Uría Menéndez offers a comprehensive financial services regulatory practice advising banks, payment institutions, brokers, non-regulated lenders, crypto providers, and other corporates. The team guides clients through the legal frameworks for investment services, asset management, payments, banking, and insurance. Practice co-heads Isabel Aguilar and Carolina Albuerne combine deep expertise in investment funds, payments, and banking regulation to support clients on complex and cross-border mandates.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Accolades

Client satisfaction: Lawyer & team quality
Client satisfaction: Sector knowledge

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘They're always available, and if not, they'll find time somehow. They're excellent both in terms of regulations and in drafting documents for supervisors, including an incredible grasp of Spanish and European legislation, which makes things much easier when making decisions and preparing the necessary documentation.’
  • ‘The partner María Vidal Pardo, with whom we work on these matters, is a highly skilled professional with extensive experience in this area. We have been working with her for several years and will continue to do so, because, as I say year after year, it is difficult to find someone with such experience and expertise in the areas she handles.’
  • ‘Carolina Albuerne, Isabel Aguilar and Ramon Riera stand out especially in this area.’
  • ‘The Uria Menendez team is, in my view, the best team on the market. Advice provided is always very efficient, sophisticated and client-friendly.'
  • I primarily work with Caroline Albuerna on banking matters and Isabel Aguilar on payment services and asset management matters. Both are highly sophisticated, and it is a pleasure to work with them.’
  • ‘It's a very well-trained team with excellent consultation tools and a diverse membership across genders, ages, and professional backgrounds. This ensures that someone from the team is always available to assist you, as they don't centralise the work solely with the partner or senior lawyer.’

Key clients

  • Banco Santander, S.A.
  • Banco de Sabadell, S.A.
  • CaixaBank, S.A.
  • Cecabank, S.A.
  • Unicaja Banco, S.A.
  • Bankinter, S.A.
  • Abanca Corporación Bancaria, S.A.
  • Morgan Stanley
  • Santander Consumer Finance
  • ING Bank NV, Sucursal en España

Work highlights

Advising CaixaBank, S.A. on the preparation of its bail-in playbook for the 2024-2025 cycle.
Advising Banco Santander, S.A., NY Branch on the conversion of its NY branch from an “uninsured state license” into an “uninsured federal license”.
Advising Unicaja Banco, S.A. on its strategic payments agreement with Fiserv, Inc.

Lawyers

Next Generation Partners

Junior partners with significant recognition from clients and peers in the market and key roles on multiple matters.

Practice head

Isabel Aguilar; Carolina Albuerne

Other key lawyers

María Vidal-Pardo; Enrique Ruiz; Ramón Riera