Corporate/M&A: High-end Capability | Europe

Allen & Overy receives high praise for its capacity to take on high-end transactional work from offices in Madrid and Barcelona. The law firm often coordinates cross-border M&A transactions, including in regulated sectors such as infrastructure and energy. The law firm is demonstrably present in the biotech industry and is also often instructed by private equity funds on M&A deals.

Clifford Chance is a highly respected international firm handling complex corporate transactions in the Spanish market. It offers notable expertise in the infrastructure sector, including advising on joint investments. The team is experienced in advising on large telecoms and renewable energy transactions, regularly acting for an impressive range of listed corporates. It is particularly popular among international clients due to its strong cross-border capabilities and a leading acquisition finance team based locally in Madrid.

Garrigues has an extensive team with the capacity to offer a multidisciplinary approach to clients, with industry expertise covering renewable energy, telecommunications and healthcare. The law firm leverages the superb reputations of key individuals in Madrid and Barcelona to serve the corporate governance and transactional needs of clients. It has further experience in public M&A, including takeover bids, remaining a key partner for major banks, private equity funds and real estate investors engaging in M&A transactions, particularly those with a cross-border element. The team has the additional ability to structure high-end acquisitions for multiple co-investors. With offices in Latin American jurisdictions, China and the USA, Garrigues is well placed to assist clients with multi-jurisdictional transactions or at a local level outside of Spain.

Linklaters is an international powerhouse with a strong track record in large-scale public M&A deals, including takeover bids. The law firm acts for major Spanish and multinational companies, with significant knowledge of industries such as renewable energy, food and beverages, and pharmaceuticals. It boasts an impressive client roster including multinational investment banks and international and domestic private equity firms investing in Spain. Clients benefit from the ability of the department, as part of a full-service firm, to work in coordination with finance, public law, tax or real estate specialists, as well as its vast international network of offices.

Pérez-Llorca regularly acts on significant public M&A deals and on the Spanish aspects of high-value cross-border transactions including joint ventures, mergers and high-end takeover bids. The law firm boasts expertise in highly regulated sectors including infrastructure, telecommunications and financial services. The team offers a full-service approach with strong support from the firm's antitrust, finance and public law departments. It also leverages the support of offices and key partners in London and New York to assist with multi-jurisdictional mandates.

Uría Menéndez is an exceptional Spanish firm with a wide range of experience gained from exposure to some of the highest-profile M&A deals in the market, with expertise in carve-out operations, voluntary tender offers and corporate governance matters. The law firm has a strong reputation in key Latin American jurisdictions and coordinates multinational transactions across the continent. The department is adept at handling transactions in heavily regulated sectors including the energy, industrial and financial services industries as well as entertainment. The team draws further strength from a strong M&A team in Portugal to assist with cross-border transactions.

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.

Freshfields is a renowned international firm with a strong corporate practice that targets only the most complex or highest-value transactions. The law firm has a superb global reputation for M&A and reorganisations alongside proven experience in coordinating cross-border mandates with colleagues in Germany and London. It demonstrates particular strength in high-profile takeover bids and often assists foreign companies looking either to enter or exit the Spanish market, with notable success in attracting and retaining East Asian institutional investors as key clients. The team leverages the expertise of other departments to offer clients global advice, including antitrust, tax and finance.

Latham & Watkins handles high-value M&A transactions for US and Spanish companies, with a focus on matters with a cross-border element. The law firm has particular experience in mandates involving Latin America and Germany. It acts for private equity sponsors and their portfolio companies on acquisitions and carve-outs, also offering expertise in the telecommunications, healthcare and energy industries. The team is further experienced in handling joint ventures with international parties and leverages the support of finance, regulatory and tax experts to further assist clients.

Baker McKenzie advises both domestic and foreign companies on complex corporate transactions, benefiting from its reputation as a well-known international law firm with strong local market knowledge. The team regularly assists with inbound investments and public M&A as well as advising selling shareholders. The highly regarded partners based in Madrid and Barcelona have valuable experience in the healthcare and banking sectors. A cross-disciplinary approach and a broad international network are key assets of the department, which offers additional strength in corporate reorganisations and joint ventures as well as private equity-driven mandates.

Gómez-Acebo & Pombo has a strong international outlook thanks to the team's foreign expertise and multinational client base, which includes foreign corporates looking to invest in Spain. It provides corporate governance advice in addition to working on acquisitions, mergers and sales. The law firm has further expertise in corporate restructuring, with its experience also extending to transactions involving environmental issues. The team is noted for its cross-practice approach, regularly pooling multidisciplinary expertise to assist clients. Gómez-Acebo & Pombo offers experience in the technology and insurance sectors.

Herbert Smith Freehills frequently advises both foreign and domestic investors on cross-border M&A and joint ventures. Energy and infrastructure are significant areas of the firm's expertise, and it has further activity in the healthcare, manufacturing and hospitality sectors. The law firm brings together experience in corporate, acquisition finance and tax to advise on private equity transactions. The team showcases significant capability to assist with technological and telecoms acquisitions.

White & Case is an internationally renowned firm with strong cross-border capabilities in corporate transactions. The law firm coordinates with its wider network to handle the Spanish aspects of international M&A operations, including transactions in the payment services, energy and manufacturing sectors. The team has additional experience in the pharmaceutical and infrastructure industries.

CMS leverages its longstanding role as governance adviser for major Spanish corporates to attract roles on high-profile M&A and restructuring mandates. Its capabilities extend to advising on high-end cross-border joint ventures. CMS is particularly popular among leading Spanish infrastructure, telecommunications and energy clients; the team also acts for important foreign corporates and private equity funds. The law firm maintains strong ties to the German market thanks to the reputations both of its European offices and of its experienced Madrid-based partners as well.

DLA Piper has an experienced team assisting clients with corporate mandates, with a particular strength in cross-border transactions. The law firm is increasingly active on high-profile public M&A deals. DLA Piper also has expertise in regulated sectors including telecommunications, energy, real estate and life sciences. It also possesses experience handling acquisitions of NPLs. It represents a host of domestic and international funds, financial entities and foreign corporations.

Hogan Lovells remains a popular choice for foreign companies looking to invest in Spain, thanks to the firm's strong cross-border capabilities. The team demonstrates international experience in mandates involving the USA, Latin America, Germany and France. Industry expertise encompasses retail, consumables and energy. The lawyers offer further support on transnational co-investments, drawing strength from the firm's full-service offering to assist with antitrust, IP or tax issues.

Dentons is a renowned corporate and transaction practice that has notable experience acting for private equity and investment funds, as well as energy companies. It demonstrates a strong track record of advising multinational corporates on a range of transactions, including in the real estate and industrial sectors. The team provides additional experience advising clients on acquisitions in Latin America and across Europe.

Pinsent Masons is adept at assisting international and domestic private equity firms and IBEX 35-listed companies with small to mid-cap M&A. The law firm's industry expertise covers the technology, healthcare and financial services sectors, and also offers advice on shareholder agreements. The team has significant experience advising on cross-border mandates.