Noted in the Spanish market for its expertise in domestic and international arbitration, commercial and financial litigation, and ability to handle special situations such as insolvencies and enforcement of securities, the dispute resolution practice at A&O Shearman is a standout firm that continues to attract new clients from a range of industry sectors including sports, energy, and real estate. Antonio Vázquez-Guillén and Javier Mendieta co-lead the team and bring a wealth of experience to the department. Vázquez-Guillén has extensive experience arbitrating before the ICC and the Madrid Chamber of Commerce in energy and banking and finance disputes while Mendieta specialises in both domestic and international civil, contractual, and corporate disputes. Another key practitioner in the department is José Luis Terron who is adept at leading on litigation and arbitration on behalf of energy, IT, and retail companies.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘The team stands out for its impeccable technical quality, excellent language skills, and understanding of the dynamics of international operations. They have good rapport between the different teams to provide 360º advice.’

  • ‘What makes A&O Shearman’s practice unique is its comprehensive and specialised approach to dispute resolution, combined with strategic insight and a deep understanding of its clients’ business needs.’

  • ‘The A&O Shearman team stands out for its high qualifications, empathy, and commitment to its clients’ issues and businesses. The firm not only compares favorably with other law firms, but often exceeds expectations due to its ability to handle highly complex cases and its focus on avoiding unnecessary litigation.’

  • ‘Compared to other firms, A&O Shearman stands out for its ability to adapt and its focus on continuous innovation. These improvements not only allow them to stay ahead, but also to offer significant added value to their clients.’

  • ‘A&O Shearman lawyers stand out for several reasons. First, their high qualifications and experience in complex litigation allow them to handle cases with a high degree of technical specialisation. Second, their empathy and ability to understand their clients' needs and objectives allows them to offer personalised and effective solutions. Third, their commitment and dedication are reflected in the quality of their work and in the satisfaction of their clients.’

  • ‘José Luis Terrón is a leading example. His knowledge and skills are exceptional, and his strategic vision allows him to prepare trials and act in court impeccably. His approach is not to litigate for the sake of litigating, but to always seek the best solution for the client, which demonstrates his commitment and ability to put the client's needs before any other consideration. In addition, his ability to explain problems and proposed solutions in a simple manner provides great security to clients.’

  • ‘A&O Shearman lawyers differentiate themselves from their competitors by their combination of high qualifications, empathy, commitment and ability to offer strategic and personalised solutions. These qualities allow them to not only meet, but exceed the expectations of their clients, consolidating their position as one of the leading firms in dispute resolution.’

  • ‘The good thing about A&O Shearman is that they are very agile in assembling a multidisciplinary team that can cover all the issues of a matter, even with lawyers from other countries if the matter affects several jurisdictions.’

Key clients

  • Manchester United, F.C.
  • Liverpool, F.C.
  • Repsol
  • Banco Santander
  • EDPR
  • Cepsa
  • DIA
  • BBVA
  • OHLA
  • Acciona

Lawyers

Leading associates
Leading associates with regular involvement in their team's key work, and recognition from peers or clients as being ones to watch.
José Luis Terron
A&O Shearman
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Javier Mendieta
A&O Shearman
Antonio Vázquez-Guillén
A&O Shearman

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Antonio Vázquez-Guillén, Javier Mendieta

Other key lawyers

José Luis Terrón, Gonzalo Jiménez-Blanco