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José María Alonso

José María Alonso advises clients on the regulatory aspects of complex corporate transactions and litigation against Spanish public administrations and administrative courts. Mr. Alonso draws on nearly a decade as a Spanish State Attorney to guide private equity firms and large corporates on Spanish public law matters and EU regulation, particularly in the financial, energy, and infrastructure industries, including: \t \tRegulatory aspects of M&A \tPublic law concessions, permits, and authorizations \tForeign direct investments \tPublic procurement matters \tEnvironmental law issues Leveraging his experience at the Ministry of the Presidency and Public Administration and his work as Technical General Secretary of Spain's Ministry of Economy and Business, he combines a deep understanding of the European market with a commercially driven approach to transactions.

José María Alonso

José María Alonso advises clients on the regulatory aspects of complex corporate transactions and litigation against Spanish public administrations and administrative courts. Mr. Alonso draws on nearly a decade as a Spanish State Attorney to guide private equity firms and large corporates on Spanish public law matters and EU regulation, particularly in the financial, energy, and infrastructure industries, including: \t \tRegulatory aspects of M&A \tPublic law concessions, permits, and authorizations \tForeign direct investments \tPublic procurement matters \tEnvironmental law issues Leveraging his experience at the Ministry of the Presidency and Public Administration and his work as Technical General Secretary of Spain's Ministry of Economy and Business, he combines a deep understanding of the European market with a commercially driven approach to transactions.

Carlos Betoret

Carlos Betoret is an associate in the Madrid office of Latham & Watkins and a member of the firm’s Global Antitrust & Competition Practice. His practice focuses on all aspects concerning EU and Spanish competition law. Mr. Betoret represents international companies before the European Commission and the Spanish Competition authority in merger control, cartel, abuse of dominance, horizontal and vertical agreements, and state aid proceedings. Prior to joining Latham, Mr. Betoret worked in a major international law firm, acting for numerous big Spanish and International corporations of different industries, such as healthcare, financial institutions, waste management, and infrastructures, among others. Mr. Betoret has also represented his clients before the Spanish courts, including, regional courts, the High Court, and the Supreme Court.

Fernando Colomina

Fernando Colomina advises borrowers and lenders on complex financing structures in cross-border M&A and private equity transactions, particularly leveraged buyouts. Mr. Colomina helps banks and other financial institutions, sponsors, and corporate borrowers and issuers implement innovative international structures in the Spanish market. He approaches each transaction with creativity and versatility, drawing on extensive experience across the financing spectrum. Mr. Colomina unlocks the resources of Latham’s global platform to connect clients with the right tools for each financing, regardless of jurisdiction. He also frequently works with the high yield team to seamlessly execute bank/bond financings. A recognized thought leader, Mr. Colomina annually serves as an editor for Business Research’s The Acquisition & Leveraged Finance Review, as well as the author of its Spanish chapter.

Pedro de Rojas

Mr. de Rojas leverages his deep knowledge of the restructuring process and a sophisticated understanding of an evolving insolvency landscape to guide multinationals, investors, and financial institutions on: \t \tDesigning restructuring solutions, including converting debt into equity or equity-like instruments \tImplementing restructuring plans using the most efficient legal regimes \tLiaising with stakeholders across the capital structure He approaches complex transactions with a strategic, commercial mindset and unlocks Latham’s global platform to devise bespoke client solutions. A recognized thought leader, Mr. de Rojas regularly speaks on insolvency topics at industry events, including for INSOL. He is also a visiting professor at Instituto de Empresa (IE) and Universidad Cardenal Cisneros. Before joining Latham, Mr. de Rojas spent 20 years working as a banking and restructuring lawyer at the Spanish office of a Magic Circle law firm.

María José Descalzo

María José Descalzo is a partner in Latham & Watkins’ Madrid office and a member of the firm's Corporate Department. Ms. Descalzo has extensive experience representing domestic and international companies, investors, and private equity firms on a variety of energy-related M&A, joint ventures, IPOs, and project finance matters.

Jordi Domínguez

Jordi Domínguez advises Spanish and multinational clients on the full spectrum of tax issues that arise in sophisticated cross-border transactions. Mr. Domínguez leverages a comprehensive understanding of global tax laws and decades of transactional experience within the local and global market to guide private equity sponsors, financial institutions, and multinational corporations on: \t \tM&A and joint ventures \tRestructurings \tFinancing structures \tCapital markets offerings He connects clients to resources across Latham’s platform and provides pragmatic, business-oriented advice that allows clients to make informed decisions in multijurisdictional deals. A recognized thought leader, Mr. Domínguez regularly lectures on international tax law at Centro de Estudios Garrigues and ESADE.

Carmen Esteban

Carmen Esteban advises global private equity funds and multinational companies on their most sophisticated M&A transactions. Ms. Esteban leverages trusted relationships across the Spanish private equity market and extensive transactional experience to guide clients on: \t \tMergers and acquisitions \tAsset acquisitions \tJoint venture investments She approaches each matter with pragmatism and a clear understanding of clients’ commercial goals. Ms. Esteban seamlessly integrates with the firm’s global platform and regularly leads on cross-border European transactions.

Óscar Franco

Óscar Franco is a partner in Latham & Watkins’ Madrid office and a member of the Litigation & Trial Department. Mr. Franco has extensive experience advising clients on complex, high-profile disputes, including commercial litigation and international arbitration proceedings, as well as restructuring and insolvency matters.

Ignacio Gómez-Sancha

José María Jiménez-Laiglesia

José María Jiménez-Laiglesia represents Spanish and international clients before Spanish and EU competition authorities in their most sophisticated antitrust matters. Mr. Jiménez-Laiglesia combines more than three decades’ of experience and his reputation as one of Spain’s leading competition lawyers to precisely evaluate risk and guide international companies, financial institutions, and private equity firms on: \t \tRegulatory challenges to mergers and foreign direct investments \tCartel investigations \tCharges of abuse of a dominant position and state aid He quickly understands the nuances involved in clients’ most complicated antitrust matters, serving as an integral hub for tightly coordinated multijurisdictional teams. Mr. Jiménez-Laiglesia successfully intervenes in matters involving jurisdictional review of competition and regulatory decisions before Spain’s National Court (Audiencia Nacional) and Supreme Court.

José-Maria Jiménez-Laiglesia

Luis Manuel Lozano

Luis Lozano counsels Spanish and international clients on sophisticated M&A and private equity transactions, with a special focus on the banking industry, infrastructure assets, and distressed transactions. Mr. Lozano draws on his extensive experience and commercial mindset to guide industrial clients, listed companies, financial institutions, credit funds, and private equity funds on: \t \tM&A and private equity transactions \tSales and disposals of debt portfolios \tJoint ventures \tStrategic alliances He advises companies across a broad range of industries and has a proven track record in corporate, securities, and commercial problem-solving.

Veronika Miskovichova

Veronika Miskovichova advises large clients on private equity transactions with a real estate component, joint ventures, acquisitions of different types of real estate assets, and financing and refinancing of real estate acquisitions and structured finance, with or without a real estate component. Ms. Miskovichova has broad experience in commercial law. She regularly advises on a variety of real estate transactions, including: \t \tReal estate M&A deals \tReal estate joint ventures \tReal estate finance \tStructured Finance transactions, with or without real estate component

Veronika Miskovichova

Veronika Miskovichova advises large clients on private equity transactions with a real estate component, joint ventures, acquisitions of different types of real estate assets, and financing and refinancing of real estate acquisitions and structured finance, with or without a real estate component. Ms. Miskovichova has broad experience in commercial law. She regularly advises on a variety of real estate transactions, including: \t \tReal estate M&A deals \tReal estate joint ventures \tReal estate finance \tStructured Finance transactions, with or without real estate component

Rafael Molina

Rafael Molina represents Spanish and international clients in their most sophisticated transactions at the intersection of corporate, finance, and real estate law. Leveraging more than two decades of experience, Mr. Molina guides international investors, developers, financial institutions, and promoters on negotiating a wide range of real estate transactions and corporate matters, involving: \t \tReal estate M&A across asset classes, including hotels, data centers, retail and leisure centers, office buildings, logistics and industrial, and residential \tStructured finance and securitizations \tSingle names, loan-to-own, and workouts and restructurings \tServicers \tPerforming loan (PL), re-performing loan (RPL), and non-performing loan (NPL) portfolios He approaches negotiations with confidence and a sophisticated understanding of his clients’ interests, ready to devise complex structures that facilitate deal execution. Mr. Molina also regularly advises global private equity houses and investment funds on real estate as an asset class and related large-scale financing work. Mr. Molina serves on the board of the University of Navarra.

Roberto Muñoz

Roberto Muñoz is an associate in the Madrid office of Latham & Watkins. He advises national and international clients on complex litigation and arbitration proceedings concerning domestic and cross-border disputes. Mr. Muñoz represents clients before Spanish courts (including high courts, appeal courts, the Supreme Court, and the Constitutional Court) and also acts as counsel in arbitrations conducted under the main institutional arbitration rules (ICC, CIMA, CAM, TAM, SCC, NAI, etc.). His experience includes: \t \tComplex financial litigation \tReal estate litigation \tConstruction litigation \tTermination of agency and distribution agreements \tTermination of services agreements \tTermination of joint-venture agreements \tTermination of license agreements \tRestructuring and Insolvency Mr. Muñoz is also a lecturer at the Centro de Estudios Garrigues, Villanueva University, and of the arbitration course of the Consejo General de la Abogacía and the International Chamber of Commerce.

Alejandro Ortiz

Alejandro Ortiz advises clients on their most valuable M&A and international private equity transactions, as well as across the life cycle of their investments. Alejandro draws on decades of public and private M&A experience, having helped clients navigate more than 40 takeover bids in Spain in recent years. He regularly acts for major international and domestic fund managers on leveraged buyouts and exits from their Spanish investments. His experience bridges multiple market sectors, including: \tPrivate equity \tEnergy and infrastructure \tRetail, including food and beverage A recognized thought leader, Alejandro is a lecturer on commercial law at the Complutense University and on mergers and acquisitions at ICADE and IE in Madrid.

Ignacio Pallarés

Ignacio Pallarés advises private equity funds and leading Spanish companies on all aspects of corporate law, with a particular emphasis on complex, cross-border M&A. Mr. Pallarés draws on a sophisticated understanding of the local market and long-standing client relationships spanning multiple industries to execute: \t \tPrivate equity investments in Spanish targets \tM&A transactions in Spain involving Spanish companies \tCross-border transactions for Spanish multinational clients He approaches client relationships with an eye toward long-term growth and crafts strategic solutions that resonate across markets. Mr. Pallarés leverages his commercial pragmatism to help clients anticipate and address issues that may arise during negotiations.

Iván Rabanillo

Ivan Rabanillo advises clients on Spanish and international tax aspects of cutting-edge cross-border transactions. Mr. Rabanillo combines extensive transactional experience and a comprehensive understanding of multijurisdictional market practice to guide Spanish multinational groups and international investors on: \t \tM&A and joint ventures \tCapital markets transactions \tBanking and structured finance \tRestructuring and special situations Qualified to practice in Spain, Brazil, and New York, he approaches each transaction from a global perspective. Mr. Rabanillo devises practical and efficient solutions for clients’ time-sensitive commercial needs.

Naiara Rodríguez-Escudero

Naiara Rodríguez-Escudero leads the Benefits, Compensation & Employment Practice in Madrid and also serves as Regional Chair of Latham & Watkins' Tax Department in Europe. She advises global private equity funds and major employers in Spain on a variety of complex employment matters. Ms. Rodríguez-Escudero draws on deep experience and a sophisticated understanding of Spanish and European employment law to counsel and represent major employers in their most sensitive and business-critical matters, including: \t \tCompensation plans \tEmployment litigation \tIndustrial disputes \tNegotiating with trade unions \tRelocation \tSenior executive contract negotiations \tSocial security \tStock and cash-based incentive programs \tDownsizing and redundancy plans \tMergers and acquisitions \tOutsourcing \tRestructurings \tWhistleblower and internal investigations Ms. Rodríguez-Escudero regularly speaks at employment law seminars and publishes articles in the field.

Guillermo Ruiz de Salazar

Guillermo Ruiz de Salazar advises Spanish and international companies, private equity firms, and their portfolio companies on a full spectrum of employment related matters, particularly in complex M&A transactions, employment disputes, and employment restructurings. Mr. Ruiz de Salazar leverages extensive experience guiding clients through any employment issues that may arise, whether contentious or non-contentious, in the context of: \t \tM&A and restructuring, including drafting management incentive plans, share-based schemes, and top executive employment contracts \tCollective bargaining, including consultation periods for collective layoffs, transfer of employees, national and international relocations, union negotiations, and modification of employment conditions \tEmployment disputes, including both individual and collective judicial proceedings before labor courts He approaches each matter with pragmatism and a comprehensive understanding of his clients’ business needs. Mr. Ruiz de Salazar skillfully coordinates multidisciplinary teams across jurisdictions to provide clients with concise, actionable advice that helps to consummate successful transactions. A recognized thought leader, he serves as an associate professor of employment law at Centro de Estudios Garrigues and Universidad Europea in Madrid. Mr. Ruiz de Salazar maintains an active pro bono practice, including advising nonprofits on employment best practices and disputes.

Luis Sánchez

Luis Sánchez Mendez represents domestic and international clients in a range of complex finance transactions, including private equity acquisition financings, leveraged buyouts, and restructurings. Drawing on his sophisticated knowledge of the needs of both sides of financing transactions, Mr. Sánchez delivers broad-based counsel to creditors, companies, and investors. He brings particular experience in domestic and cross-border debt restructurings, as well as investments by specialized investment funds in distressed assets. Mr. Sánchez’s practice includes: \t \tAcquisition and leveraged finance \tAlternative financing and direct lending \tBanking \tCorporate lending, take-over bid financing, and loan markets \tDistressed investing and debt trading \tReal estate financing \tRestructuring, insolvency, and workouts \tStructured finance Mr. Sánchez regularly writes about banking and restructuring topics for prominent publications, including Revista de Derecho Concursal y Paraconcursal, Revista de Derecho Bancario y Bursatil, Cinco Días, and El Economista.

Jose Antonio Sánchez Dafos

José Antonio Sánchez-Dafos

José Antonio Sánchez-Dafos advises clients on cross-border M&A and private equity transactions, particularly involving the technology sector. Mr. Sánchez-Dafos combines deep local experience with a sophisticated understanding of global transactions to guide major international and Spanish private equity funds and companies on: \t \tMergers, acquisitions, and disposals \tLeveraged buyouts \tAdd-on acquisitions \tJoint ventures \tAdvising management \tSPAC-related transactions He anticipates potential transactional hurdles and creates efficiencies that close deals. Drawing on his international education and extensive global transactional experience, Mr. Sánchez-Dafos serves as a trusted advisor who understands clients’ strategic needs on a global scale. Mr. Sánchez-Dafos represents venture capital funds as emerging companies navigate the corporate life cycle, from raising venture capital to exit or listing. A recognized leader at the firm, he serves as Chair of the Global Technology Committee. He previously served as Local Chair of the Corporate Department in Madrid, as well as on the Associates Committee. Outside the firm, he teaches postgraduate M&A courses at IE Law School and Carlos III University. He maintains an active pro bono practice, including helping charitable organizations incorporate in Spain.

Blanca Vázquez de Castro

Blanca Vázquez de Castro advises multinational private equity funds and corporates on strategic cross-border transactional tax matters, particularly in leveraged buyouts. She draws on her deep understanding of global markets to structure complex transactions in a tax-efficient manner, relating to: \tMergers and acquisitions \tFinancing agreements \tDebt and equity capital markets \tRestructurings \tJoint ventures \tManagement incentive plans She works closely with colleagues across the firm’s global platform, especially with the Milan office, to mobilize internal and external resources that help clients achieve their commercial goals.