Herbert Smith Freehills LLP
Herbert Smith Freehills LLP fields an ‘outstanding and highly technical’ restructuring and insolvency team that advises on a range of issues, including corporate and debt restructuring, acquisition of distressed debt, disposals, dispute resolution, and insolvency proceedings. The client roster comprises international corporates, financial institutions, and financial investors looking to expand into the Spanish market. The team is co-led by the ‘exceptional’ Javier De Carvajal, who is ‘very technical' but possesses 'a great commercial vision’; Nicolás Martín, an expert in bankruptcy law; and Armando García-Mendoza, who focuses on debt refinancing and corporate restructuring. Associate Marta Rey is also noted for her experience in restructuring and insolvency matters ’from both a commercial and legal point of view‘.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘HSF has an outstanding and highly technical team that is always willing to give an extra twist to each issue to provide us with legal and strategic advice that meets the needs of the business. When it comes to especially complex situations, they go above and beyond and are willing to try new things.'
‘Javier de Carvajal is an exceptional lawyer, very technical but with a great commercial vision that allows him to go beyond what is commonly established to provide us with exceptional solutions to legally and procedurally complex problems. As the English say, Javier "thinks outside the box" and looks for solutions that are acceptable not only to the legal team but also to the business team. Furthermore, he is flexible with the client and is always willing to discuss proposed solutions as well as listen to suggestions from the client.'
'Marta Rey has a lot of experience in restructuring and insolvencies from both a commercial and legal point of view and is able to understand the needs of the business. From our point of view, she is a motivated, persistent and capable lawyer who is a great successor to Javier.’
Key clients
- Kunshan Technology Investment (HK)
- Banco Santander, Banco de Sabadell and Caixabank
- Oaktree Capital Management
- Bain Capital
- Vía Célere
- Famosa
- Momentum REIM
- Nozar
- Actividades Logísticas Centralizadas
- Arbuthnot Latham
- Barclays Bank
- Waterfall Asset Management
- Toshiba International Europe
- General Mills International
- MET Energía España
Work highlights
- Advised the ultimate shareholders on the debt restructuring and recapitalisation of Mediapro group.
- Advised Banco Santander, Banco de Sabadell and Caixabank, as creditors, on the restructuring of the debt of Naviera Armas.
- Acted for Barclays, as syndicated lender of the Celsa Group, in litigation proceedings commenced by the latter with the aim of achieving a novation in the terms of a series of contracts connected with the debt restructuring undertaken by the group in 2017 under the grounds of an alleged right to rebalance its contractual obligations as a result of the incidence of the Covid-19 crisis in the economy.
Lawyers
Rising stars
Practice head
The lawyer(s) leading their teams.
Nicolas Martín, Javier de Carvajal, Armando García-Mendoza