‘During my ten years at Hispasat I have implemented a network of law firms in all the countries in which we operate (mainly Latin America, the US and Europe). We have a close relationship with some of these law firms. From an internal perspective, I have implemented certain technical advances such as the electronic signature for all companies within the group, a broad number of templates of contracts and other documents that the company must sign on a regular basis, as well a different procedures which has been very advantageous for the company’.

Owing to these and several other achievements in an outstanding career as an in-house advisor, Javier Folguera, the current general counsel of Spanish satellite communications operator Hispasat, a leader in the distribution of content in the Spanish and Portuguese languages, is renowned within the market. A key part of Folguera’s agenda is due diligence work, and in citing a number of achievements in his career points to one particular highlight in conducting the due diligence and submission of the binding offer for the acquisition of Israeli satellite operator Spacecom. He explains the international and technical legal aspects of the deal as being challenging, but Hispasat ‘passed off the different phases of the auction and an agreement was reached with the seller although the transaction was not finally completed’.

Folguera further explains his assistance in the due diligence and submission of non-binding offer for the acquisition of the Hong Kong satellite operator ABS as well as for the acquisition of a number of assets of US satellite operator Intelsat. Initatives he has provided the legal basis to also include the first acquisition of a stake in Hispasat by Abertis in 2008 and a strategic alliance with Brazilian satellite operator StarOne for the exchange of capacity in different satellites of their fleets in 2015. Prior to joining Hispasat, Folguera spent a decade in private practice within both Spanish and English headquartered law firms, starting his professional career at Ramón y Cajal Abogados, later joining Ashurst and afterwards Pérez-Llorca, where he ‘regularly advised national and international companies on all types of domestic and cross-border corporate activity’.