Firm Profile > DLA Piper > Madrid, Spain

Industry focus: Manufacturing Tier 1

The manufacturing team at DLA Piper provides advice on corporate, intellectual property, financing and public law matters. The team has experience in M&A, restructurings and IPOs in the sector, as well as advising on real estate matters. Diego Ramos heads the team and is experienced in logistics, delivery, financing and sourcing issues.

Industry focus: Retail Tier 1

Recent highlights for DLA Piper include advising Levi Strauss on the enforcement of intellectual and industrial property rights. The team also advises on consumer spending, product line expansion and regulatory issues. Diego Ramos, who is active in the commercial and intellectual property fields, heads the practice, which also includes the M&A-focused Teresa Zueco, who is experienced in private equity and in cross-border transactions with Latin American and French investors.

Banking and finance Tier 2

The ‘extraordinary’ DLA Piper is known for lending, particularly in transactions involving banks lending to corporates. Acting for major Spanish banks, the ‘detail-oriented, reliable and technically knowledgeable’ firm provides cross-border and regulatory expertise, in addition to a UK-qualified desk. Practice head Jesús Zapata is known for financial and banking matters, as well as corporate and acquisition financing transactions. Also notable is César Herrero, who focuses on domestic and cross-border bank finance deals in areas including leveraged finance, project finance, and corporate and structured finance.

Commercial, corporate and M&A Tier 2

Specialising in cross-border M&A deals, DLA Piper is active advising domestic and international clients across sectors including fashion and real estate. Practice head José María Gil-Robles joined from J&A Garrigues SLP in 2019 and is known for advising on M&A, as well as assisting private equity investors, hedge funds and other distress players. Iñigo Gómez-Jordana left the firm in early 2021.

Employment Tier 2

Noted for its 'great insights into the Spanish market' and 'very good knowledge of Spanish employment law', DLA Piper's team is frequently instructed by clients from the hospitality sector, as well as technology, financial services, life sciences, retail, energy and real estate companies. The team specialises in collective dismissals, restructurings and litigation, often with a cross-border element, and advises multinationals on expanding their operations. Practice head Pilar Menor has considerable experience in negotiating collective bargaining agreements and senior management employment contracts and their termination.

Industry focus: Food Tier 2

DLA Piper’s ‘reactive, pragmatic’ team is currently advising Le Pain Quotidien on the acquisition of a chain of Spanish bakeries. The group handles transactional matters, regulatory investigations and litigation. Diego Ramos, who also leads the firm’s Spanish intellectual property and technology group, heads the practice. He has advised clients including Bacardi, Mondelez and IPL.

Industry focus: TMT Tier 2

The TMT practice at DLA Piper focuses on technology, with clients in the manufacturing, retail, consumer products and pharmaceutical sectors. The practice also contains a gambling and gaming group led by Paula González de Castejón, who has extensive experience in the medical, pharmaceutical and biotech sectors, and a technology outsourcing group. Diego Ramos, who advises on distribution and sales agreements, international data transfers, information management and data protection, heads the team.

Projects and energy Tier 2

Specialising in cross-border matters, DLA Piper provides energy sector experts in a range of disciplines, including M&A, regulatory issues, finance, antitrust and real estate. Javier Santos has expertise advising international and Spanish investors on project finance matters in the energy sector. He co-leads the practice with Javier Zapata, who focuses on finance and banking matters. Also notable in the team is César Herrero, who is particularly well known for Latam work.

Capital markets: Debt Tier 3

Capital markets: Equity Tier 3

Dispute resolution Tier 3

The 'excellent' DLA Piper team has experience in national and international arbitration, as well as notable expertise in financial sector disputes and insolvency litigation. Practice head Borja de Obeso joined from Gómez-Acebo & Pombo in 2018 and specialises in litigation, arbitration and insolvency, particularly in relation to the construction, energy and infrastructure sectors. Álvaro Lobato retired in 2019 and Óscar Franco left to join Latham & Watkins LLP, also in 2019.

Industry focus: Healthcare and life sciences Tier 3

The full-service healthcare and life sciences practice at DLA Piper provides advice on regulatory, contractual and commercial, intellectual property and data protection matters. The team can draw on the firm’s global life sciences practice, which has a particular focus on the US and UK. Diego Ramos leads the practice with Paula González de Castejón, who specialises in intellectual property.

Private equity Tier 3

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.

Public law Tier 3

Specialising in regulation, DLA Piper has particular experience in project finance for infrastructure, as well as public administration and procedures. The firm's focus includes public procurement procedures and the public infrastructure, energy, industrial, chemical, healthcare and military sectors. José Ignacio Monedero advises on renewable energies, infrastructure, the pharmaceutical industry, public procurement, environment and public administration. He co-leads the practice with business public law expert José Manuel Sala.

Real estate and construction Tier 3

DLA Piper advises investment funds, institutional investors and socimis on real estate transactions, real estate finance and distressed portfolio deals, as well as providing experienced practices in hospitality and logistics. The firm also has expertise in alternative assets, including student residences and senior housing. Orson Alcocer leads the practice and has a particular focus on logistics, hospitality and portfolio sales.

Restructuring and insolvency Tier 3

DLA Piper focuses on large multi-disciplinary restructuring deals, particularly distressed M&A, financial restructurings and bank debt trading. The firm is also experienced in advising on cross-border matters. Practice head Juan Gelabert advises banks and distressed funds on restructuring processes, including pre-insolvency and insolvency scenarios. José María Gil Robles joined from J&A Garrigues SLP in 2019 and brings expertise in distressed funds and related restructuring processes.

Intellectual property: Copyright Tier 4

The practice at DLA Piper advises on intellectual property contract negotiations and media and software licensing. Diego Ramos, who has extensive copyright experience in video games and fashion, heads the team, which also includes compliance expert Paula González de Castejón. Highlights included assisting Adobe with licensing software to a Spanish bank.

Intellectual property: Trade marks Tier 4

DLA Piper handles anti-piracy enforcement, brand prosecution and trade mark litigation for clients in the gaming, fashion and media industries. The team is led by Diego Ramos, who is currently advising Bacardi Iberia on brand protection and labelling.

Tax Tier 4

The DLA Piper tax department has a solid reputation for providing advice to large multinationals on tax restructuring, as well as assisting in tax investigations and litigation. Carlos Rodríguez heads the team, bringing particular expertise in transfer pricing. The team's integration within the firm's international network allows it to handle multi-jurisdictional matters, especially for Spanish companies with interests abroad and foreign companies in Spain. Significantly, it assisted Corporación Hijos de Rivera (Estrella Galicia) with the US tax implications of relocating its US subsidiary from Virginia to Florida. Miguel Baz has also drawn praise for 'delivering smart approaches to tough issues'.

EU and competition Tier 5

DLA Piper is noted for its use of innovative technology, including AI, to assist in competition audits, risk reviews and other investigations. The firm also has expertise in merger control matters. Joaquin Hervada leads the team and specialises in M&A and infringement procedures, handling administrative proceedings and litigation before the Spanish and EU courts.