Latham & Watkins LLP > Madrid, Spain > Firm Profile
Latham & Watkins LLP Offices
Plaza de la Independencia, 6
Madrid 28001
Spain
Latham & Watkins LLP > The Legal 500 Rankings
Spain > Banking and finance Tier 2
Led by Fernando Colomina, the finance department at Latham & Watkins LLP attracts high-profile instructions from a varied client roster comprised of domestic and international financial institutions and corporations. Typical mandates for the team include high-value asset-backed and acquisition financings, project finance, and refinancings of debt. Colomina possesses significant experience in lender and borrower-side work, covering banking, finance, refinancing and restructuring matters. The latter is a specialism of Pedro de Rojas, who routinely assists companies, investors and financial institutions in leveraged deals, corporate finance and restructuring processes. Cross-border debt restructurings and investment funds-related matters are key areas of activity for Luis Sánchez.Practice head(s):
Fernando Colomina; Pedro de Rojas
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘Great team.’
‘Luis Sánchez is recommended.’
‘I highlight the extensive involvement of Fernando Colomina and his team to avoid any problem during the transaction and his good management of it throughout the entire process.’
‘Both technically and personally they are magnificent professionals; Luis Sánchez stands out.’
Spain > Commercial, corporate and M&A Tier 2
Latham & Watkins LLP, which has recently made waves in the Spanish M&A market with the hiring of dealmaker Alejandro Ortiz from Linklaters in September 2022, is prepared to handle high-end M&A on behalf of household name clients from the worlds of telecoms, energy, healthcare, private equity and infrastructure, among other sectors. The team possesses a ‘practical and complete transactional vision‘ which is ‘complemented by a strong legal knowledge of commercial, corporate and M&A matters‘. The group is jointly led by María José Descalzo, a key contact for energy and infrastructure-related deals, and Ignacio Pallarés, who excels in cross-border divestitures and acquisitions involving public and private entities. Ignacio Gómez-Sancha is adept at assisting with M&A, capital markets, takeovers and restructuring matters, while Jose Antonio Sánchez Dafos stands out for his strong track record in PE and venture capital investments in Iberia.Practice head(s):
María José Descalzo; Ignacio Pallarés
Other key lawyers:
Ignacio Gómez-Sancha; José Antonio Sánchez Dafos; Alejandro Ortiz
Testimonials
‘Seamless interaction between offices and practice areas, wide range of specialty areas covered.’
‘A team with a very practical and complete transactional vision that is complemented by a strong legal knowledge of commercial, corporate and M&A matters. ’
‘Not only does their extensive legal knowledge and experience in the matter differentiate them, but their orientation towards achieving the best transactional negotiation makes them the perfect team for large-scale and complex deals. In addition, the team has a close relationship that creates a very good working environment with clients. Immediate availability, efficiency and quick response are other factors that make them stand out. I particularly recommend Ignacio Pallarés and María José Descalzo.’
‘All the lawyers we have spoken with were completely up to date not only with the legislation that applies to our sector and specific problems, but also with regard to the expected standards. The level of collaboration between lawyers from different geographical regions for international transactions is also incredible.’
Spain > EU and competition Tier 2
Praised for the 'proactive, flexible and international nature of its competition team', Latham & Watkins LLP is retained by a host of national and international companies seeking legal support in merger clearances at the domestic and European level, antitrust investigations, and private enforcement actions. State aid matters and litigation are other areas of expertise for the team, which is led by José María Jiménez-Laiglesia, a key contact for financial institutions and private equity firms looking for representation before the competition authorities. A range of Spanish and international clients regularly turn to Carlos Betoret for assistance with conduct investigations. The team also draws on the support of various competition law professionals based in Brussels.Practice head(s):
José María Jiménez-Laiglesia
Other key lawyers:
Carlos Betoret; María Martínez
Testimonials
‘Trust, simplicity and clarity combined with expertise.’
‘Carlos Betoret has demonstrated great commercial and technical skills in presenting the issues proposed between the teams of both companies. Both in the professional treatment in the different calls and in the communications and documentation received. ’
‘Without a doubt, the high degree of knowledge about our company and the activity we carry out in the market makes this office the best positioned to work with us. Without forgetting the degree of commitment and the high level of work always delivered. I would especially highlight José María Jiménez-Laiglesia and Carlos Betoret.’
‘The proactive, flexible and international nature of its competition team stands out.’
‘It would highlight Carlos Betoret as a “rising star”.’
Key clients
Repsol
Vodaphone
KKR
CVC
Platinum Energy
Telefonica
Ferrovial
Viasat
Logisa
Urbaser
Iberdrola
CEPSA
Atlantic Copper
ArchiMed Group
Karnov Group
TA Associates
Paper Excellence
Vivalto Group
Spain > Private equity Tier 2
Noted for providing ‘a holistic service covering all potential angles in a transaction', Latham & Watkins LLP‘s Madrid-based private equity practice acts for a stellar client roster comprised of leading global investment funds, PE houses and multinational corporations. With extensive expertise in both sale and buy-side mandates, the team handles big-ticket investments in a wide range of sectors, including manufacturing, real estate, technology and financial services. Department head Ignacio Pallarés, a key point of contact for several of the firm’s most significant PE clients, leverages his international experience to advise on high-end divestments and acquisitions across Europe, North America, Asia and Latin America. In addition to his solid credentials in the PE market, Jose Antonio Sánchez Dafos is a reference for venture capital deals in Iberia. Alejandro Ortiz, who joined from Linklaters in September 2022, has a proven track record in leveraged buyouts and exits.Practice head(s):
Ignacio Pallarés
Other key lawyers:
Ignacio Gómez-Sancha; José Antonio Sánchez Dafos; Alejandro Ortiz
Testimonials
‘Strong team, highly collaborative, very impressive commitment from senior partners and very strong delivery. Working with Latham & Watkins Spain is always a pleasure. They have delivered strong innovation leveraging unusual structures that were critical to the transaction. ’
‘We have the impression that senior partners are always on top of matters. The multidisciplinary team provides a holistic service covering all potential angles in a transaction (litigation, antitrust, financing, etc.).’
Spain > Restructuring and insolvency Tier 2
Latham & Watkins LLP‘s restructuring and special situations practice excels in handling cases involving complex financing structures and capital market instruments. The team provides regulatory advice on business restructurings, debt refinancings, distressed M&A, and insolvency litigation; it offers guidance under Spanish, UK, and New York law, frequently collaborating with its global offices. Pedro de Rojas leads the practice, and serves as a key contact for debtors, creditors, and investors with a focus on cross-border restructurings. Other key figures include Ignacio Gómez-Sancha, who specialises in high-value restructurings and special situations, Óscar Franco, an expert in insolvency disputes, and Fernando Colomina, whose wide-ranging practice spans banking, finance, and restructuring transactions.Practice head(s):
Pedro de Rojas
Other key lawyers:
Ignacio Gómez-Sancha; Óscar Franco; Fernando Colomina; Luis Sánchez; Carmen Alonso
Spain > Tax Tier 2
The tax practice at Latham & Watkins LLP advises across a range of transactional tax issues, including those arising from M&A transactions, capital markets offerings, structured finance, as well as banking and restructuring matters. The team is particularly well positioned to assist with international mandates, frequently collaborating with the firm’s offices in the US, London, and continental Europe. Jordi Domínguez - a key point of call for sponsors, financial institutions, and multinational corporates for cross-border tax issues - co-leads the team with Iván Rabanillo, who is triple-qualified in Spain, Brazil, and New York, and focuses on the structuring of high-end M&A, private equity and financing transactions. Associate Blanca Vázquez de Castro is also noted for her expertise in the real estate, telecoms, and financial services industries.Practice head(s):
Jordi Domínguez; Iván Rabanillo
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘Interlocution with the team is very simple and their response is immediate. The knowledge of tax practice is broad in nature, which allows them to relate various matters that could be connected.’
‘Personalised follow-up.’
Spain > Capital markets: Equity Tier 3
Spain > Real estate and construction Tier 3
With corporate finance partner Rafael Molina at the helm, the real estate group at Latham & Watkins LLP offers expertise in corporate real estate matters, attracting instructions from a host of investment funds, international investors and financial institutions. Key support is provided by Veronika Miskovichova, who has a wealth of experience in real estate M&A, including NPL and REO portfolio deals. According to clients, the duo is ‘a perfect tandem to bring any real estate transaction to a successful conclusion’.Practice head(s):
Rafael Molina
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘Pro-active and very commercial on issues.’
‘The team led by Rafael Molina is the most technical and imaginative in the market. Our problems are solved with an always commercial approach that helps us in negotiations with counterparties.’
‘The L&W real estate team is second to none. Enormous work capacity and excellent quality. They are imaginative in proposing solutions. They spend time understanding the client’s needs, the reason why the deal is being made so as not to lose sight of the commercial component.’
‘I have worked with Rafael Molina (Partner) and Veronika Miskovichova (Senior Associate) mainly. A perfect tandem to bring any real estate transaction to a successful conclusion.’
Key clients
Activum SG Iberia
Apollo Management International
Arcano Partners
Avenue Capital
Bank of America Merrill Lynch
Blackbrook Capital
Cerberus Capital Management
Fortress Investment Group
Goldman Sachs
Hyatt Hotels Corporation
KKR
Pradera
Savills
Spain > Dispute resolution Tier 5
Latham & Watkins LLP represents clients in all types of commercial disputes, including private equity, investment funds, and restructuring and insolvency-related litigation. It is also adept at handling arbitration matters, advising on breach of service and share purchase agreements. The team, which is led by Óscar Franco, has secured instructions from a wide range of international clients that include private equity houses, funds, and corporates. Also of note, Roberto Muñoz handles business-critical matters, frequently appearing before Spanish courts and various institutional arbitration venues, such as the ICC, CIMA, and SCC.Practice head(s):
Óscar Franco
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘The level of attention and quality of work. Very executive and effective.’
Latin America: International firms > Corporate and M&A
Latham & Watkins LLP has a highly integrated Latin America practice with many team members crossing various disciplines at the same time as having high levels of core specialisation. Over the years, it has advanced to the forefront of energy and infrastructure transactions in the region, which now includes growth areas such as renewables and energy transition. While it has historically focused on investments going into Latin America, it is now increasingly active in cross-border transactions into North America by businesses in Brazil, Mexico, Chile and other jurisdictions. Moreover, it is leveraging its status as a leader in start-ups and emerging companies to target this sector in Latin America; it advised Avenir Growth Capital on its $111m Series B funding of Chile-based Xepelin, a provider of B2B payments and financial services for SMBs in Latin America. New York partner Antonio Del Pino, global chair of the Latin America practice, has an outstanding record in M&A and private equity transactions. Madrid’s Ignacio Pallarés has a long history of representing Spanish corporates in their investments in Latin America. Washington DC’s Carlos Ardila, a Colombian native, was promoted to partner in January 2023; he has impressive experience in corporate transactions and financings. Dual-qualified (Argentina/New York) associate Francisco J Lanusse is one-to-watch.Practice head(s):
Antonio Del Pino
Testimonials
‘The work of Antonio Del Pino and his team is highly specialised, they have very complete specialists in different areas and an absolute level of commitment to the client.’
‘Thorough knowledge of their areas of expertise and especially of operations in Latin America.’
‘An experienced team with a great ability to negotiate successfully and a very quick response to customer needs. They were able to put together a team to take on a transaction that was negotiated in less than two weeks, very efficiently and quickly.’
‘All of the firm’s attorneys displayed in-depth knowledge of their practice areas and were able to resolve all sensitive points in the transaction very quickly; there was a special dedication from the team of specialised contracts for manufacturing, the commercialisation of products and intellectual property, which demonstrated great capacity. Antonio del Pino is an extraordinary partner, who transmits calm, is very rational and focused on results, and a great negotiator. He knows what the points to deliver are, and which issues are critical. He had a very quick and efficient response time. Francisco Lanusse is a great associate, with a great capacity for work, who knows all the issues of M&A transactions perfectly, and is very dedicated and extraordinary in negotiating contracts.’
‘The LW team has a very strong M&A practice, with extraordinary professionals. They have a great ability to work in cross-border operations, with a diverse staff that has roots in Latin America — certainly on the operations in which I have interacted with them. The integration of their team helps a lot in these types of operations.’
‘I would highlight Tony del Pino and Javier Stark. Very keen to find solutions and get deals done.’
‘Latham has a great M&A team led by Tony del Pino. Tony, in particular, has great skill and astuteness as a negotiator, avoiding unnecessary clashes and tailoring the direction of the negotiation to meet the client’s interests, without creating unnecessary tension. A wise and cunning negotiator. This sets them apart from other law firms in NY, which negotiate with more intensity.’
‘Latham’s M&A team has the support and depth of the entire firm, with highly specialised and sophisticated areas. In one operation, in the energy area, a negotiation was achieved in record time, with the support of various teams of specialists in the firm. The leadership of Tony del Pino is fundamental. We have also had a very positive interaction with Carlos Ardila.’
Key clients
Global Infrastructure Partners
Tresalia Capital
SierraCol Energy Limited
Octal Holding & Co
Telefónica
Paracel
Softys
AME Holding
ArcLight Capital
Vivalto Santé
Triumph Modular
PopUP Design
ParaFi Capital
Repsol
BHP Billiton Petroleum
Marlin Equity Partners
Emergent Cold LatAm Management
Work highlights
- Advised Global Infrastructure Partners on its acquisition of Atlas Renewable Energy (a clean energy company that develops, builds, and operates solar and wind projects in Latin America), from private equity firm Actis.
- Advised Telefónica Colombia on the sale of a 60% stake in its Fiber-to-the-Home infrastructure business to KKR.
- Advised AME Holding on the investment in HIF Global (a Chile-based developer of carbon-neutral eFuels projects), by Porsche, EIG, AME, Baker Hughes, and Gemstone Investments.
Latham & Watkins LLP > Firm Profile
The firm: Latham & Watkins is a leading international law firm serving multinational companies, start-ups, investment banks, private equity funds, venture capital firms, sovereign wealth funds, governments and other organisations. The firm’s global platform spans Asia, Europe, the Middle East and the US, and consists of internationally recognised practices across a wide spectrum of transactional, litigation, corporate and regulatory areas. Latham’s lawyers offer unrivalled legal resources and strategic commercial thinking to provide clients with innovative solutions to complex business and legal matters.
Lawyers here represent Spanish companies, private equity firms and financial institutions in inbound and outbound transactions and disputes, as well as acting for international companies conducting business throughout Spain and the Iberian Peninsula. The Spanish practice, primarily focusing on M&A, private equity, capital markets, litigation, administrative and regulatory, tax, and antitrust and competition, plays a critical role in Latham’s ability to serve clients worldwide.
The Spanish practice not only draws its strength from the expertise of the lawyers in Spain, but also includes the experience of lawyers based in offices around the world who have significant experience representing entities with Spanish interests. In addition, the Spanish team works closely with the firm’s Latin American practice group to facilitate transactions throughout Latin America.
Areas of practice: Lawyers in Latham’s Spanish M&A and finance practice have broad experience in cross-border M&A transactions involving Spanish companies and non-Spanish companies doing business in Spain, including company acquisitions, advice on excluding tender offers and/or extending European-based tender offers to the US market and arranging public financing. The private equity team has broad experience advising on a full range of transactions, from seed and early-stage capital situations to leveraged buyouts, PIPEs, growth equity investments, spin-outs, rollups, take-privates of established companies, and lately, restructurings and other distress-related transactions, in national or cross-border deals.
Latham & Watkins’ Spanish capital markets lawyers advise on domestic and international aspects of capital markets transactions, as well as on regulatory and corporate governance issues. This is an advantage for their clients when advising on international transactions, and the ability to play a dual role distinguishes the firm from most others in Spain.
Latham & Watkins has one of the strongest litigation and regulatory practices in Spain. Lawyers in this practice have vast experience in litigation and dispute resolution, as well as experience advising clients in national and cross-border arbitration proceedings. They have worked on projects and transactions related to public and administrative law, including matters such as energy, water regulation, transport, telecommunications, administrative proceedings, environmental and, in general, all matters where public administration is involved.
Latham & Watkins’ Spanish tax practice includes a team of highly regarded lawyers specialising in transactional tax, international tax, tax planning and tax structuring of cross-border M&A, capital markets offerings and restructuring transactions. Latham’s Spanish tax lawyers regularly advise companies listed in the Ibex 35 index, Spanish companies and multinational groups, private equity funds, investment funds, venture capital firms and financial institutions on a wide range of domestic and cross-border transactional tax matters.
Main Contacts
Department | Name | Telephone | |
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Corporate M&A | |||
Capital markets | |||
Litigation | |||
Tax | |||
Antitrust and competition | |||
Finance |
Lawyer Profiles
Photo | Name | Position | Profile |
---|---|---|---|
José María Alonso | José María Alonso advises clients on the regulatory aspects of complex corporate… | View Profile | |
José María Alonso | José María Alonso advises clients on the regulatory aspects of complex corporate… | View Profile | |
Carlos Betoret | Carlos Betoret is an associate in the Madrid office of Latham &… | View Profile | |
Fernando Colomina | Fernando Colomina advises borrowers and lenders on complex financing structures in cross-border… | View Profile | |
María José Descalzo | María José Descalzo represents Spanish and international clients on complex transactions, particularly… | View Profile | |
Jordi Domínguez | Jordi Domínguez advises Spanish and multinational clients on the full spectrum of… | View Profile | |
Carmen Esteban | Carmen Esteban advises global private equity funds and multinational companies on their… | View Profile | |
Óscar Franco | Óscar Franco is a partner in Latham & Watkins’ Madrid office and… | View Profile | |
Ignacio Gómez-Sancha | Ignacio Gómez-Sancha, Managing Partner of the Madrid office of Latham & Watkins,… | View Profile | |
José-Maria Jiménez-Laiglesia | View Profile | ||
José María Jiménez-Laiglesia | José María Jiménez-Laiglesia represents Spanish and international clients before Spanish and EU… | View Profile | |
Luis Manuel Lozano | Luis Lozano counsels Spanish and international clients on sophisticated M&A and private… | View Profile | |
Ms Veronika Miskovichova | Veronika Miskovichova advises large clients on private equity transactions with a real… | View Profile | |
Rafael Molina | Rafael Molina represents Spanish and international clients in their most sophisticated transactions… | View Profile | |
Mr Roberto Muñoz | Roberto Muñoz is an associate in the Madrid office of Latham &… | View Profile | |
Alejandro Ortiz | Alejandro Ortiz advises clients on their most valuable mergers and acquisitions and… | View Profile | |
Ignacio Pallarés | Ignacio Pallarés advises private equity funds and leading Spanish companies on all… | View Profile | |
Ivan Rabanillo | Ivan Rabanillo advises clients on Spanish and international tax aspects of cutting-edge… | View Profile | |
Naiara Rodríguez-Escudero | Naiara Rodríguez-Escudero leads the Benefits, Compensation & Employment Practice in Madrid and… | View Profile | |
Guillermo Ruiz de Salazar | Guillermo Ruiz de Salazar advises Spanish and international companies, private equity firms,… | View Profile | |
Mr Luis Sánchez | Luis Sánchez Mendez represents domestic and international clients in a range of… | View Profile | |
José Antonio Sánchez-Dafos | José Antonio Sánchez-Dafos advises clients on cross-border M&A and private equity transactions,… | View Profile | |
Blanca Vázquez de Castro | Blanca Vázquez de Castro represents large Spanish corporates and global private equity… | View Profile | |
Pedro de Rojas | Mr. de Rojas leverages his deep knowledge of the restructuring process and… | View Profile |
Staff Figures
Number of lawyers : 2,600+Languages
English French German Italian Portuguese SpanishOther
Other offices : Barcelona Other offices : Beijing Other offices : Boston Other offices : Brussels Other offices : Century City Other offices : Chicago Other offices : Dubai Other offices : Düsseldorf Other offices : Frankfurt Other offices : Hamburg Other offices : Hong Kong Other offices : Houston Other offices : London Other offices : Los Angeles Other offices : Milan Other offices : Moscow Other offices : Munich Other offices : New Jersey Other offices : New York Other offices : Orange County Other offices : Paris Other offices : Riyadh Other offices : Rome Other offices : San Diego Other offices : San Francisco Other offices : Seoul Other offices : Shanghai Other offices : Silicon Valley Other offices : Singapore Other offices : Tokyo Other offices : Washington DCLegal Briefings
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