Bio

Javier Illescas became Group Head of Legal at Banco Santander in 2024, having been with the Bank since 2012, including as Group Head of Business Legal and Group Head of Corporate Legal.

Prior to joining the Bank in 2012, Javier was a corporate finance partner with Spanish law firm Uría Menéndez, then based in the Madrid office. Javier also did a stint in the firm’s Buenos Aires office from 2001 to 2002 and a secondment to the New York office of Davis Polk in 2006. Whilst with Uría Menendez, his practice focused on M&A, banking and finance, and capital markets, all with a special emphasis on cross-border work.

Javier is a Spanish national, admitted to practice in Spain, and holds a double degree in Law and Business Administration from ICADE- Universidad Pontificia Comillas in Madrid, where he also lectures on corporate and commercial law.