in private equity work, as well as general corporate matters.

Jones Day is active in a range of private equity matters, particularly those with a cross-border element. Federico Merino leads the firm's M&A and private equity practices. 

CMS Albiñana y Suárez de Lezo is active in various private equity matters. Notable in the area is Carlos Peña, who is experienced in M&A, privatisations, joint ventures, strategic alliances and other corporate matters.

Dentons combines fund formation with transactional advice, enabling the firm to assist private equity clients with the full life cycle of funds. As well as fund formation expertise, the practice specialises in private equity matters related to M&A transactions, particularly in the infrastructure, energy and real estate sectors. The ‘accurate and technically unbeatable’ Jesús Durán leads the team and his experience includes advising on matters in the financial institutions, energy, infrastructure, real estate and distribution sectors.

Watson Farley & Williams LLP’s private equity and funds practice has ‘extensive experience’, as well as ‘expertise that is not easily matched’. The firm focuses on advising on fund matters in the energy sector, but also provides experience in pensions and infrastructure work. María Pilar García Guijarro leads the team and advises on all aspects of corporate transactions, including M&A and private equity.