Employment: Elite | Europe

The international law firm Baker McKenzie's employment team is sought after by prominent domestic and multinational clients from the automotive, technology, pharmaceutical and retail sectors. Its elite team is particularly well placed to handle complex collective dismissal procedures and collective bargaining agreements. Subsequent collective litigation challenging the closure of plants and industrial sites is also effectively handled by Baker McKenzie. Furthermore, the team assists with whistle-blowing investigations, labour inspections and compliance audits. Complex individual dismissals, especially those of top executives, also fall within the law firm's excellent service offering. Additionally, the team assists with temporary measures on behalf of international companies. It harbours further expertise in the design of equality and remuneration plans. With its strong international network, Baker McKenzie is well placed to assist with local employment laws across multiple jurisdictions, benefiting Spanish companies that operate on a global scale.

Across its offices in Madrid, Barcelona and other Spanish cities, Cuatrecasas boasts an impressive employment law department. This elite practice advises on salary reduction programmes, collective bargaining agreements and also handles the implementation of redundancy plans as a result of the loss of commercial contracts. Large corporations benefit from the law firm's experience designing new policies for working conditions, including in cases that are collectively contested by unions through court proceedings. Furthermore, the law firm advises on M&A and restructuring-related employment mandates. Its clientele comprises domestic and international players from the finance, manufacturing, energy and retail sectors.

The Spanish law firm Garrigues is renowned for its excellence in employment mandates, often catering for a diverse clientele from the banking, insurance and telecommunications sectors. The team is frequently instructed to handle large-scale collective redundancies, advising on negotiations with trade unions and local or European works councils on high-profile matters involving the closure of travel agencies, offices and manufacturing plants. Garrigues has been further involved in assisting corporates with furlough schemes. Collective bargaining agreements are often handled by the law firm, as are employee restructurings, while also supporting employers in subsequent mediation or litigation where unions seek to oppose new measures. Clients also benefit from a huge team of lawyers spread across multiple offices, which enables the law firm both to provide sufficient resources for major matters and to offer local expertise on smaller contentious mandates. With its prowess in defending high-value claims brought by top executives, Garrigues complements its excellent offering.

Employment boutique law firm Sagardoy is widely considered one of Spain's top addresses for comprehensive labour law advice. High-calibre domestic and international companies from the banking, healthcare, pharmaceutical and retail sectors often seek the law firm's assistance with complex cases. A particular strength lies in company restructurings and new collective agreements that entail complex negotiations with trade unions or works councils. Redundancies and collective dismissals are handled effectively by the team, as are collective employee transfers and transactional mandates. Sagardoy is also experienced in the drafting and implementation of new working conditions policies. Furthermore, clients benefit from the law firm's prowess in handling litigation pertaining to employment status disputes.

Across its various offices in Spain, Uría Menéndez houses a highly reputed employment practice. Prominent domestic and international corporates from the transport, banking and public sectors seek the law firm's advice on collective redundancy procedures, bargaining agreements and workforce restructurings. The team is additionally well equipped to handle terminations of executives' contracts, often involving court and out-of-court negotiations. Litigation in front of the nation's highest courts also falls within Uría Menéndez's expertise. Clients likewise benefit from the law firm's extensive experience in handling labour inspectorate investigations and infringement proceedings that often deal with complex questions as to the employment status of workers. Another strength is in employment law questions pertaining to M&A transactions.

The boutique law firm Abdón Pedrajas assists clients across its offices in Madrid and Barcelona with complex employment mandates, further aided by the law firm's international reach. Its teams often advise on collective and individual dismissals, including those of top executives, as well as collective claims brought by trade unions. In addition, clients benefit from the law firm's strength in employee transfers and classification cases. Furthermore, Abdón Pedrajas handles the suspension of employment contracts and furlough schemes. The team is particularly praised for its ability to serve the local needs of companies that have numerous sites across Spain.

The Spanish law firm Pérez-Llorca houses a renowned employment team in its office in Madrid. Major Spanish employers often seek the law firm's assistance with comprehensive collective employment matters ranging from lay-offs and redundancies to collective bargaining agreements, including flexibility in working hours. Furthermore, the team assists with the design and implementation of incentive and equality plans and is well versed in handling internal investigations. Clients also benefit from the law firm's strength in litigation, often representing corporates against compensation claims brought by former top executives as well as collective disputes.

Ceca Magán Abogados is a boutique law firm with notable expertise in employment law mandates across Spain. The team is particularly active on collective dismissals, large lay-offs and subsequent collective bargaining agreements as well as related litigation. The handling of disputes over individual dismissals, with notable experience on both the employer and employee sides, further strengthens the law firm's offering. Furthermore, the law firm assists clients with workplace injury claims and labour inspections, as well as the implementation of equality and incentive plans. Ceca Magán complements its offering with its strength in transactional employment mandates.

The employment team at DLA Piper assists prominent national and international corporates with often complex employment mandates in Spain. Temporary lay-offs and redundancy procedures are regularly handled by its team, often acting for well-known clients from the retail and hospitality sectors. DLA Piper is also highly active in contentious issues, with a particularly strong caseload relating to individual terminations. Defending sanctions proceedings and civil claims relating to workplace accidents and assisting with harassment investigations also fall within the law firm's expertise. With its strength in the labour aspects of M&A transactions and restructurings, DLA Piper complements its offering.

The law firm Simmons & Simmons houses a reputable employment law practice in Spain. The team is experienced in advising on a variety of labour issues arising from the closure of business plants affecting a large number of workers. The harmonisation of working conditions and the design of internal policies also form part of the law firm's offering. Simmons & Simmons is further respected for its ability in complex terminations and dismissals of top executives as well as their hiring. Clients also benefit from the law firm's experience in works council negotiations.

International law firm A&O Shearman often assists the Spanish subsidiaries of international clients from the banking, automotive and transport sectors with a range of ongoing and standalone employment law matters. The team is experienced in handling collective redundancies, the dismissal of senior executives and compliance procedures. Similarly, clients benefit from the law firm's expertise in M&A-related employment mandates. The law firm additionally handles litigation brought by former executives. Investment funds also belong to A&O Shearman's client roster, boosted by its international office network.

Due to its international presence, the law firm Deloitte Legal is well placed to handle international advisory projects requiring Spanish employment expertise. The team is experienced in handling collective dismissal procedures and temporary lay-offs as well as corporate reorganisations. Further strength lies in the negotiation of collective bargaining agreements, immigration matters and equality plans. The law firm also assists with social security and employment litigation, as well as with the due diligence of M&A transactions. Its client roster features domestic and international players from the telecommunications, banking and hospitality sectors.