Garrigues stands out for its ‘team of professionals’ who adeptly handle all manner of criminal law, compliance and internal investigations and pre-procedural mandates. The group is routinely engaged by major corporate clients in matters concerning cybercrime, money-laundering, and extradition procedures. Criminal lawyer Gabriel Castro is highly experienced in defending high-profile clients before the Spanish high courts, while ex-prosecutor Helena Prieto possesses notable strength in cross-border investigations, extradition proceedings and compliance matters. Principal associate Beatriz Bustamante stands out for her in-depth knowledge of criminal compliance, assisting clients with the design and implementation of crime prevention programmes.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

‘Helena Prieto, a partner in the criminal law practice, truly stands out in her field. Specialising in criminal litigation and extradition, her abundant court experience is evident in the way she handles cases. What sets Helena apart from competitors is her strategic approach, rooted in her extensive courtroom experience.’
‘They are a very competent team of professionals who compare with excellence to the teams of other firms.’
‘ A professional team that provides a very complete service and responds quickly and effectively to any question, problem or query that is posed to them, thus making it possible to keep up with the pace that our business demands. They are professionals, facilitators and work at the pace that our company's business needs. ’
‘Gabriel Castro is the best criminal lawyer I know in every possible way: he is extraordinarily clear in explaining situations to us, he is committed when it comes to participating in decision-making, he is an excellent speaker in addition to writing magnificent writings, and he is also deeply empathetic with the client, something that is especially valued in a delicate matter.'

Key clients

Inmobiliaria Espacio
Yining Liu
Helena Revoredo (Prosegur) and Vicente Tardio (Allianz)
DIA Group
Mediapro
Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria (BBVA)
British Council
Sener
Cines Renoir
DIA Group (Franchisees Matter)

Work highlights

Defending BBVA against alleged crimes of bribery, disclosure of secrets and corruption in connection with the alleged criminal activities of former police chief officer Villarejo.
Acted for the President of Prosegur and the former CEO of Allianz before the Spanish National Court in matters regarding their former role as board members of Banco Popular, involving alleged crimes of fraud, misappropriation, and false accounting.
Defending DIA Group against alleged crimes of false accounting and malfeasance.