Ms Sofía Martínez-Almeida > Gómez-Acebo & Pombo > Madrid, Spain > Lawyer Profile

The team at Gómez-Acebo & Pombo is regularly called upon to assist food and beverage clients with a multitude of non-contentious and contentious matters. Noted for its ‘great expertise and experience in the sector‘, the firm is equipped to handle a mix of M&A, compliance issues, product liability claims and matters related to food chain law, labelling and recalls. Leadership of the group is shared between José Luis Palma, whose strong background in administrative law makes him a go-to choice for advice on food regulations, health claims and animal welfare, and Mónica Weimann, who undertakes a blend of work relating to product advertising, labelling, and acquisitions. IP specialist Sofía Martínez-Almeida is noted for her extensive experience in labelling and advertising matters.

The multidisciplinary retail team at Gómez-Acebo & Pombo is well versed in assisting clients with matters relating to real estate, environmental and regulatory issues as well as commercial contracts, consumer law and IP, among other areas. Iñigo Igartua Arregui co-chairs the practice from Barcelona, specialising in corporate, commercial and M&A transactions, alongside the Madrid-based Sofía Martínez-Almeida, whose wide practice encompasses both retail and fashion law, as well as IP and technology matters. Senior associate Isabela Crespo, who sits in the Madrid office, regularly handles data protection, cybersecurity and IP mandates.

Gómez-Acebo & Pombo draws superlative praise from clients, one of whom describes it as ‘the strongest TMT department in Spain by far‘. Key partner Almudena Arpón de Mendívil is ‘absolutely the star on the Spanish market‘, with clients praising her for ‘an incredible approach with clients – very empathic but keeping the service extremely professional and accurate‘. She is part of a large, multidisciplinary team that provides corporate, regulatory, privacy, finance, tax, and litigation advice to clients across the telecoms, media and technology sectors. She is supported by regulatory specialist Carlos Vázquez, co-heads of IP and tech Sofía Martínez-Almeida and Jesús Muñoz-Delgado, and entertainment and art law partner Anna Viladás Jené. Senior associate Bárbara Sainz De Vicuña also plays a key role in the practice.

Gómez-Acebo & Pombo‘s IP group frequently advises on protection, commercialisation and licensing matters, but is best known for its litigation practice, which is called upon to protect patents in the technology, life sciences, electronics and telecoms sectors. The lead partners in Madrid are Jesús Muñoz-Delgado, who specialises in biotechnology and plant variety matters, and litigator Sofía Martínez-Almeida. Associate Mercedes Corbal has significant experience in administrative proceedings before the Spanish Patents and Trade Marks Office and the European Union Intellectual Property Office. Partner Gonzalo Ulloa retired in 2023.

Gómez-Acebo & Pombo has a highly respected IP practice that is active in trade marks, designs, unfair competition, and advertising law, and stands out for its track record in the protection, enforcement litigation and licensing of brands. The lead partners are IP enforcement specialist Jesús Muñoz-Delgado and Sofía Martínez-Almeida, who has extensive expertise in online and digital issues. Martinez-Almeida also leads the firm’s retail and fashion group, while Muñoz-Delgado is a key adviser to clients in the food and life sciences sectors. At associate level, Anna Viladás Jené handles both contentious and non-contentious matters, notably in the entertainment and art industries, while Mercedes Corbal frequently advises on regulatory issues in the food sector. Gonzalo Ulloa retired in 2023.

Gómez-Acebo & Pombo is known for its ‘attention to detail and client-oriented  service’. The lead partners are Jesús Muñoz-Delgado, who handles the protection and enforcement of copyright, as well as technology transfer matters, and experienced litigator Sofía Martínez-Almeida. They oversee a broad range of copyright, digital business and technology work including advisory, contractual, regulatory, transactional and contentious matters for a diverse range of clients, among them international gaming and technology companies, food and beverage giants, fashion houses, and media businesses. The firm is also growing demand for its niche advice on artificial intelligence, blockchain, virtual and augmented reality, deepfakes, the metaverse, and NFTs. Senior associate Bárbara Sainz De Vicuña is active in copyright enforcement.