Lauded as ‘one of the best Spanish restructuring firms’, Gómez-Acebo & Pombo stands out as a market leader in lender-side restructuring transactions. The team’s client roster features large banks, investment funds, hedge funds, insolvency administrators, private equity houses, and major corporates, who regularly turn to the team for assistance with refinancings, debt-equity swaps, and insolvency proceedings. The firm’s cross-border capabilities are noteworthy; the team frequently collaborates with offices in New York, Lisbon, Brussels, and London. Leadership responsibilities are split between Miguel Lamo de Espinosa, who heads up the restructuring side and ‘remains at the top of his game’, and Rodrigo López, who oversees insolvency matters. Other key figures include Rafael Aguilera, who represents creditors in large-scale restructuring processes; the ‘exceptionally strong’ Ferran Foix; insolvency law and commercial litigation specialist Irene Arévalo; and Paula Zarzalejos, who ‘understands the interactions between restructuring and finance, delivering fantastic advice in a user-friendly manner’.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

‘GAP is one of the best Spanish restructuring firms. They are involved in the most complex matters in Spain.'
‘Rodrigo López and Irene Arévalo stand out.’
‘The Gómez-Acebo team is an exceptional group of lawyers; a team that is energetic but thoughtful, driven and experienced. They understand the client's needs and perspectives. They are strong in restructuring, finance, litigation, corporate and regulatory - all the core practices which come together in big restructuring mandates.’
‘Miguel Lamo de Espinosa remains at the top of his game. He is a fantastic lawyer and always has the clients' needs at the forefront of his practice.'
'Ferran Foix is another exceptionally strong member of the team. He brings a calm manner and keen commercial insight to his practice.'
'Paula Zarzalejos covers the finance side of restructuring transactions and is a pleasure to work with. She understands the interactions between restructuring and finance and delivers fantastic advice in a user-friendly manner.’
‘Great professionals, technically very good. They comply in a timely manner.'
‘Very technically capable - Rodrigo López.'

Key clients

Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria – BBVA
Banco Popular
Banco Sabadell
Banco Santander
Bank of America
Bankia
Centerbridge
Caixabank
Goldman Sachs
JP Morgan
Abanca (formerly Novacaixagalicia)
Davidson Kempner
Triodos Bank NV, S.E.
Oak hill
Warwick

Work highlights

Representing Taconic Capital Advisors, King Street, Attestor and Strategic Value Partners in insolvency proceedings, with the toll road operators’ total debt estimated to be €3.6bn.
Advised PETERSEN on Spanish law issues and in relation to the court proceedings it has initiated inf New York against the Republic of Argentina for the losses suffered by the claimants as a result of the expropriation of the shares that they hold in YPF (subsidiary of Repsol).
Provided legal services to Cerberus European Investments, LLC in the restructuring of its indirect subsidiary Haya Real Estate, S.A.U., the parent of the Haya group, a provider of management of real estate and property assts services in Spain.

Lawyers

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