About

Highly respected across the banking sector, Juan Charro Nicolás heads the corporate legal department of Santander Group. He joined Santander in 2008, following a successful career of seven years at the Spanish law firm Pérez-Llorca, which included a secondment at the London offices of Slaughter & May. When he moved to Santander, Charro Nicolás aspired to integrate his existing legal and international knowledge into his new in-house role. He introduced certain law firm practices, which have improved the overall efficiency of the team; examples include the development and standardisation of the internal knowledge tools. Charro Nicolás has also had a pivotal role in the expansion of the group internationally; his ability to advise quickly and efficiently on a number of jurisdictions has been central for the expansion of Santander Group in new markets. He admits that cultural differences have been a challenge he had to face in international negotiations, but he has now developed the necessary knowledge and approach. Charro Nicolás has been involved in a number of projects in Poland, including the acquisition of a listed bank and subsequent merger with another listed bank, which has allowed Santander to gain a market-leading position in the country. The work of his department has contributed significantly to the minimisation of external advice, saving the company from additional costs, which is seen as demonstration of the legal team’s value.