Ms Lourdes Ayala > Bird & Bird > Madrid, Spain > Lawyer Profile

Singled out for its strong track record in tech-focused transactions, Bird & Bird also handles M&A, spin-offs, joint ventures and corporate restructurings across the life sciences, real estate, energy, healthcare and automotive sectors. The group is a popular choice for domestic and international clients, including small to medium-sized enterprises, investors and entrepreneurs. Practice head Lourdes Ayala specialises in M&A, venture capital and private equity transactions, while Alberto Rodriguez stands out for his work in deals involving the tech, gaming, e-sports and life sciences sectors.

Focused on three core areas, namely venture capital, venture debt and corporate venture capital, Bird & Bird‘s practice is adept at advising investors, start-ups, scaleups and CVCs on fundraising and investment rounds, and venture debt financings, with a particular emphasis on the tech and IT sectors. With extensive experience in the VC space, co-head Lourdes Ayala advises fast-growing companies and investors on the life cycle of investments. Fellow co-head José Luis Lorente focuses on fintech matters, while Alberto Rodriguez is the name to note for search fund mandates.

Bird & Bird offers food and beverage clients a ‘one-stop-shop’ for a wide range of legal services, including competition, intellectual property, data protection, and transactional matters. Lourdes Ayala leads the corporate and M&A department, while Antonio Cueto handles IP issues. Manuel Lobato and Mariano Santos are also experts in IP issues, with Lobato specialising in patent litigation and Santos focusing on trade mark prosecution. Santiago Lardies oversees the private equity practice.

Singled out for its key focus on new technologies, the multidisciplinary team at Bird & Bird offers market-leading advice to companies from the retail sector. The team is skilled at handling a wide range of matters, including IP, M&A, real estate and distribution agreements. Lourdes Ayala, head of the corporate, M&A and venture capital department, has a strong following of companies from the fashion and luxury goods sectors. Antonio Cueto provides expert IP advice and is a key contact for global fashion brands. Diana Sendagorta draws on her extensive experience in M&A, private equity and venture capital matters to advise clients on national and international transactions.

Bird & Bird handles the full range of employment and corporate mandates, in addition to acting in patent infringement and unfair competition proceedings. Coral Yáñez is a regulatory expert who often acts in judicial reviews. Manuel Lobato is a key name for patent and SPC litigation, while seasoned IP litigator José Miguel Lissén focuses on FRAND litigation. Lourdes Ayala has a great deal of expertise in financing issues and M&A, and Miguel Pastur routinely handles employment matters within the healthcare and life sciences spaces.