Joseba Olamendi joined Solarpack Corporación Tecnológica in December 2011, after a successful eight year career that saw him practice both at EY Law and Spanish law firm Garrigues. Solarpack Corporación Tecnológica engages in developing, financing, constructing and operating solar photovoltaic generation plants in Spain, Chile, Uruguay, Peru, South Africa, Panama and India.

Upon joining the Solarpack business he created the in-house legal department and due to its success, in 2012, he was appointed as director for different company subsidiaries where he takes part in the strategic decision-making committees of the company. Working in such an international environment has been a career highlight for Olamendi, as most transactions he has presided over have taken place in foreign jurisdictions, which has involved showing his competence working and coordinating multidisciplinary foreign law firms.

‘Working internationally involves new challenges, not only from a professional view but also from a personal view due to cultural differences and the traditions at the time of doing business’ he adds. From his position in Solarpack, Olamendi has witnessed and experienced many changes in the energy sector and the worldwide energy matrix, something which has equipped him with a broad range of knowledge of the sector beyond pure legal matters. He has actively been involved in the negotiation and execution of more than seven financing process for a total value of more than US$450m, as well as the execution of EPC contracts for a figure of more than 350MWp. Showing his academic credentials, Olamendi was awarded the general scholarship for academic excellence granted by Ernst and Young and IE Business School, as well as the scholarship for academic excellence granted by Centro de Estudios Financieros and La Caixa.

Of his career recognition he states ‘management of the company appreciate my legal background and my experience working with other sectors’. He has also been actively involved on the negotiation and execution of PV plant sale transaction and equity transactions for more than US$100m, a deal that contributed to Solarpack setting a new world record in price within renewable energies in 2016.