DLA Piper advises a broad range of international and domestic clients, including financial institutions, funds, insurers and sponsors, on regulatory, project finance, and corporate matters in the energy and infrastructure space. Pablo Echenique focuses on corporate and finance transactions in the energy and construction sectors. César Herrero is noted for his project finance expertise, while José María Barrios handles contentious administrative litigation involving regulated industries. Yoko Takagi joined the firm in 2025 from White & Case, adding further depth in energy-related M&A.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Accolades
Client satisfaction: Billing & efficiency
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- ‘They have stood out for their approachability and willingness to help throughout the process. We were very pleased to have had DLA by our side to finalise the contracts with complete confidence.’
- ‘The team is diverse, with professionals at different levels of experience who contribute effectively and remain consistently available.’
- ‘What makes this practice unique is its ability to approach due diligence with technical rigour, practicality, and dynamism. Their analyses are clear, actionable, and genuinely useful for decision-making, without ever sacrificing depth or precision.’
- ‘The team led by José María Barrios is highly specialised in the legal and regulatory analysis of energy assets, with a solid understanding of the key aspects affecting the bankability and viability of these projects. Their practical approach is outstanding.’
- ‘Speed of response, well-structured processes, and full availability and decisiveness when unexpected issues arise.’
- ‘In-house lawyers value knowledge, preparation, and practicality. At DLA, they have evolved towards a more practical and visual advisory model that facilitates analysis.’
- ‘Excellent lawyers who stand out for their availability. They respond very quickly whenever we have questions.’
- ‘This is a firm with a comprehensive practice that covers all client needs. They are approachable, integrate seamlessly into transactions, anticipate issues, and offer proactive support. They are flexible on budgets, maintain their estimates, and take a reasonable approach.’
Key clients
- Grupo Nortegas
- Enlight Renewable Energy
- Aptiv
- Kimberly Clark
- GLP
- Aquila Capital
- Banco Estado de Chile
- Banco Consorcio
- Banco CorpBanca
- Banco de Crédito e Inversiones
- Banco Itaú
- Banco Sabadell
- Banco Santander
- Banco Security
- Bankinter
- BBVA
- CaixaBank
- China Construction Bank
- Commerz Real
- Edison
Work highlights
Advising a consortium of banks led by BBVA on the first project financing of a green hydrogen plant in the Iberian Peninsula.
Advising Enlight Renewable Energy, Ltd on a bond issuance for the refinancing a Spanish 329 MW brownfield onshore windfarm and related evacuation infrastructure and the financing of the construction of a 225 MW of Solar PV and 100 MW of Battery Storage project and related evacuation infrastructure.
Advising a consortium of institutional investors and bank lenders, including Goldman Sachs as the arranger and placement agent, on all Spanish law-related aspects of the refinancings granted to Real Betis Balompié, Valencia Club de Fútbol and FC Barcelona.
Practice head
Pablo Echenique; César Herrero
Other key lawyers
José María Barrios; Yoko Takagi