Key Legal Moves in Iberia 2024

The leading business law firms made significant moves in 2024 across Spain and Portugal, reflecting a dynamic and competitive environment. These changes not only aimed at reinforcing their positions and consolidating expertise in various practice areas but also focused on redefining market strategies and preparing for the challenges of 2025.

Cuatrecasas

A notable firm in terms of new hires was Cuatrecasas, which added Enrique Carrera as a partner in its Competition Group. He joins from Freshfields and brings 20 years of professional experience. The firm also brought in Juan Antonio Xiol, who served as a magistrate in the First and Third Chambers of the Supreme Court and as Vice President of the Constitutional Court, as a new advisor. During its Extraordinary Partners Meeting at end of November, Cuatrecasas announced the appointment of seven new partners across Spain, Colombia and Peru, enhancing its corporate, litigation, arbitration and labor law practices. In Spain, new partners include David-Isaac Tobía (Labor), David Fernández de Retana (Litigation), Gabriel Morales (Litigation and Arbitration) and Miguel Muñoz (Tax Litigation).

Eversheds Sutherland

The international law firm Eversheds Sutherland has promoted Marta González, partner in the Litigation and Health Sciences Department at its Spanish office, to Co-Director of the firm's International Health Sciences Group. The Spanish Administrative Law department appointed Carlos Pérez Infante as counsel, strengthening the firm’s expertise in infrastructure, transportation, and public procurement. In Portugal, six partners were named senior non-equity partners: António Cid, Gonçalo Mexia, João F. Osório de Castro (Corporate, Commercial, and M&A), Bruno Arez Martins (Tax), Dirce Rente (Criminal, Regulatory, and Compliance), and Sofia Ferreira Enriquez (Litigation and Insurance).

Fieldfisher

In January, the Anglo-Saxon law firm bolstered its international arbitration practice in Spanish-speaking markets by naming Pedro Claros as a partner in Madrid. In April, the firm further strengthened its Corporate M&A practice by welcoming Pablo Vinageras, formerly of Garrigues, as a partner at its Barcelona office. Antonio Delgado also joined Fieldfisher from Claros Abogados as counsel in the Madrid office. In September, Fieldfisher announced the appointment of Xavier Aixelà, from KPMG, as the new Tax partner at its Barcelona office.

Garrigues

Spanish law firm Garrigues has approved the promotion of 18 new equity partners in the firm’s partners’ meeting, spread over four different practice areas with effect from January 1, 2025, 16 of which are located in Spain. The new partners, and their respective practice areas and locations, are Leonardo Adamo (corporate and M&A, Alicante); Xavier Asensio Andreu (tax, Barcelona); Ana Isabel Batista (tax, Lisbon); Carmen Carmona Berraquero and Nicolás Cremades Leguina (tax , Madrid); Jaime Flores Pérez-Durías (labor and employment, Madrid); Antonio Gallo Palenzuela (labor and employment, Málaga); Juan González Ortega (corporate and M&A, Madrid); Jon Lasa Arbelaiz (corporate and M&A, Bilbao); Amadeo Lerma Casar (corporate and M&A, Valencia); Alicia Martínez Susmozas (tax, Alicante) and Juan Muguerza Odriozola (administrative and constitutional law, Madrid); Álvaro Pérez Carmona (labor and employment, Barcelona); Alberto Antonio Rodríguez Rodríguez (tax, Málaga); Guiomar Rubio Martínez (G-advisory, Madrid); Carmen Tato Suárez (corporate and M&A, La Coruña). Also, the firm’s partners’ meeting also approved the already announced appointment of the three new partners in Iberia region; who joined the firm during 2024: António Pedro Braga (tax, Oporto); Alfonso Cárcamo (corporate and M&A, Madrid), and Iván Zaldúa (tax, Bilbao).

Gómez-Acebo & Pombo

Led by Íñigo Erláiz, Gómez-Acebo & Pombo announced the addition of Pablo Santos Fita from EY as the partner responsible for labor law in their Barcelona office. Another notable appointment at the beginning of the year named Estibaliz Aranburu as the director of its Bilbao office. The Tax area strengthened with the hiring of Javier Gazulla, who left Hogan Lovells to join Gómez-Acebo & Pombo. They also named Ainara Rentería, Antonio Ramírez, Pedro Soto, and Luis Cuesta as partners, and appointed Mercedes Corbal, Bárbara Saiz de Vicuña, Rocío Arias, José Francisco Canalejas, and Álvaro Sainz as counsels.

Latham & Watkins

Latham & Watkins has appointed associates Ori Assa (from the Corporate department) and Roberto Muñoz (from the Litigation department) as counsels in its Madrid office. These appointments will take effect on January 1, 2025, and are part of the firm’s promotion of 24 new partners and 27 new counsels worldwide.

Pérez-Llorca

The firm revealed the promotion of five new partners in Spain in various practice areas at the beginning of January: Rafael Fernández (Insurance and Reinsurance), Jorge Masía (Competition), José Ángel Nabal (Real estate), Ana María Rodríguez (Litigation and EU and Competition Law), and José Luis Romeu (M&A and Private equity). In Portugal, Pérez-Llorca enhanced its litigation and arbitration capabilities in Lisbon with the appointment of Manuel de Abreu Castelo Branco as partner to lead the practice in Portugal. Castelo Branco joins from Linklaters Portugal.

Uría Menéndez

The law firm Uría Menéndez also announced the appointment of seven new partners, effective January 1, 2025. The new partners are based in the Lisbon, Madrid, and Barcelona offices. In Spain, Uría Menéndez's new partners include Xavier Codina García-Andrade (Public Law), Violeta Pina Montaner (Tax Law), and María García Roldán, David López Velázquez, and Guillermo del Río (all in Corporate Law). Francisco Javier García Pérez will join the partnership in the Barcelona office, specializing in Digital & Intangibles. In Portugal, Uría Menéndez has welcomed Hélder Frias as a corporate partner in the Lisbon office.

Litigation and Arbitration Practice

The litigation and arbitration sector saw significant developments among major Iberian firms already featured in this article. Additionally, Ecija strengthened its Spanish practice by hiring Margarita Soto Moya, formerly of Garrigues, as a partner in Madrid. Andersen enhanced its Litigation Department by bringing in Emma Muñoz from Montero Aramburu as a new partner, along with Vanessa Rodríguez as a senior associate and Ana Cortés as an associate. Similarly, Jones Day expanded its International Litigation and Arbitration practice in Madrid by adding Pablo Doñate as a partner.

Expanding Practices in Strategic Areas

Simmons & Simmons expanded its Spanish presence by hiring Álvaro Barro in Madrid to strengthen its Energy, Natural Resources & Infrastructure (ENRI) project finance practice. In April, Linklaters promoted 27 new partners globally, including 11 women, achieving the firm's goal of having at least 40% female promotions. Dentons reinforced its Spanish office by appointing Inmaculada Castelló from Pinsent Masons as a Corporate Partner in April. In September, Auren welcomed Ramón Ruiz de la Torre to lead its Banking and Capital Markets Law practice and María Victoria Vega to head its Economic Criminal Law practice. Additionally, Andersen opened its Bilbao office, bringing in Antonio Matute and Fernando Beltrán as new partners in the Tax and Labor departments, respectively.

Strengthening Public Law and Compliance Expertise

In recent months, several law firms have enhanced their expertise in public law and compliance. In September, Baker McKenzie appointed Júlia Samsó as counsel in its Competition Department in Barcelona. That same month, Ecija bolstered its compliance practice by naming Silvia Zamorano, formerly of Deloitte, as a partner in its Madrid office. Meanwhile, A&O Shearman designated Juan Pablo Regojo as the new Head of Risk and Compliance in its Spanish office. In October, EJASO underscored the strategic importance of its compliance department by appointing César Zárate, who returns to the firm after eight years at Ecija, to lead this key practice area.

Significant moves in Corporate and M&A

Corporate and M&A saw significant growth, prompting firms to recruit external talent. DLA Piper hired Yoko Takagi from White & Case as a Corporate and M&A partner in Madrid. This move was one of the most notable and surprising within the sector, with the firm itself describing Yoko as “a great asset.” Across Legal appointed Luis Tatay, former head of Grant Thornton's Legal Department in the Valencian Community, to lead its Corporate Department in the region, recognizing it as a key market for global business. White & Case appointed Lucía Quiroga and Eduardo Dachary as new local partners for M&A at its Madrid office, a key practice for the firm’s growth and development in Spain.

Tax practice

In addition to Gómez-Acebo & Pombo, Andersen, Eversheds Sutherland, Uría Menéndez, Garrigues, and Fieldfisher, the recruitment of Jesús Bernabé from Auren by RSM as corporate partner and director of the Tax & Legal area in its Madrid office, along with the appointment of Myriam Pérez Bautista as director of the Tax area at ETL Global's Zaragoza office, underscores the growing complexity of the regulatory and legal landscape.

Public Law and Regulatory Developments

Andersen has appointed Javier Toribio from Garrigues as a partner in its Seville office to bolster the firm’s expertise in public law and regulatory matters. Additionally, Jon Sebastián will lead the Public and Regulatory practice in the newly opened Bilbao office. Simmons & Simmons strengthened its public law practice with the addition of Daniel Vázquez from Dentons to lead the Environmental Law division.

Focus on Digital Law

Another key area where firms sought to strengthen their presence was technology law. ABG IP bolstered its patents division for Engineering, Physics, and Information Technologies at its Barcelona office with the addition of Lluís Vilalta in September. It also opened a new office in Valencia, that will be led by Jorge Ibor Millán, related to the region’s significant contributions to innovation. Another firm that reinforced its leadership in digital law was EJASO, which brought on Rodrigo López Crespo, from Monereo Meyer, to the Digital Law team led by partner Luis María Latasa. Also, Ecija named Jesús Rubí as a partner to strengthen the technology, data protection, and privacy practice.

New leadership in Iberia

In December, one of the most notable moves was announced by Fieldfisher, which appointed three new managing partners: Héctor Jausàs, a Life Sciences partner, will take on an institutional role as president, while Rodrigo Martos (Corporate M&A partner) and Talmac Bel (Employment partner) will jointly serve as executive managing partners.

Baker McKenzie named Mireia Sabaté as its new co-managing partner in Spain, succeeding Bruno Domínguez, who will continue leading the firm’s tax and private wealth practice in Barcelona. Mireia will share management responsibilities at the national level with Rodrigo Ogea.

Dentons stood out throughout 2024 for several significant moves, including appointing Kate Barton as its new Global CEO, replacing Elliott Portnoy, who had held the position since the firm’s launch in 2013. Jabier Badiola was reelected as Managing Partner of Dentons’ Spanish office, heading the firm in Spain for another three-year term, until December 31, 2027. He was also elected to serve on the firm’s European Board through June 30, 2026.

Global law firm Clifford Chance announced the appointment of Eduardo García as the new Managing Partner of its offices in Spain, effective September 1. He succeeds Jaime Velázquez, who served in this position for 11 years.

Christian Krause became Managing Partner of Monereo Meyer Abogados on January 1, 2024, though his appointment wasn’t announced until March 26. He replaces co-founder Stefan Meye, who served for three years and continues leading the Real Estate practice.

In other developments, international firm Pinsent Masons appointed Francisco Aldavero as Managing Partner of its Madrid office. Aldavero, who joined in September 2022, succeeds both Inmaculada Castelló and Fernando Gutiérrez.

Pérez-Llorca also unveiled its 2025 strategy by naming two executive partners in Spain: Julio Lujambio, oversee strategy and leadership in Spain, and Iván Delgado, responsible for building and managing the firm’s international strategy and operations.

At the start of this year, Andersen’s General Partners’ Meeting approved the election of José Vicente Morote as Managing Partner for Iberia, giving him sole responsibility after three years in a co-leadership role. He was also reelected Chairman of the Board of Directors.

Within this context, Fernando Navarro, who has been a partner at White & Case since 2019, took over from Juan Manuel de Remedios as head of the U.S. law firm’s Spanish office.

Eversheds Sutherland also brought on board Sonia de Zunzunegui, formerly Squire Patton Boggs’ Managing Director, as the new General Director of its Spanish office. Meanwhile, Javier Esteban Guzón joined Elzaburu as the new CIO (Chief Information Officer), to drive innovation, integrate technology into new business models, and introduce AI-based automation. Like Sonia, Javier is not a lawyer but holds a degree in Business Administration.

Lastly, the Board of Directors of ClarkeModet appointed María Garaña as the Global CEO of this leading intellectual property group, which has a strong presence in both Latin America and Europe.

Strategic Mergers in the Ibero-American region

One of the most representative mergers in the global legal sector was the merger of Allen & Overy LLP and Shearman & Sterling LLP, resulting in A&O Shearman, a firm with over 4,000 lawyers, including nearly 800 partners across 47 offices.

RocaJunyent has successfully integrated the Madrid-based law firm DJV Abogados, welcoming equity partners Pedro Navarrete González-Bueno (formerly DJV’s managing partner), Javier Fernández Alonso, Antonio Puerta Morales, and José M. Alcolea Díez, along with 30 professionals specializing in corporate and financial law, banking, and real estate litigation. Additionally, RocaJunyent expanded its Valencia services by incorporating EMHE Legal, a multidisciplinary firm providing legal counsel in commercial, insolvency, tax, labor, and criminal matters.

Ontier, led by managing partner Cristina Camarero and Executive President Pedro Rodero, strengthened its economic criminal law department with the integration of Bufete Trallero, that will be effective in January 2025. Alfonso Trallero and his team will join Berta Aguinaga’s existing criminal law practice.

The two Andalusian-origin firms Montero Aramburu and Gómez-Villares & Atencia have completed the integration process between both firms in April, giving rise to a staff of 360 people, and a dozen offices spread between Andalusia, the Canary Islands and Madrid.

In July, RRP Advogados merged with PLMJ. Ricardo Reigada Pereira, founder of RRP, became a real estate partner at PLMJ, co-coordinating the area alongside Francisco Lino Dias and Teresa Madeira Afonso. The new partner brought with him a team of lawyers to PLMJ’s Real Estate and Tax departments.

Looking Ahead to 2025

As the legal market evolves, firms are preparing for 2025 by attracting top talent, enhancing HR policies, consolidating expertise in high-demand areas like M&A, and strengthening client relationships. This strategic focus underscores the Iberian region’s commitment to innovation and adaptability in a competitive global landscape.

By Marília Gradin