Corporate/M&A - Spain
What the team is known for
Cuatrecasas is recognised as a national powerhouse for its industry knowledge. The team regularly acts across a range of sectors, from renewable energy to telecommunications. The law firm acts on a huge volume of high-value and mid-cap transactions through leading offices in Barcelona, Madrid and numerous smaller Spanish cities. Cross-border matters remain a particular area of expertise, with notable recent success in attracting roles on both inbound and outbound investments between Spain, Mexico and other Latin American countries. The law firm frequently assists with joint venture agreements or private equity-led transactions.
Foreign desks
Sandra Costas in Shanghai, Omar Puertas dividing his time between Shanghai and Barcelona and Pablo Cubel working in Beijng and Valencia lead a team of Spanish-qualified lawyers based in both Shanghai and Beijing. The team assists Spanish corporates and Chinese investors with corporate restructurings, cross-border M&A and the structuring of new joint ventures.
Pere Kirchner in Barcelona, Juan Aguayo in Madrid and Hélène Baus in Madrid and Casablanca are key members of the firm's French desk. The Spanish offices advise Iberian companies on their operations in France, as well as French companies investing or engaging in business activities on the Iberian Peninsula.
The firm's German desk is headed by Kai Fischer dividing his time between Barcelona and Madrid as well as Andreas Trost and Gregor Erlebach in Barcelona. The lawyers advise German institutional investors and industrial companies on cross-border transactions in which the target company has significant Spanish assets or business operations.
Spain-based partners have close ties to significant Latin American clients and can leverage important local law capabilities spread across supporting offices or affiliates in Brazil, Mexico and Colombia. Dividing his time between Madrid and Bogotá, Alfonso Reina is a key contact for the region.
Strengths
"Cuatrecasas combines strong functional knowledge with business understanding and great client management."
"They are fully dedicated to their client and the deal. They showed a great work capacity and willingness to close a deal."
"They are very trustworthy. I am very happy with the firm."
"They understand the clients' interests well and their worries."
"They handle things and lead us by the hand instead of us needing to push. They guide us."
Work highlights
Cuatrecasas advised Bain Capital, which is leading a consortium of companies, on the acquisition of ITP Aero from Rolls-Royce valued at EUR1.6 billion.
Notable practitioners
Federico Roig is experienced in handling cross-border joint ventures for private equity houses. He has notable experience in energy investments. "I like working with him a lot. He has a lot of energy and understands our needs very well. He provides good, fast and effective solutions."
Javier Villasante advises private equity funds on international acquisitions involving Latin America and the USA. "I think that he has the quality of relaxing the ambience. It’s quite beneficial for the negotiations at all levels and for both parties." "When I need a quick answer for a very specific doubt, he can give me advice in five minutes about a potential situation."
Juan Aguayo is experienced in handling cross-border joint ventures and M&A transactions for private equity houses. He is active in deals in the energy sector. His clients also benefit from his know-how of ECM. "Juan is a lawyer who inspires confidence. He is a seasoned professional. His experience is unquestionable."
Diana Rivera progresses in the rankings this year due to strong market and client support. She is well placed to assist tech and private equity clients with venture capital transactions as well as acquisitions of startup companies. "Diana Rivera is a very good negotiator. She looks out for the client's interests but also looks for solutions that come up in the transaction." "She has an eye for detail and business needs. It's a pleasure working with her." "Her service and client treatment is excellent. She gives us absolute confidence."
José Luis Rodríguez enters the rankings this year in recognition of his work on high-end M&A transactions for clients in the energy, financial and real estate sectors. He is a co-head of Cuatrecasas' corporate department in Spain. "He has a deep understanding of the economic implications of our deals and the impact of the potential steps to be taken." "He stands out in flexibility and making things easy." "He's very calm. He listens very carefully." "He provides us with an in-between, common-sense viewpoint. You don't have to win every battle."
Mariano Ucar moves up the rankings this year. He is well placed to act on transactions within regulated industries. "He has availability and a good understanding of how the counterparties behave. He manages things very well. He's a resilient adviser." "He knows how to get up to speed quickly on complex matters and also how to explain them simply."
Managing partner Antonio Baena operates from the firm's New York offices and has substantial experience advising on private equity and M&A transactions in Europe and Latin America.
Kai Christian Fischer splits his time between Spain and Germany advising German corporates on cross-border transactions in the Iberian market.