Sought after for its experience in government procurement, infrastructure, environmental regulation, and regulatory matters, DLA Piper's public team is active in a variety of key sectors such as energy, aviation, telecoms, healthcare and defence. Practice head José María Barrios is noted for his expertise in public procurement, urban planning and regulated-sector transactions. Carlos Daza brings deep experience in public procurement, environmental law, public assets and energy regulation, while José Manuel Sala specialises in economic public law, handling major judicial proceedings, advising leading corporates on regulatory issues, and serving as an external adviser to public administrations.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Accolades
Client satisfaction: Billing & efficiency
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- ‘This firm stands out for its personalised approach, speed, and technical expertise. The team understands business needs, adapts quickly, and provides clear and effective solutions.'
- ‘What truly sets them apart is their direct and constant involvement with the client. Carlos and José Barrios are particularly outstanding for their analytical skills, approachability, and speed in providing clear and effective solutions. They are decisive, agile, and always add value, making them strategic partners rather than just legal advisors.’
- ‘The lawyer who makes the difference is José Manuel Sal, who brings his experience as a professor of administrative law and his qualified training as a legal counsel to the Spanish Parliament. Also of note is José María Barrios Garrido; his enthusiasm and his extensive knowledge of the renewable energy sector stand out.’
- ‘They demonstrate a good breadth of experience across environmental, administrative and public law’
- ‘Excellent response times and always meet deadlines.’
- ‘What makes this practice unique is its ability to combine deep legal knowledge with a pragmatic and innovative approach tailored to each client’s business needs. In-house teams particularly appreciate the team’s strong sector-specific expertise, seamless coordination, and ability to provide clear, actionable guidance even in complex or cross-border matters.’
- ‘Carlos Daza and José María Barrios stand out for their exceptional combination of technical expertise, strategic vision, and a highly client-focused approach. Clients particularly value their responsiveness, efficiency, and the ability to anticipate potential issues before they arise. ’
- ‘The team stood out for its ability to coordinate across different jurisdictions and offices, which allowed them to deliver a clear comparative analysis within tight deadlines. They have a practical approach, focused on identifying relevant regulatory changes and translating them into useful conclusions for the company.'
- ‘The main added value was the speed of response and the seamless coordination between the firm's different offices. They were able to manage a complex project in an agile and consistent manner, which is not always the case in firms with an international presence. '
- 'Their best qualities are reliability, organisation, and the ability to synthesise diverse legal information. Within the team, I would highlight José María Barrios for his ability to communicate directly and Carlos Daza for the clarity with which he presented the results.’
Key clients
- Baywa.re
- Enel Green Power
- Linde
- LyondellBasell
- Vodafone
- Allied Universal
- Aviva
- LVMH
- EasyJet
- Bacardi
- Jet2.Com
- Tokio Marine Syndicates
- Levi's
- Cognita
- Finsbury Infrastructures
- DEME Group
- SafetyKleen
- Aviapartner
- Iberdrola
- Parques Reunidos
Work highlights
Advised a consortium formed by Aberdeen and DeA Capital on the public tender (Plan Vive IV organised by the Government of Madrid) for the award of certain public domain concessions for the construction and operation of more than 3.400 residential houses for affordable housing in several municipalities in Madrid.
Advised Lyondell Basell in the context of a procedure led by the Generalitat for claiming environmental liability against them due to supposed non-compliance with the Spanish Environmental Responsibility Law, as a consequence of the appearance of microplastics or pellets on beaches that could be attributable to Lyondell Basell and other companies operating in the Tarragona province.
Advised Adamo on a wide range of legal procedures related to public subsidies under the PEBA 2020 programme, the Universalisation of Digital Infrastructure for Cohesion (UNICO) programmes for 2021 through 2024, and the UNICO 5G programme, all managed by the Ministry for Digital Transformation and Public Service.
Lawyers
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Leading associates
Leading associates with regular involvement in their team's key work, and recognition from peers or clients as being ones to watch.
Practice head
José María Barrios
Other key lawyers
Carlos Daza; José Manuel Sala