The powerhouse aviation law team at Augusta Abogados remains a market leader in this field, and can regularly be found advising major international airlines, lessors, financiers and corporations on a diverse spectrum of matters. These include aircraft and equipment finance, passenger claims, ground handling agreements, wet-lease agreements, insolvency scenarios, debt recovery strategies and regulatory compliance. Headed in Barcelona by aviation law specialist Sergi Giménez Binder and passenger claims expert Jaime Fernández, the group’s portfolio includes key market players such as Ryanair, Norwegian Air Shuttle and Thomas Cook Airlines. The group is supported by experienced counsel David Castaño in Madrid.
Transport: Other transport in Spain
Augusta Abogados
Practice head(s):
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘Sergi Giménez Binder is an outstanding lawyer with excellent industry knowledge and a large network.’
‘The partners are not entities far from the relationship with the client and that transmits a lot of confidence, in addition to the professionalism of all the (multidisciplinary) members of the teams.’
Key clients
Ryanair
Norwegian Air Shuttle
Vueling
Thomas Cook Airlines
AerCap
Luxair
Lauda Motion
Swiftair
Volotea
Brussels Airlines
Condor Flugdienst
Gestair
Work highlights
- Managed to avoid the liquidation of the Spanish airline of the Thomas Cook Group through a sale in an insolvency proceeding while preserving the air operator’s license and all jobs.
Clyde & Co LLP
The aviation and transport team at Clyde & Co LLP advises national and international airlines, insurers, retailers and other major operators in the market on issues relevant to the field of transport. Such matters include regulatory compliance, passenger claims, product liability and major losses. Led by senior partner Enrique Navarro and supported by legal director and airline specialist Diego Olmedo, the team’s client base covers the aviation, transport, retail, e-commerce and energy sectors.
Practice head(s):
Other key lawyers:
Diego Olmedo; Javier Hernández-Valenciano
Ashurst LLP
The energy, transport and infrastructure group at Ashurst LLP is sought by clients for assistance in high-value motorway, rail and aviation infrastructure transactions and projects. The team’s portfolio spans the oil and gas, defence and space, construction, infrastructure and technology sectors, and includes Macquarie and Corsair Capital. Bolstered by energy head Andrés Alfonso and banking and finance team leader José Christian Bertram, the group provides a full service that extends to M&A, project development, debt restructuring and arbitration. Manuel López left the firm in December 2021.
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘Experience already accumulated regarding the project that Ashurst is carrying out.’
‘Quality of the human team.‘
Key clients
John Laing
Iridium Concesiones
Babcock Mission Critical Services
Gateway Infrastructure Investments
Corsair Capital
Sociedad de Economía Mixta Los Tranvías de Zaragoza
Cobra Instalaciones y Servicios Internacional, S.L.
Macquarie
Sener
Endesa Ingeniería
3i Infrastructure
Banco Santander
Work highlights
- Advising 3i Infrastructure on the refinancing of the Gerediaga motorway in the Basque country.
- Advising John Laing on the 4G Motorway “Ruta del Cacao” in Colombia.
- Advising CAF on several contracts for the provision of rolling-stock equipment for railway projects in India and Australia.
Cuatrecasas
The team at Cuatrecasas acts for major national and international clients involved in transport by air, road and rail, as well as state, regional and municipal companies. Led by transport sector specialist Jorge Botella and competition and EU law practice coordinator Andrew Ward in the Madrid office, the group’s full service covers public procurement, customs and indirect taxation, finance, M&A and litigation. Covering the logistics, investment services, professional services and government sectors, the team's client portfolio includes Deutsche Bahn, Arriva and AENA, among others.
Key clients
Deutsche Bahn
AENA
Grupo ASV
AS Distribution
San José López
Transportes Aragoneses
Transports Metropolitans de Barcelona (TMB)
Asendia
Tusgsal
Trenes de Navarra
Arriva
Sertrans Catalunya
CSP Iberian Bilbao Terminal
Gómez-Acebo & Pombo
The transport, aviation, automotive and mobility services group at Gómez-Acebo & Pombo takes a multidisciplinary approach to advising national and multinational corporates on a range of matters, including aircraft finance, civil litigation, consumer protection matters, strategic mobility, regulatory compliance and public procurement. Headed by automotive group head Ainara Rentería, asset finance expert Fernando Herrero and transport specialist Irene Fernández Puyol, the team’s portfolio includes Goldman Sachs, Credit Suisse, UPS and Hitachi, covering such sectors as aviation, mobility and healthcare.
Practice head(s):
Testimonials
‘The Ainara Rentería team is unique in its knowledge of the automotive sector.’
‘A close and personalised treatment.’
‘A very strong team, available and quick to react, with knowledge in all subjects.’
‘GAP’s automotive practice is a benchmark among law firms given its extensive knowledge of current and future legal issues in the sector. Led by Ainara Renteria, it offers excellent global advice on all areas of the business in a very agile and professional way.’
Key clients
Export Development Canada (EDC)
Crédit Agricole Corporate & Investment Bank
Chorus Aviation Inc. (CHR)
HEH Hamburger EmissionsHaus GmbH & Cie. KG
SDH Wings International Leasing Limited
Standard Chartered Bank
Pembroke Capital Limited
Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank Limited
Goshawk Aviation Limited
ITOCHU Corporation
Fuyo General Lease Co., Ltd.
BBAM Aircraft Leasing & Management
AeroCentury Corp
Iberia, Líneas Aéreas de España, S.A. Operadora.
Vueling Airlines, S.A.
MUFG Bank, Ltd.
Yamasa
AIG
Morgan Stanley
K Aviation Leasing Corporation 1A DAC
KEB Hana Bank, Singapore Branch
Aviator IV, 3444 Limited
Airborne Capital Limited
Automotive & Industrial Systems, a division of Panasonic Corporation
Hyundai Motor España
Ford España
Ford Credit
Yuncar Motor, S.L.
Lease Plan N.V
Carnext B.V
Accell Group
Lotus Group
IVECO
Moove Cars Group/King Street
LimeBike
UPS
GATE GOURMET
ADIF
Hitachi
HARSCO
SENNDER
ViaVan Technologies B.V.
CitiCorp North America Inc.
MUFG Bank, Ltd.
Bank of America, N.A, London Branch
Bank of America Europe DAC
Banco Santander S.A, London Branch
Banco Santander S.A.
Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria, S.A.
BNP Paribas
Crédit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank
Credit Suisse AG, London Branch
Credit Suisse (Deutschland) Aktiengesellschaft
Deutsche Bank AG, Frankfurt
Goldman Sachs Bank USA
CitiCorp North America Inc.
MUFG Bank, Ltd.
Bank of America, N.A, London Branch
Bank of America Europe DAC
Banco Santander S.A, London Branch
Banco Santander S.A.
HSBC Bank plc
HSBC Continental Europe
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., London Branch
J.P. Morgan AG
Morgan Stanley Senior Funding, Inc.
Morgan Stanley Bank, N.A.
SMBC Bank EU AG
Standard Chartered Bank
Bank of China Limited, London Branch
National Westminster Bank plc
CaixaBank, S.A.
Commerzbank Aktiengesellschaft, Filiale Luxemburg
HSBC Bank plc
HSBC Continental Europe
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., London Branch
Airborne Capital Limited
The Ogaki Kyoritsu Bank, Ltd.
Las Fallas Leasing DAC
Work highlights
- Provides recurrent advice to Hyundai Motor España in the following areas: corporate, contracts, strategic mobility projects, tax, employment, compliance, civil litigation and criminal litigation.
- Providing ongoing advice to Moove Cars Group/King Street on regulatory, employment, compliance and corporate matters.
- Advising IAG and the financiers on an IAG financing transaction by means of a secured multi-borrower revolving credit facility which will be available for a period of three years.
López-Ibor Abogados
The air transport team at López-Ibor Abogados provides services to domestic and international airlines, corporations and financial institutions. Areas of focus for the team include aircraft sale and finance, passenger claims, repossession of leased aircraft and engines, mortgages and pledges, regulatory compliance and aviation arbitration and litigation. Led by managing partner and expert in the airline sector Alfonso López-Ibor, the group’s client base features key market players Ryanair, Jet2.com and Dubai Aerospace Enterprise (DAE). The team is supported by air transport specialist Pablo Stöger and associate Olivia López-Ibor.
Practice head(s):
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘The Lopez-Ibor team are so responsive and readily on-hand to provide practical and sensible advice.’
‘Good insight into the Spanish aviation market. Pragmatic and efficient.’
‘Alfonso Lopez-Ibor Alino is a strong lawyer and gives clear and concise advice. When Alfonso is appointed, we know that the Spanish law piece of the transaction will be taken care of, seemingly effortlessly. He is also thorough and gives the client confidence that all the bases have been covered.’
‘Attentive and knowledge of our business. Pablo Stoger is particularly strong.’
‘Alfonso Lopez-Ibor brings his calm personality and extensive know-how to a range of matters. The bigger the problem, the more impressive his services become.’
‘The individuals within the team were always quick to reply to my queries and gave me a sense of confidence that my issue was being dealt with and would be resolved in time.’
‘I have mostly worked with Alfonso Lopez-Ibor and Olivia Lopez-Ibor. They are very competent and professional lawyers who are easily reachable. If we have a question or need something, we know we can get prompt feedback.’
Key clients
SMBC Aviation Capital Limited.
Aircastle Advisor LLC.
GE Capital Aviation Services LTD.
Automatic LLC.
Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA)
Aviator Capital Management, LLC.
Dubai Aerospace Enterprise (DAE) LTD.
Orix Aviation Systems LTD.
Pegasus Hava Taşımacılığı A.Ş., (“Pegasus Airlines”)
Residco
Air Lease Corporation
ELFC
Milestone Aviation Group Limited
Genesis Aircraft Services Limited
Fortress Investment Group (UK) LTD
Jet2 PLC (previously named Dart Group plc)
Jet2.com Limited
Jet2Holidays Limited
RYANAIR DAC
Spanish International Aircraft Maintenance, S.L. (SIAM)
Rogers & Co. Abogados
The experienced transport group at Rogers & Co. Abogados is regularly sought by logistics operators, insurers, freight forwarders, air brokers, road hauliers and airlines for assistance in a wide range of matters. These include air accident claims, technological implementation, road haulier claims, freight forwarder insurance recovery actions and transport vehicle damage claims. Led by the highly experienced Luis Alberto García in Madrid, the team’s portfolio features Samsung SDS Global, Chubb and AIG Europe, across such sectors as insurance, aviation, technology and legal services.
Practice head(s):
Testimonials
‘Luis Alberto Garcia: easy to work with, clear and good advice and messages, very responsive and helpful.’
‘The team is very available and reliable. We have full confidence in them and they are real specialists in shipping, transport and insurance law.’
‘It is a team capable of conveying complex issues to the client with simple words. Its in-depth knowledge of the legal issues related to freight transport make it one of the best law firms in the field of land and sea transport in Europe. In addition, it is a law firm widely introduced in the main transport forums, both public and private, which means that it is continuously updated, not only at the legal level but also in terms of the evolution and trends of the sector.’
‘They have a greater understanding as to the needs of the client.’
Key clients
DFDS – Shipowers/freight forwards
Asociación Española de Cargadores (ACE)
Claims Consult
AIG Europe S.A.
Chubb European Group SE
Reale Seguros Generales
RSA Luxembourg SA
AXA XL
Samsung SDS Global
W.E. Cox
Air Charterers Service
Work highlights
- Handled a claim for AIG Europe against a carrier for damages caused to cargo.
- Handled cargo claims for Reale Seguros Generales from the moment of loss, through to payment and recovery.
- Managed a claim for AIG Europe against the Ministry of Agriculture for damages caused to recording equipment due to the air crash of the aircraft in which that equipment was installed.
Uría Menéndez
With offices in Madrid, London, New York, Lima and other major cities, the shipping, transport and logistics group at Uría Menéndez leverages the strength of its network and the experience of its team to advise national and international technology companies, airlines, road carriers, insurance companies, port operators and terminals, shippers and freight forwarders. Areas of strength for the team include aviation finance, digital platform implementation, M&A involving transport companies, tax, transport and airline regulatory compliance, contracts of carriage and terminals and port services. Shipping expert Carlos López-Quiroga leads the department, with key support provided by associates Luz Martínez de Azcoitia and Nicolás Nägele.
Practice head(s):
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘They are a very well-versed team and in addition to having great ethics in terms of deadlines and details of the work, they understand the business of the company and therefore do not stick only to the legal part, but provide global advice, which is more useful.’
‘They maintain greater empathy with the client instead of generating distance.’
Key clients
Santander Consumer Finance
Coca Cola European Partners Iberia (CCEP)
NKT HV Cables Holding
C.H. Robinson Europe
Zhejiang Cainiao Supply Chain Management Co. (CAINIAO)
Work highlights
- Advising Cainiao, a logistics organiser for the cross-border e-commerce platform AliExpress, on its entry into the Spanish market.
- Advised Santander Consumer Finance on the legal implications and preparation of the contractual framework for the launching of Wabi, a novel car subscription service that allows users to reserve a vehicle for personal use.
- Advised Coca Cola European Partners Iberia on various land-transport regulatory matters and on the negotiation, termination and resolution of transport and logistics agreements.
Aiyon Abogados SLP
The shipping group at Aiyon Abogados SLP utilises both the strength of its experienced team and its network of offices in Algeciras, Bilbao, Cádiz and Madrid to assist clients in the road transport and aviation sectors with a wide range of issues. Such matters include the sale, purchase and leasing of aircraft, air accidents, rail transport of passengers and cargo, national and international road transport, multimodal transport contracts, air passenger and baggage claims, freight and cargo claims and aircraft repossession. The team is led by Veronica Meana in Madrid, Mikel Garteiz-Goxeaskoa and Zuberoa Elorriaga in Bilbao, Enrique Ortiz in Cádiz and Jose Dominguez in Algeciras. The group is supported by Encarnación Quevedo in Cadiz and Irantzu Sedano in Bilbao.
Practice head(s):
Veronica Meana; Mikel Garteiz-Goxeaskoa; Zuberoa Elorriaga; Enrique Ortiz; Jose Dominguez
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘The lawyers I work with at Aiyon Abogados are very supportive and available to provide clarifications and to deepen the various issues and to listen to the specific demands of clients. They are available to provide a tailor-made service.’
‘All the members of Aiyon Abogados are supportive and efficient. Veronica Meana is available to gauge the strategy with clients and to meet the clients specific requirements; she’s really easy to approach and always available to discuss with clients.’
‘The team is highly qualified and ready at all times to seek solutions and alternatives to any problem.’
Dentons
The experienced team at Dentons is a popular choice among airlines, aircraft operators, financial institutions and asset holders involved in high-value transactions. The department is well versed across aircraft refinancing and leases, M&A, tax, repossessions, registrations and tax issues. Headed by finance expert Jabier Badiola and supported by associate Ignacio Fernandez, the group’s portfolio features key market players in the aviation and finance sectors.
Practice head(s):
Other key lawyers:
Key clients
Banco Santander, S.A.
Munich Ergo Asset Management
Eliance Holding, S.A.
China Minsheng Bank
Bain Capital, L.P.
Carlyle Aviation Partners
Jackson Square Aviation, LLc
MUFG Bank Ltd
Castelake, L.P.
Norddeutsche Landesbank
Avolon Aerospace Leasing Limited
Wamos Air, S.A.
Rolls-Royce, Plc
Novobanco, S.A.
Bank of China Aviation
Natixis Singapore Branch
Goshawk Aviation
Abanca Corporación Bancaria, S.A.
Banco Cooperativo Español, S.A.
CAIXABANK, S.A.
Goal Aviation
Evelop Aviation
Work highlights
- Advised Eliance Holding and the whole Eliance Aviation group in the restructuring and reorganisation of its fleet.
- Advised GOAL Aviation on the acquisition and lease of three Airbus A320 aircraft to be bought from Air Asia and transferred from Malaysia to Spain to be leased to Volotea.
- Advised a syndicate of banks led by Natixis (which is a lender under the syndicate) on the $122m pre-delivery financing in relation to three Boeing 787-9 aircraft to be leased to Air Europa.
Eversheds Sutherland
In addition to its work in shipping finance, the transport team at Eversheds Sutherland advises national and international infrastructure project investors, railway operators, airlines, public authorities and transport associations on a wide range of issues. Such matters include infrastructure project finance and refinance (motorways, trams), public-private collaboration models and procurement processes, and risk assessments for investors in auxiliary companies and projects. Headed by founding partner Jacobo Martínez, public law specialist Alberto Dorrego de Carlos, dispute resolution practice head Antonio Bravo and competition department leader Crisanto Pérez-Abad, the team’s client base covers the aerospace, aviation, defence and transport sectors. Manuel López, who has strong experience in project finance in the transport sector, joined in December 2021 from Ashurst LLP.
Practice head(s):
Jacobo Martínez; Alberto Dorrego de Carlos; Antonio Bravo; Crisanto Pérez-Abad
Other key lawyers:
Manuel López
Key clients
IATA
AEFP (Spanish Association of Private Railway Operators)
Leizarán Mariezcurrena
Abertis
Alsa
ATUC (Asociación de Empresas Gestoras de los Transportes Urbanos Colectivos)
Indigo
Watson Farley & Williams LLP
The maritime, aviation and transport group at Watson Farley & Williams LLP acts for major national and international aircraft lessors, banks, and financiers and purchasers of rolling stock in the rail sector. Areas of focus for the department include insolvency, regulatory compliance, restructuring leases, aircraft mortgages, aircraft repossessions, operating leases and warehouse financing. Led by transport finance expert Alfredo Cabellos and supported by senior associate and aviation specialist Laura Cadenas, the team’s client portfolio features Macquarie Rotorcraft Leasing Holdings and Deutsche Bank.
Practice head(s):
Other key lawyers:
Key clients
Macquarie Rotorcraft Leasing Holdings Limited
Avolon Aerospace Leasing Limited
Era Helicopters
Deutsche Bank
Banco Santander
Work highlights
- Advising a syndicate of five banks led by Deutsche Bank on the restructuring of the Spanish debt of a Brazilian port, in a complex ECA-backed, cross-border transaction.
- Advising Dunas Capital Group, a Spanish venture capital investment group, on the acquisition of a new Airbus A321LR NEO aircraft to be leased to Transportes Aéreos Portugueses (TAP).
- Advised Alpha Trains on the Spanish aspects of its multimillion multi-jurisdictional financing.