Described as a ‘true specialist in the construction sector’, Alfonso Aguirre Díaz-Guardamino serves as the business legal director for Sacyr Vallehermoso, a diversified group which engages in the construction, real estate, contracting, property-owning and industrial sectors. Aguirre has been instrumental to the close alignment of the company’s legal department with other business units, promoting the importance for internal counsel to have deep knowledge of the business, act with efficiency and collaborate with managers to ensure the fulfilment of the strategic objectives of the company. Noted for ‘providing very high quality in-house legal counsel work’ he has been central to the core team management of the broader organisation and thanks to him the legal department has its own particular identity and characteristics that make it stand out from the other internal departments.

Over time he has established the best conditions for collaboration, ensuring that all lawyers meet the expectations of the company in terms of quality, price and time. His most instrumental change within the legal department has been to co-ordinate all in-house lawyers working in each of the different business areas. ‘The harmonisation has provided us with much greater visibility which has resulted in a synergy that has strengthened relations with external advisors’ adds Aguirre. His peers have highlighted his aptitude to perfectly match the relevant legal issues with the business needs of the company, helping to achieve the goals they have projected: ‘He has a very direct approach to all legal issues and problems and transmits very clear concepts to the external lawyers he is working with’ says a nominating source.