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 IT. 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 and is further equipped to handle transactions with acquirers in East Asia.
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
"Their experience, flexibility and commitment are highly appreciated and valuable for our projects. The partners of Cuatrecasas perform extremely well in high-pressure situations and can deal with a wide range of problems."
"The team offers a good balance between legal and commercial approaches when facing legal issues in a transaction."
Work highlights
Cuatrecasas assisted Vinci with the EUR4.9 billion acquisition of the energy business of ACS.
Notable practitioners
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.
Barcelona-based Raimundo Segura is well versed in handling investment and M&A transactions for international clients. "Raimundo Segura is very responsive and has a strong commercial vision."
Barcelona-based Alejandro Payá advises domestic clients on joint ventures with international partners. "Alejandro Payá is a creative and practical adviser."
Mariano Ucar is well placed to act on transactions within regulated industries. "Mariano Ucar is results-driven with the right balance between legal and commercial approach, proposing actionable strategies to support a deal." "He is particularly strong in his focus on closing deals." "Mariano Ucar had a complex deal with a lot of ups and downs. He succeeded in staying calm and constructive during the process. He was always trying to understand and explain the positions."
Javier Villasante advises private equity funds on international acquisitions involving Latin America and the USA.
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.
Federico Roig is experienced in handling cross-border joint ventures for private equity houses. He has notable experience in energy investments.
Diana Rivera enters the M&A rankings this year due to strong market 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 lawyer. She is specialised in startups."
Víctor Xercavins is a long-standing practitioner within the Barcelona corporate market. He regularly represents clients in complex cross-border transactions, acting for both international investors and shareholders.