The public law practice at Herbert Smith Freehills LLP offers advice on the full spectrum of public law matters, including public procurement, administrative proceedings, subsidies, and litigation, demonstrating particular strength in the energy, natural resources, environment, and infrastructure sectors. Department head Iria Calviño advises major corporations, international investment banks, equity sponsors, and public entities in domestic and cross-border transactions within regulated sectors. Energy sector specialist José Ramón Mourenza also offers key support in public law mandates. Miguel Riaño is no longer at the firm.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘José Ramón Mourenza has an encyclopedic knowledge of regulations; he understands the economic implications of legal and business decisions. He is very didactic and always available.’

  • ‘The most outstanding individual is José Ramón Mourenza. For me, he is the lawyer who knows the most about the different aspects of energy law, in its multiple branches. He is very complete, because he not only understands the regulatory part, but also the contractual and economic-financial implications.'

  • ‘It has a very solid team led to perfection by Iria Calviño and has the best lawyer I have ever dealt with, Jose Ramón Mourenza, who stands out for his professionalism, great wisdom, enormous knowledge of the sector and the law, in addition to having a close and friendly client service.’

  • ‘The high knowledge of the subject and the correct strategic approach when raising judicial matters against the Public Administration are two circumstances that characterize the HSF team in Spain.'

  • ‘The HSF team in Spain stands out for its high degree of knowledge and excellent disposition. Our relationship with the firm is through José Ramón Mourenza and Esther Lumbreras, with whom we are very satisfied.’

  • ‘The HSF Team in charge of the regulatory department is without a doubt one of the best in Spain. They have a differentiating knowledge of the renewable sector.’

  • ‘Team with a lot of talent and the ability to reflect in writing solutions requested by clients.’

  • ‘José Ramón Mourenza is a leader in the sector. Serves the client personally. Bright!’

Key clients

  • Fundacion Centro Tecnológico Soermar
  • Berkeley Minera España
  • Cobre Las Cruces
  • Rheinmetall
  • DIF Infrastructure Partners
  • ACIE (Asociación de Comercializadoras Independientes de Energía)
  • Asociación de Representantes en el Mercado de Electricidad - ARMIE
  • HidroCantábrico Distribución Eléctrica
  • Iluka Resources
  • Solaria Energía y Medioambiente
  • Finerge Sevilla
  • Redexis Gas

Work highlights

  • Advised Fundación y Centro Tecnológico Soermar on its intervention in the approval procedure of the new Royal Decree 1071/2021, which regulates the granting of aid to the shipbuilding sector in the field of research and development and innovation.
  • Advised ACIE (Asociación de Comercializadoras Independientes de Energía) on the contentious-administrative appeal against Royal Decree 897/2017, regulating the concept of vulnerable consumers, social energy tariffs and other protective measures for domestic consumers of electricity.
  • Advises Finerge on a day-to-day basis in relation to its business in Spain as a whole.

Lawyers

Next Generation Partners
Junior partners with significant recognition from clients and peers in the market and key roles on multiple matters.

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Iria Calviño

Other key lawyers

José Ramón Mourenza, Esther Lumbreras, Miguel Ángel Barroso