ECIJA > Madrid, Spain > Firm Profile

ECIJA Offices

ECIJA
CALLE SERRANO 69
28006 MADRID
Spain
Visit website 34 91 781 6160 34 91 578 3879

ECIJA > The Legal 500 Rankings

Spain > Data privacy and data protection Tier 1

The TMT department at ECIJA has a horizontal structure, with all partner-level individuals acting as leaders of the team, an approach that attracts the likes of McDonald's, Santander, Uber, Mercadona and Inditex when issues arise in relation to litigation, the implementation of large data transfers and protection systems, licensing, and compliance matters. In Madrid, managing partner Alejandro Touriño is a key figure, with over ten years of experience in the IT and IP fields, accompanied by Daniel López, who is a data security specialist. The firm’s continued investment in this field is illustrated by the addition of multiple individuals, with the arrival of Barcelona-based partner Vanesa Alarcón in November 2021 from Fieldfisher JAUSAS playing a key part in the firm’s forward trajectory, as she brings notable expertise in digital transformation and cybersecurity matters. Teresa Pereyra is another key arrival, having joined the firm in September 2021 from Roca Junyent.

Other key lawyers:

Alejandro Touriño; Daniel López; Vanesa Alarcón; Teresa Pereyra

Key clients

Mcdonald’s

Acb

Inditex

Santander Bank

ING Bank

LG

Iberia Airlines

Barcelona Football Club

Bupa Group

Mercadona

Axa

H&M

NH Hotels

Melia Hotels

Bnp Paribas

Orange

Mahou

Edp

Dorna Sports

Decathlon

Hotelbeds

Uber

Makro

Philip Morris

Hearst Magazines

La Prairie

Work highlights

  • Advised Inditex on information technology, privacy, new cookies requirements for websites, and e-commerce, among other matters.
  • Advised Mercadona on the implementation of the first European facial recognition system for the detection of persons with a final sentence and restraining order in its shops.
  • Advising McDonald’s on data privacy and data protection matters, as an external Data Protection Officer (DPO) in Spain.

Spain > Industry focus: TMT Tier 1

ECIJA houses a market-leading team of practitioners distinguished by ‘enormous knowledge of new technologies‘, maintaining its reputation as a ‘benchmark firm on issues related to technology and new industries‘. Among its key clients, the firm is often retained by the likes of Vodafone, Huawei, LG and Uber to provide advice on contentious and non-contentious matters. Standout members of the team include founding partner Hugo Ecija, backed by Alejandro Touriño, with experience in IT, IP, innovation and entrepreneurship law, and Cristina Villasante, an expert in IP, technology contracting, digital services and information technologies. Recently, the firm has made notable strides towards further expansion, with partner-level additions including the arrival of Vanesa Alarcón from Fieldfisher JAUSAS, Teresa Pereyra from Roca Junyent and Elena Ordúñez from PONS IP.

Other key lawyers:

Hugo Écija; Alejandro Touriño; Cristina Villasante; Vanesa Alarcón; Teresa Pereyra; Elena Ordúñez; Helena Suarez de la Dehesa; Juan Salmerón

Testimonials

‘It offers an effective and dynamic response, providing realistic solutions to problems that arise in business activity.’

‘Their legal knowledge and immediacy in the response to any contingency. The vision and knowledge of the audiovisual sector. In addition to their knowledge, availability, attention and advice, as well as the solutions proposed in the event of any contingency.’

‘Legal advice of the most precise and appropriate quality. Personal and close treatment, always ready. Experts in all the subjects relevant.’

‘Helena Suarez de la Dehesa is professional, close, personal treatment, with total availability and exhaustive knowledge about all topics.’

‘Ecija deploys a team that adapts to the needs of the client. And invests in the client’s business. It’s unique.’

‘The Ecija team has enormous knowledge of new technologies, focusing as a benchmark firm on issues related to technology and new industries. Likewise, with the recent incorporations that the firm has made in recent years, Ecija is now a leader in the audiovisual and media sector, within which it has always been deeply rooted. The closeness of its partners, the sense of belonging to the brand, the quick and correct response in all the matters that are raised and its vocation as an adviser in business matters.’

‘Juan Salmerón, Alejandro Touriño and Elena Orduñez provide great added value with their advice on matters related to issues of the audiovisual sector and the media.’

Key clients

Inditex

La Liga

Barcelona Football Club

McDonalds

Porsche

Santander Bank

Sacyr

Privalia

Iberdrola

Mercadona

Schweppes

Atlético de Madrid Football Club

H&M

Vodafone

Telefonica

Huawei

Coca Cola

NH Hotels

Meliá Hotels

Mercedes Benz

BNP Paribas

LG

LVMH

Orange

Decathlon

Uber

Rakuten TV

Sky TV

Portocabo

Fox

Fresco Film

Atresmedia

Par Producciones

Bowfinger International Pictures

Surfilm

NBC Universal

Zeus Film

Unicorn

Dazn

Work highlights

  • Advising Inditex on the drafting and negotiating of IT agreements with international vendors such as SAP, Oracle, and IBM.
  • Advising ACB (Spain’s professional basketball league) in the process of issuing NFTs of clubs’ players for the development of a new digital ecosystem to be exploited by ACB.
  • Representing global brands, including Survivor, Big Brother, Starstruck and Peaky Blinders in media and IP agreements.

Spain > Environment Tier 2

ECIJA‘s environment and sustainability team has quickly established itself as an impressive practice with a focus on sustainability, circular economy and compliance with environmental law. The firm is notable for its diverse client base, offering environmental legal advice to non-governmental organisations, governmental authorities, sports clubs and commercial entities. In a highlight, the team represented Greenpeace in a case against the Spanish state brought before the European Commission. Víctor Moralo, ‘a true expert in the field‘, frequently advises regional authorities and commercial companies on waste management, environmental legislation and the ecological transition.

Practice head(s):

Víctor Moralo

Other key lawyers:

Juan Carlos Cardoso

Testimonials

‘Efficiency, knowledge of the work sector, experts in the field and leaders in it. Quick response and closeness to the client.’

‘Environmental regulations are very specific and are currently in constant change and updating. Internal lawyers need to have experts in the field who keep us up to date with developments and who know our business to see the impact. Having a multidisciplinary firm, especially related to technology, such as ECIJA, helps us improve collaboration. Closing of budgets based on the complexity and adaptation to the needs of the client.’

‘Victor Moralo, a true expert in the field with a wide network of contacts. Legal and practical analysis on the matter.’

Key clients

Atletico de Madrid Football Club

Basque Government

LG Electronics

Brambles Group (CHEP)

Metro Group (MAKRO)

GreenPeace

Tomra

Regional Government of the Balearic Islands

Regional Government of Valencia

Remondis Group (REMEX)

Schweppes

Plataforma ILP Mar Menor

Fundació Prevenció Residus i Consum Responsable (REZERO).

Melia Hotels

Madrid Town Council

SAREB Bank

Parcesa

Friends of Earth NGO

Work highlights

  • Advising Greenepace on the case brought by it, together with Spain’s other major ecological groups, before the European Commission against the Spanish state for failure to comply with the preparatory objective for reutilisation and recycling.
  • Acting as advisor on environmental law issues to MAKRO on the adoption of measures to comply with regulations on waste prevention, recycling, reuse and restriction of disposable plastic products.
  • Advising Melia Hotels in order to offer travelers a new quality destination which is both sustainable and integral.

Spain > Intellectual property: Copyright Tier 2

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.

Practice head(s):

Hugo Écija; Alejandro Touriño; Cristina Villansante

Other key lawyers:

José Antonio Suárez; Helena Suárez; Elena Ordúñez

Testimonials

‘The most special feature of the Écija Team is that, despite being an external and independent company, they work as part of the client’s staff.’

‘They eliminate the distance by becoming part of my company’s team. One of their best qualities is that they are “deal-makers”, trying to reach the best deal but being sensitive and with a certain empathy.’

‘Availability, closeness, personal treatment, knowledge and professionalism.’

Key clients

Iberdrola

Pernod Ricard

SGAE General Society of Authors and Editors

Mercedes Benz

Santander Bank

H&M

McDonnalds

Segurcaixa Adeslas

Sky TV

LVMH

Orange

ING Bank

LG Electronics

Porsche

Huawei

Vodafone

Facebook

Coca-Cola

Work highlights

  • Representing Orange in an audiovisual tariff regulation procedure against EGEDA.
  • Advising Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy to expand its international presence through the opening of branded stores in new territories and the launching of an e-commerce branded channel to distribute LOEWE´s products to final consumers.
  • Advising Huawei in connection with the launching in Spain of the first Huawei-owned flagship store.

Spain > Dispute resolution Tier 3

Clients of the dispute resolution team at ECIJA appreciate the lawyers' 'involvement and commitment', as well as their ability to 'outline the best legal strategy'. The firm significantly expanded its operations, both in Spain and globally, between 2020 and 2022, including through the integration of offices in Latin America. Recent developments in the Barcelona office included the hire of Héctor Sbert from a boutique firm. It also fields a sizeable team in Madrid, and is also present in Valencia, Zaragoza and Pamplona. The department complements its impressive geographic breadth with a varied practice, covering all types of disputes - both litigation and arbitration - for a mix of clients in the telecoms, insurance, food, retail and media sectors, among others. Javier Lopez, who is 'very decisive, fast, committed, and generates a lot of trust', and the highly regarded Librado Loriente are based in Madrid, where Pablo Jiménez De Parga is also located. Yolanda Lobao and Jordi Pujante are contacts in Barcelona.

Other key lawyers:

Javier López; Librado Loriente; Héctor Sbert; Pablo Jiménez de Parga; César Zarate; José María Abella; Víctor Moralo; Jordi Pujante; Rafael Azpitarte; Cristina Llop; Yolanda Lobao; Maite Mascaró; Ana Belén Spínola

Testimonials

‘Availability, responsiveness, knowledge and experience. Ability to interpret the needs and problems of the client, their circumstances and outline the best legal strategy based on them.’

‘Javier Lopéz is very decisive, fast, committed, and generates a lot of trust.’

‘Compared to other firms we have worked with previously, ECIJA has shown an involvement and commitment that we have never seen before. They make a constant effort to know the client’s needs and even anticipate them.’

‘Librado Loriente, in particular, has become a reference partner for our company. Beyond his accredited technical knowledge of the subjects, he has made an effort to get to know our way of working and for him and his team to integrate into our day-to-day activities in a natural way. His personal qualities are on a par with his professional attributes.’

‘I would mention Javier López as an outstanding partner.’

Key clients

H&M

ING Bank

Orange

LG Electronics

Ferrovial

Accor Hotels

Starlite International Festival

Mediapro

Cajamar

Axactor

Atlético de Madrid Football Club

Spanish Hospitality Association

Santander Bank

Helidosa Aviation Group

Hawkers

M&C Saachi Group

Atresmedia

Sky TV

INDUSTRIAS LÁCTEAS DE GRANADA

GRUPO LACTALIS IBERIA

Kualian’s investors

EOS-X SPACESHIP

Avatel Telecom

Colt Technology

Profarmaco Group

Avanza

Totem (Orange)

Lactalis

Work highlights

  • Assisted Industrias Lácteas de Granada and Grupo Lactalis Iberia in one of the biggest cartel cases regarding the exchange of milk prices paid to farmers between 2000 and 2013.
  • Providing advice to the Spanish Hotel and Catering Association in concerning measures agreed by the Spanish Government and various regional governments consisting of the closure or limitation of activity of this sector during the Covid-19 pandemic.
  • Assisting in a major case concerning a cryptocurrency scam.

Spain > White-collar crime Tier 3

ECIJA leverages its strength in dispute resolution to advise on major criminal cases involving fraud and corruption. The firm is also familiar with risk advisory, assisting a range of clients in internal investigations, regulatory compliance, risk management systems and anti-corruption policies. Notable figures in this regard include executive vice president Pablo Jiménez De Parga, an economic criminal law expert, and José María Abella, a prominent dispute resolution partner. Also noted is senior associate Noelia Álvarez.

Other key lawyers:

Pablo Jiménez De Parga; José María Abella; Noelia Álvarez

Key clients

Repsol

JMAC Corporation

Cofely España

Alcaliver

Makro

Indra BPO

Indra

Kuailian

Avatel

Sky Deutschland

Totem

Work highlights

  • Represented REPSOL in a criminal investigation.
  • Acted for a member of the board of directors of Bankia accused of having participated in investor fraud and accounting falsehood during the IPO of Bankia.
  • Representing Manuel Chaves González, the former President of the Government of Andalucía in the criminal procedure known as “Caso ERE Andalucía”.

Spain > Commercial, corporate and M&A Tier 4

ECIJA transacts throughout an array of industries, from technology, clean energy and automotive through to aerospace, life sciences, financial services and automotive. The team is engaged on M&A, joint venture, company formation and corporate reorganisation matters and is home to Borja Díaz-Guerra, a practitioner who is notably dual-qualified to practice in both Spain and England/Wales.

Other key lawyers:

Miguel Sánchez; Leticia Domínguez; Emilio Prieto; Borja Díaz-Guerra

Testimonials

‘Technical knowledge, pro-deal, customer service.’

‘The Ecija team communicates with the company mainly through Borja Diaz Guerra. The level of satisfaction is high and we consider Borja to be a leading lawyer in all areas, since although he is a corporate specialist, thanks to the rest of the Ecija team he manages the best solutions for us. Therefore, it offers us a comprehensive solution, managed by someone who has known our company and needs for years.’

‘ABorja Diaz Guerra is our reference lawyer. Borja’s great quality is that he puts himself in our shoes and reviews everything, anticipating future risks. Additionally, he has maximum proximity and availability.’

‘The preparation of its professionals. Dedicated and well-coordinated team.’

‘I have nothing to highlight more than the agility and closeness in the management of the operation.’

‘Ability to understand the operation, its potential problems, the reality that surrounds it, its empathy in the dialogue’

‘Highly dedicated group of professionals, differentiated from its peers by the hands-on approach from key partners, which is the key for us. This makes deals truly partner-led which is a significant value-add given the experience and pragmatism that brings.

Innovations: technologically-minded approach to corporate services (e.g. company secretarial roles) which creates a lot of flexibility and efficiency savings when dealing with international investors, including a number of digital tools and other provisions in this regard.’

Key clients

Iberdrola

The Boeing Company

Deutsche Boerse

Telefónica

Globomedia

Honeywell

Yahoo

Pfizer

M&C Saatchi

Melia Hotel Group

Sony

PREMO GROUP

BDI Group

DHL

Atlético de Madrid Football Club

EOLIA

Conexo Ventures

Frenetic

Amazing Sales Consulting

NUTRECO Group

CaixaBank

Liberbank

Inmobilaria Colonial

Morgan Stanley

Urban Share

Biosearch

Parlem Telecom

Oben Holding Group

Team Heretics

AE Industrial Partners

Kapsch TrafficCom Transportation

SPRI

NetEase

Work highlights

  • Advised Atlético de Madrid Football Club in with the inversion by Storm Investment, S.à.r.l., a fund managed by Ares Management Corporation, directly invested in ATLÉTICO HOLDCO, S.L. (and indirectly in CLUB ATLÉTICO DE MADRID, S.A.D) through a share capital increase for the acquisition of a 33,96% stake. All the new shares issued were fully subscribed and paid in cash by the investor.
  • Advised the Spanish multinational corporation Inmobiliaria Colonial, in 3 related matters during 2021, including the acquisition by Inmobiliaria Colonial, SOCIMI, S.A. from Predica (a Crédit Agricole entity) of a 13% of SFL, and subsequent non-monetary capital increase executed by Inmobiliaria Colonial, SOCIMI, S.A. to fulfil the consideration (22.494.701 new Inmobiliaria Colonial shares).
  • Advised the Spanish company BioSearch, specialized in ingredients and nutritional supplements of vegetable origin, in the takeover bid launched by the Irish firm Kerry Group on Biosearch. The transaction was launched on 100% of Biosearch shares at 2.2 euros per share, in a takeover bid thus valued at 127 million euros.

Spain > Employment Tier 4

Led by Fernando Vizcaíno, noted for his ‘prestige’ in the sector, the labour practice at ECIJA is highly involved in the management and presentation of extraordinary measures, particularly with regard to temporary arrangements. The team, which also includes the ‘brilliant‘ Raúl Rojas, is also capable in judicial proceedings regarding employee dismissals. To further boost these efforts, the firm hired Carlos Martínez Cebrián from Uría Menéndez in September 2021.

Practice head(s):

Fernando Vizcaíno

Other key lawyers:

Raúl Rojas; Carlos Martínez Cebrián; Carlos Carril

Testimonials

‘ECIJA are disruptive. They use procedures that make them different. And in particular, they deal with highly topical issues such as data protection, intellectual property, digital disconnection. They have teams with very young professionals; very focused on client needs.’

‘Raúl Rojas is a brilliant professional with a very significant capacity for work; his level of dedication and his speed of response are surprising, with total willingness. High level of efficiency in the execution of their work. They are very professional.’

‘Raúl Rojas is a great professional and a participatory person in the social and labour initiatives of the environment.’

‘Extensive experience and knowledge in all labour matters: litigation, collective bargaining, compliance and equality. A very transversal team that, together with the firm’s experience in new businesses, puts them at the forefront.’

‘Closeness, empathy, experience and deep knowledge. Fernando Vizcaino as a partner provides all these qualities, honouring the prestige he holds. Carlos Carril is an outstanding negotiator and litigator.’

‘The team is perfectly coordinated and is agile and effective in its responses.’

‘Raúl Rojas is super effective and efficient.’

Key clients

Renfe

Makro

Melia Hotel Group

Cemex

ING Bank

Boomerang TV

Spanish Associated Production Companies of Television

Atlético de Madrid Football Club

Starlite International Festival

COPE

EFE Agency

AECINE

Avoris

Dentsu Aegis Network

Green Universe

Graftech Iberia

Work highlights

  • Advising Makro on labour and digital law, including regarding the implementation of the digital rights of its employees.
  • Advised Atlético De Madrid Football Club on the management and presentation of extraordinary measures due to the State of Alarm by Covid-19.
  • Representing EMT in various proceedings, including in relation to the coverage of driver positions for the year 2021.

Spain > EU and competition Tier 5

Patricia Liñan is the name to note at ECIJA, which is particularly experienced in competition litigation, representing major domestic and international clients in cartel and abuse of dominance investigations and appeals, as well as handling private enforcement actions. The team is also highly active in advising on the design of competition law compliance programmes. Key areas of expertise include the payments, TMT and automotive sectors.

Other key lawyers:

Patricia Liñan

Testimonials

‘The team’s knowledge of competition law is unmatched. We have not seen such a meticulous and detailed way of working at other firms. They work well with international clients. Their management of files is completely reliable.’

‘The team stand out for their knowledge, treatment of clients, trustworthiness and delivery.’

Key clients

LACTALIS

NOKIA

STMP (SISTEMA PAY)

SPANISH BANK CONSORTIUM

PRIVALIA (VENTE PRIVÉE)

ASTARA GROUP

NUTRECO

SCHWEPPES

Work highlights

  • Acting for Lactalis (and for its subsidiary Puleva), as defendants, in actions for damages recently filed by livestock farmers following the CNMC’s decision to sanction the main dairy companies in the Spanish milk industry cartel case.
  • Representing Nokia in its appeal against the CNMC’s decision in the railway communications case before the Spanish Appeal Court.
  • Advising Sistema Pay on all competition law matters related to the participation of Spanish banks in the European Payments Initiative.

Spain > Banking and finance Tier 7

A leading firm in TMT matters, ECIJA has particular expertise in the fintech space, advising major Spanish and international banks and financial institutions on digital projects. In addition, the firm assists a strong client base of fintech and payment services companies with regulatory issues relating to their expansion into the Spanish market and the launch of new products. Notable contacts include Alonso Hurtado, Cristina Villasante and Jesús Yáñez.

Practice head(s):

 

 

Other key lawyers:

Alonso Hurtado; Cristina Villasante; Jesús Yáñez; Alejandro Touriño; María González

Testimonials

‘As a multi-disciplinary law firm they have dedicated team members for each area of law in which we require any legal advice and assistance. This ensures that the teams can work more efficiently and be more focused, although there is a strong sense of cross-departmental collaboration which is an added value compared to other law firms. Their knowledge in the fintech space is critical for our business.’

‘Cristina Villasante has been instrumental for our ongoing fintech registration and ongoing advice given her strong financial services background.’

Key clients

World Bank

Santander Bank

European Central Bank

European Bank Authority

American Express

ING Bank

Bnext

Bank of Spain

Bankinter Consumer Finance

BBVA

Santander Consumer Finance

Wizink Bank

Euro6000

Pichincha Bank

Triodos Bank

Caixabank

PagoNxt

EPI (European Payments Initiative)

Zotapay

Commerzbank

Rabobank

Spanish Banks Consortium

Work highlights

  • Advised the European Central Bank on privacy, data protection and security, including assisting with adaptation of procedures to the Schrems II decision framework.
  • Advised Club Atlético de Madrid on restructuring its financial debt and on its sponsorship agreement with digital asset company Amber Group.
  • Advising the Bank of Spain on the development of a project for the regularisation of its identification and electronic signature systems.

Colombia > TMT

ECIJA Colombia’s group ‘proposes innovative solutions’, according to sources. With solid offerings in media and entertainment, telecoms, and internet and e-commerce (including fintech), the team is arguably best known for its relationships with film and television production companies, including CMO Producciones, MediaPro and Dynamo Producciones. Regulatory specialist Pablo Márquez is noted for his broad practice, which spans competition, telecoms regulation and internet governance; he co-heads the team alongside IP and audio-vision partner Patricia Renjifo. The group also draws on litigator Julio Castañeda  and senior associate Paula Gutiérrez de Piñeres.

Practice head(s):

Pablo Márquez; Patricia Renjifo

Testimonials

‘We recommend the firm for its willingness and timely responses to the requirements made by our company.’

‘The team is comprised of experts in technology regulatory advice, particularly on issues such as 5G and advisory cases to deal with consumer and competition-related matters.’

‘The Ecija team is always available for our requirements, has extensive experience in the issues, prepares meetings rigorously and in advance, and very importantly, proposes innovative solutions in procedures and in obtaining information.’

‘Pablo Márquez has extensive experience, and combines it in the best way with his analytical skills, so that he makes it easy to see the complex in his recommendations. Julio Castañeda masters the procedures and his knowledge saves the clients’ time.’

Key clients

Mercado Libre

Airbnb

Samsung Electronics Colombia

Tiktok

Infinito Studios

Dynamo Producciones

Miracol Media

CMO Producciones

Mediapro-Televideo

Rhayuela

Work highlights

  • Advising Mercado Libre on e-commerce regulation, consumer law and privacy law, among other issues.
  • Advising Airbnb on regulatory matters and on the impact of such regulation (and other public policies in the TMT area), on its business model in Colombia.
  • Advising Dynamo Producciones on all contractual matters, including on the production of Brotherhood, produced by Dynamo Producciones and Mandarin for Amazon Prime Video.

ECIJA > Firm Profile

ECIJA is one of the best multidisciplinary and independent firms in the Spanish market, as well as the firm of choice for TMT, IP and data protection. ECIJA has 35 offices in 17 countries and the largest presence of an Ibero-American firm in Latin America.

Main Contacts

Department Name Email Telephone
Business restructuring and bankruptcy proceedings Gabriel Nadal
Commercial agreements Juan Salmerón
Commercial agreements Elena Annez de Taboada
Corporate/M&A Hugo Écija
Corporate/M&A Emilio Prieto
Corporate/M&A Gabriel Nadal
Intellectual property and copyright Hugo Écija
Intellectual property and copyright Juan Salmerón
Intellectual property and copyright Alejandro Touriño
IT, telecoms, data protection and outsourcing Cristina Villasante
Media, IP Helena Suárez
IT, telecoms, data protection and outsourcing Alonso Hurtado
IT, telecoms, data protection and outsourcing Xavier Muñoz
Labour and employment Raúl Rojas
Labour and employment Alfonso Autuori
Litigation and arbitration Javier López
Litigation and arbitration Maite Mascaró
Media and entertainment Hugo Écija
Media and entertainment Juan Salmerón
Public policy and regulatory Xavier Muñoz
Private equity and venture capital Emilio Prieto
Private equity and venture capital Ricardo Oliveras
Real estate and planning Gabriel Nadal
Real estate and planning Maite Mascaró
Sport Hugo Écija
Sport Ricardo Oliveras

Staff Figures

Number of lawyers : 1000

Languages

Spanish
Catalan
Euskera
English
French
German
Italian

Other

Other offices : Madrid
Other offices : Barcelona
Other offices : Valencia
Other offices : Zaragoza
Other offices : Islas Canarias
Other offices : Lisbon/ Porto/ Braga
Other offices : Santiago de Chile
Other offices : Tegucigalpa / San Pedro Sula
Other offices : San Jose/ Guanacaste
Other offices : Managua
Other offices : Guatemala
Other offices : San Salvador
Other offices : Panama
Other offices : Rio de Janeiro/ São Paulo/ Brasilia/ Belo Horizonte
Other offices : Bogotá
Other offices : Mexico
Other offices : Buenos Aires
Other offices : Quito /Guayaquil

Client Testimonials


CLIENT: Xavier Mas, Head of Legal & Compliance
COMPANY/FIRM: Media Markt
TESTIMONIAL: ECIJA offers us a comprehensive service, with very short response times but at the same time with an unbeatable technical level. The advice is exceptionally accurate, practical and proactive.

CLIENT: Virginia Cardenal Antón, Head of Management and Risks
COMPANY/FIRM: British Telecom
TESTIMONIAL: After so long, we continue trusting ECIJA as our legal partner because of its high dose of proactivity, knowledge of its clients’ sector, and its undoubted talent.

CLIENT: Manuel Urbano, CFO
COMPANY/FIRM: FremantleMedia
TESTIMONIAL: ECIJA’s team always proves to have a wide knowledge of the peculiarities of the media sector, giving high quality coverage to our legal needs in various areas of our business

CLIENT: Antonio García, General Counsel
COMPANY/FIRM: Orange
TESTIMONIAL: At ECIJA customer orientation prevails, understanding what you need, anticipating your needs and giving quick, effective and business-focused advice.

International Capabilities


Chairman: Hugo Écija
Vice President: Pablo Jiménez de Parga
Managing Partner: Alejandro Touriño
Number of partners: 140 Number of lawyers: 700
Languages: English, French, German, Portuguese, Spanish, Italian, Mandarin
Firm Overview: ECIJA is one of the best multidisciplinary and independent firms in the Spanish market and also the firm of choice for TMT, IP and data protection. ECIJA has 27 offices in 16 countries (Spain, Portugal and LATAM) and the largest presence in Latin America.

Main Areas of Practice:

IT, Telecoms, Data Protection & Outsourcing:
22 partners; 120 fee earners based in Spain, Portugal and Latin America. TMT IT is a main area of focus for ECIJA. Its client´s portfolio includes large media corporations, software developers, advertising groups, electronics, telecommunication operators, financial institutions and energy companies.

  • Advice to Santander Bank to implement a legal design project in regard to the master agreement with technological providers.
  • Support to Mercadona in the implementation of a facial recognition technology system in all the company´s premises.
  • Advice to McDonalds in compliance of privacy and data protection obligations in Spain.

Key Clients: Mercedes, LVMH Group, Microsoft, Inditex, Michelin, Telefónica, Santander, LG Electronics, Bank of Spain, Dentsu.
Contacts: Alejandro Touriño, Hugo Écija
Emails: atourino@ecija.com, hugo@ecija.com

Intellectual Property & Copyrights:
16 partners; 90 fee earners based in Spain, Portugal and Latin America. ECIJA has the largest, most skilled and diversified (it combines informatic engineers) team in IP in the Span- ish market.

  • Advice to Rakuten TV on all IP licensing matters, including acquisition of third-party rights and the selling of own generated content.
  • Negotiation on behalf of Orange with the nine copyright and related rights collective management societies (CMOs) that operate in Spain.
    Key Clients: H&M, Fox, Rakuten TV, Indra, NH Hotels, Ferrovial, Vodafone, ONCE; Omnicom Media Group.
    Contacts: Alejandro Touriño, Hugo Écija
    Emails: atourino@ecija.com, hugo@ecija.com

Corporate/M&A & Private Equity:
53 partners; 70 fee earners based in Spain, Portugal and Latin America. ECIJA advices large Spain-based and international corporations, VC and private equity investors in na- tional and cross border transactions. ECIJA has wide expertise in sectors driven by innovation (such as tech- nology, clean energy, automotive, aerospace, financial services and life sciences).

  • Counsel to Jenoptik AG (Frankfurt Stock Exchange listed company) in the two first acquisitions of robotic companies in Spain.
  • Advice to Deutsche Boerse AG (Frankfurt Stock Exchange listed company) in a $15 million investment round in a fintech company.
    Key Clients: Yahoo, Pfizer, The Boeing Company, Honeywell, Melia Hotel Group, M&C Saatchi, Jenoptik AG, DHL and Deutsche Boerse AG.
    Contacts: Emilio Prieto, Gabriel Nadal
    Emails: eprieto@ecija.com, gnadal@ecijalegal.com

Dispute Resolution, Litigation & Arbitration:
39 partners; 1200 fee earners based in Spain, Portugal and Latin America. ECIJA represents major clients in relevant cases in dispute resolution in technology, media, telecoms, construction and sports industries. The firm is pioneer in the use of new technologies such as ‘ethical hacking’ aimed to determine the source of criminal acts and collect digital evidence valid in Court proceedings.

  • Representation of Orange in a large-scale volume proceeding in both civil and administrative proceedings.
  • Representation of H&M in relevant a dispute in the civil and mercantile sphere concerning one of the company’s flagships stores.
    Key Clients: Hiscox, British Telecom, Mercadona, Renault, Atletico de Madrid Club, Orange, ING Bank, EDP, Ferrovial, Starlite, Showa International
    Contacts: Pablo Jiménez de Parga, Javier López,
    Emails: pjdeparga@ecija.com, jlopez@ecija.com

Labour & Employment:
27 partners; 50 fee earners based in Spain, Portugal and Latin America. ECIJA acts in judicial processes in all matters and in collective bargaining processes and restructurings. It has a multidisciplinary division of professionals who are experts in LabourTech and Compliance.

  • Advice to Bank of Spain on the implementation of a Security Operations Center (SOC) for monitoring technological systems and employees.
  • Advice to ING Bank on use of technological means policy and digital disconnection policy.
    Key Clients: Bank of Spain, Melia Hotels, Radisson Hotels, Eolia Energy, Vivanta, Atresmedia, ING Bank, Fremantle Media, MC & Saatchi
    Contacts: Raúl Rojas, Fernando Vizcaino
    Emails: rrojas@ecija.com, fvizcaino@ecija.com

Tax:
18 partners; 30 fee earners based in Spain, Portugal, Latin and Central America. ECIJA advises on tax driven structured finance, leasing and collective investment arrangements. The area focuses on corporate and international taxation, corporate reorganizations, digital society taxation and tax procedures.

  • Advice to DHL on its indirect taxation policy.
  • Advice to Repsol Foundation in the process of investment in startups (venture philanthropy).
    Key Clients: Pilatus Aircraft Limited, Sprim Health Group; Repsol Foundation, DHL Global Forwarding
    Contact: Constantino Vidal
    Email: cvidal@ecija.com

Awards:

  • Best Digital Economy, IT, IP and Data Protec- tion Law Firm of the Spanish Market and Most Innovative Project (Expansión Awards 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019)
  • European Specialist (TMT) Law Firm and Highly Commended best Iberian Law Firm (The Lawyer 2019, 2020)
  • Ranked amongst the most innovative law firms in Europe (Financial Times 2020)

Diversity


Diversity is a crucial value in ECIJA´s culture.

ECIJA is concerned about fostering diversity and granting inclusion. ECIJA’s challenge consists of officially shape its already open and flexible nature, in order to measure it and follow its application.

ECIJA has experienced how diversity and plurality enriches its daily work. This richness lies on the singularity of each lawyer. Based on that, ECIJA follows the way to adapt the Firm to each employee’s own features, providing accordingly personalized treatment (flexibility).

The keystone is structural change, allowing integration of every valid professional. We bet for a fully inclusive culture, focusing on talent, achievements and performance, putting aside subjective characteristics. For this reason, 2020 Sustainability strategy is focused on achieving real equality among ECIJA´s professionals as a first step in order to achieve real equality in our society.

ECIJA aims all the aforementioned intentions to permeate its daily working practices. In this sense, ECIJA develops a Global Diversity Program. This program consists of multiple initiatives, some of which are related to the formal functioning of the Firm (internal processes and procedures), while others are specific actions (workgroups and communication tools). Thanks to our innovative DNA, most of those initiatives are quite new and disruptive in Law Firms environment:

More Women STEM

This project aims to reveal the crucial role women play in professional environment and its leadership and guidance in future Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics careers.

It is focussed on promoting women’s role as change agent and encourages access of young women to future STEM professions. Particularly, this project provides teenage students with useful tools which will help them in their decision-making path in order to start successful professional careers.

Female students must realize their professional evolution is rooftop-less. They can reach as far as they want, and no social consensus must limit their dreams.

Conciliation and gender equality Committee

This workgroup is composed by ECIJA volunteers that, sponsored by the management team, meet periodically to discuss activities and actions which might help ECIJA walk the conciliation and equality path.

Internal communication open policy

ECIJA makes available to its professionals various internal, online and bidirectional communication channels. ECIJA’s lawyers feel free to express their points of view openly. ECIJA encourages its employees to freely share their interests and opinions via said communication channels.

There is also a specific area, named People & Culture, fully dedicated to listening and taking care of the Firm’s professionals. This specific team is led by the Chief Happiness Officer, whose main responsibility is to maintain ECIJA’s Happiness index at a top level.

Flexible schedule

In order to facilitate the inclusion of every profile, ECIJA grants 100% flexible working hours, without a specific hour of start and finish of workday. This policy enables employees to organize their work around their lives, not the other way around. As a result, almost 100% of ECIJA´s professionals have different working hours each day.

Smart Working

ECIJA also allows employees to work wherever they want, with no other requisite than covering their duties. The telework policy has no limitation in days or reasons. ECIJA relies, once more, in its professionals’ common sense. The Firm is focused on productivity and results, not in formality and rigorous working hours.

Press Releases

ECIJA GPA strengthens its presence in Ecuador with the opening of a new branch in Cuenca

23rd June 2022 ECIJA GPA expands its team by integrating the law firm Estudio Central of Cuenca.

ECIJA GPA strengthens its presence in Ecuador with the opening of a new office in Manta

3rd February 2022 ECIJA GPA starts the year reinforcing its team with Ingrid Rodriguez as the new partner of the Manta office.