TMT: Spain

THE FIRM This media heavyweight mainly acts for large international companies. Recently, it represented Starmax Television Global in the launch of a DTH service in Spain. The team advises telecoms clients on M&A and regulatory mandates such as the recent regulatory advice offered to Telecom Italia, Cable & Wireless and Iridium. On the IT side, the group handles the full spectrum of advice including consumer and data protection, and software licensing and copyright. It recently assisted Casino de Juego Gran Madrid with its online gaming licence to operate in Spain.  

Sources say: "We are thoroughly impressed by its solid reports, flexibility in understanding client needs, and time management."

KEY INDIVIDUALS Peers and clients regard José María Méndez as "one of the best media lawyers in Spain. I take my hat off to his expertise, solid knowledge and negotiation skills."

Sources applaud the corporate expertise of Maite Diez, who recently advised global telecoms operator AT&T.

Market sources praise the IT capabilities of Raul Rubio. Impressed clients say that "his knowledge of the sector is extraordinary."

THE FIRM This international powerhouse is a market leader in the IT area. It advises a wide and varied client base on contentious and non-contentious matters. Recent highlights include representing Ahorro Corporación in a deal with INDRA to outsource IT infrastructure and applications for seven years. The TMT practice also assists media companies such as Time Warner and Mediabrands, and magazines such as Semana. The telecoms side of the practice has lately been strengthened by recruitment. It recently represented Nuance Communications/Spinvox in negotiations with a global telecoms company. 

Sources say: "Outstanding technical knowledge of the IT sector."  

KEY INDIVIDUALS Managing partner Javier Fernández-Samaniego wins praise on all sides for his IT expertise and his capabilities as mediator and arbitrator. Sources say: "This excellent professional provides extremely practical advice."

Market sources applaud the telecoms expertise of recent recruit Adela Gómez. She has "astounding knowledge of the sector and the related competition and EU issues," says one interviewee.

The IT expertise of the team is strengthened by associate Paula Fernández.  

THE FIRM This magic circle player is highly recognised for its transactional and regulatory work in the telecoms sector. Notable recent highlights include acting for ONO on the offering of EUR300 million senior secured notes, in collaboration with the firm's London office. The team provides clients such as Abertis Telecom, Telefónica and Infocom with regulatory advice. The media practice also assisted TV stations and financial institutions with contentious and non-contentious matters.  

Sources say: "High-level performance from an outstanding team with in-depth knowledge and experience of the telecoms sector."

KEY INDIVIDUALS Public law expert Juan José Lavilla is renowned as "a fantastic lawyer with excellent commercial sense. A truly wonderful professional."

Counsel Carme Briera attracts praise from peers for her telecoms expertise.

Competitors value the work of Jaime Velazquez, and highlight his background as secretary general and secretary to the Board of the Telecommunications Market Commission.

THE FIRM The highly skilled TMT team at this firm is primarily known for its work in the telecoms sphere. It covers a broad range of telecoms mandates, with particular expertise in regulatory issues. It has a number of leading clients in the sector including Yoigo, Telefónica and Nokia, which it advised on an agreement for the maintenance of an infrastructure network for mobile telephones. The practice also wins plaudits for its recent IT work, and commentators are quick to note the team's increasing visibility. Clients emphasise the personal service that they consistently receive.

Sources say: “It delivers what it promises in terms of time and cost – I give the team ten out of ten.”

KEY INDIVIDUALS Co-leading the practice, Félix Plasencia comes highly recommended for telecoms work. Sources remark upon his high level of activity, expertise in the area and pleasant manner.

Department co-head Javier Torre de Silva focuses on public law aspects. He wins extensive and enthusiastic praise from clients, who say that "he is a smart, methodical guy - his ability to think outside the box is astonishing.” 

THE FIRM This Iberian firm is renowned for its expertise in IT matters and covers data protection, patent litigation, and transactional and regulatory advice on new technologies. Recent clients in this field include Facebook. The group comes highly recommended for both contentious and non-contentious telecoms matters. Recently, it assisted clients such as KPN and Tele2. On the media front, the practice assists numerous television channels and editorial groups with transactional and regulatory issues, such as the advice given to Grupo Planeta on the refinancing of its debt.  

Sources say: "Provides excellent attention and availability."

KEY INDIVIDUALS Peers highly recommend data protection expert Javier Aparicio Salom. He recently acted for Google and AC Nielsen.  

Telecoms expert Paul Hitchings "is very quick at understanding the issues and is an excellent litigator," say sources. He provides ongoing advice to clients such as Lebara and Skype.

Jorge Llevat enjoys an excellent reputation for IT, in particular on IP matters. He handles outsourcing transactions and litigation related to this area. 

Clients appreciate that media expert Luis Murillo works from both Barcelona and Zaragoza, and value his knowledge and network of connections.

THE FIRM This international giant is well recognised in the telecoms and technology fields. It is particularly adept at M&A transactions in both these areas and has notable strength in online gambling and electronic entertainment. The team has a diverse client base of domestic and international corporations including Nintendo, Warner Bros. and Tata Communications. A notable highlight for the practice was its advice to Barclays Bank on the transfer to Hewlett-Packard of the Iberalbion assets.

KEY INDIVIDUALS Senior corporate partner Juan Picón has acted on a range of telecoms and IT cases recently. He advised Grupo Abengoa on the sale of a 40% stake in Telvent.

Counsel Albert Agustinoy recently joined the team from another leading firm. He has particular expertise in online gambling, regularly advising multinational operators on their Spanish activities.

THE FIRM This niche firm has capabilities across all aspects of TMT, but is particularly strong in media and IT. Sources are united in their admiration for the firm's media work, hailing the team's strength and expertise in advising production companies. It handles M&A, film finance and production for a range of domestic and international clients, including Endemol, Miramax and laSexta. On the IT side, the group covers data protection, software licensing, outsourcing, online brand protection and social media. A notable transaction was its advice to the Ministry of Culture on digital access to public services and digital signature certificates. 

Sources say: “The team is full of high-quality lawyers who are extremely up to date and plugged in to what is going on in the sector.” “It is proactive, client-oriented and dynamic.”

KEY INDIVIDUALS Commentators view Hugo Ecija Bernal as one of the finest media lawyers in the market. He regularly leads impressive mandates, recently acting as sole legal counsel to IMAGINA Media Audiovisual.

IP and media practice head Juan Salmerón Artero advises domestic and international film and TV producers, radio stations and TV channels on the full spectrum of media matters. 

Since publication, two members of the firm left to form their own practice.

THE FIRM This Spanish powerhouse has an impressive TMT practice, with expertise in all aspects of the area. The team handles a diverse range of mandates and draws on the firm's market-leading corporate expertise to offer superb transactional advice in the IT, telecoms and media sectors. On the IT side, it recently focused in particular on privacy work and online sales, representing la Caixa in an agreement to integrate PayPal into la Caixa's online banking platform. A highlight on the telecoms front was the group's advice to Tuenti on its Mobile Virtual Network Operator's project in telecoms, privacy and e-contracting. Recent media work included advice on a number of mergers in the sector.

Sources say: “We get fantastic results. The team has an excellent understanding of telecoms, great knowledge of the internal workings of a business like ours and a phenomenal ability to adapt.”

KEY INDIVIDUALS IT specialist José María Anguiano comes highly recommended by clients. He has a broad practice that covers contracts, e-commerce, data protection and IP.

Sources hail telecoms and media partner Javier Marzo for his ability to “go to the heart of the question and address the important issues.” He recently assisted Televisa with the divestment of its stake in laSexta.

José Ramón Morales covers IT matters and is regarded as an excellent lawyer with particular strength in transactional matters. Commentators are quick to highlight his outstanding negotiation skills.

Carolina Pina has an active and diverse TMT practice. She covers IP with a particular focus on sports and entertainment, media and IT, where she represents a number of multinational technology companies.

THE FIRM This Spanish firm has a broad TMT practice, advising local and international clients from the IT, media and telecoms sectors. It combines the expertise of its IP, IT and corporate teams to offer clients comprehensive knowledge and experience. On the media side, recent instructions included restructuring, M&A and regulatory mandates for a range of media companies. The team also has a strong profile for telecoms work, advising a raft of impressive clients on regulatory, disputes and transactional issues.

KEY INDIVIDUALS “Absolutely phenomenal” department head Almudena Arpón de Mendívil has a diverse practice and is lauded by clients as “responsive and knowledgeable. She provides the kind of practical analysis that an in-house lawyer would give. I can't say enough good things about her.”

Leading IP lawyer Juan José Marín López is involved in the TMT practice's work, and recently advised Apple on a complex IP-related case. 

Eduardo Gomez de la Cruz handles telecoms and comes recommended for his industry knowledge and expertise in regulatory matters. 

THE FIRM This firm handles all aspects of IT work, including contentious and transactional issues. It has been busy of late, winning a number of significant new technology clients. Recent highlights include defending Google in a claim brought by the Spanish Data Protection Agency regarding data collection by Google Street View cars, and representing FCC in a multi-jurisdictional outsourcing agreement.

Sources say: “It has exceptionally broad knowledge and always give us meaningful information and advice.”

KEY INDIVIDUALS Department head Gonzalo Gallego receives enthusiastic feedback from interviewees, who say that he “works tirelessly and is always available. He has a practical approach and goes the extra mile.” He covers IP and all aspects of IT law. 

THE FIRM This three-lawyer practice receives enthusiastic feedback from clients for the dedicated, personalised and efficient service that it provides. It is strongest in IT and telecoms, where it has seen a steady flow of work from clients in the satellite, cable, radio spectrum and mobile phone sectors. The practice has been particularly busy on contentious matters of late, representing Jazztel in a judicial review against the Telecommunications Market Commissioner regarding the resolution of the interconnection conflict against Cable Europa. The team is also active on data protection and e-commerce issues.

Sources say: “In a word: excellent. The group understands and cares about our business and took the time to learn about it. We really feel like the lawyers are part of our team.”

KEY INDIVIDUALS IT and telecoms specialist Paloma Bru leads the practice. Clients are quick to heap compliments on her, saying: “We feel like she really looks after us. She is resolute, analytical and does not get lost in things that are not important.” Another interviewee reports that “she is fantastically experienced and has taken the time to educate us on the intricacies of the law. She's made us feel much safer.”

THE FIRM The telecoms practice at this esteemed Spanish firm advises primarily on administrative and regulatory issues. The team has an enviable client base of both domestic and international companies, including Endesa Telecomunicaciones, Motorola and Telvent. A notable recent transaction for the practice was its advice to DIDWW on notifying the telecoms regulator of network use and provision of a telecoms service in Spain.

Sources say: “The team gets really involved in the projects and works hand in hand with the client. It really goes the extra mile for us.”

KEY INDIVIDUALS Practice head José Ramón de Hoces advises both public and private entities on a range of regulatory issues and has also been busy recently acting on restructurings in the audiovisual sphere. Clients say: "He puts in the effort to understand our problems and has the capacity to foresee issues that might arise.”

THE FIRM The Spanish office of this international firm continues to maintain an impressive presence in the IT sector, with a 30-strong group dedicated to the area. Peers remark upon its high level of activity. The size of the team allows it to offer expert advice on a range of areas including regulatory, compliance and cloud computing. The practice has recently been notably busy advising on online gaming issues.

KEY INDIVIDUALS Team head Javier Ribas Alejandro is a key figure in the market, who receives recognition for the depth and breadth of his expertise in technology issues.

Since publication, Javier Ribas Alejandro has joined Ribas & Asociados

THE FIRM The 18-lawyer TMT team at this growing Spanish firm, which has its headquarters in Barcelona and an office in Madrid, enters the rankings on the back of enthusiastic client feedback. It focuses on IT, representing a number of major international and national technology players in a range of contentious and advisory matters.

Sources say: "The team has been of great assistance to us due to its wide knowledge and its ability to resolve issues rapidly. We are very satisfied with the speed with which it gets back to us and its constant availability, even over public holidays."

KEY INDIVIDUALS Department head Ignasi Costas is the primary point of contact for TMT matters.

THE FIRM This Spanish giant maintains an impressive TMT practice, with outstanding capabilities in all aspects of the area. The IT team's broad expertise includes privacy, data protection and outsourcing for a range of domestic and multinational clients. It has been particularly busy advising on cloud computing in recent times. The telecoms practice is widely regarded as being amongst the finest in the market, with sources praising its skill and consistently excellent advice. It covers both regulatory and transactional matters, winning particular recognition for its work on transactions. On the media side, the group's recent work centred on M&A mandates, as well as providing day-to-day advice to media companies on a range of issues.

Sources say: “The advice that we receive is always detailed and practical, enabling us to get a clear idea of the issues at stake. The team's responses always cater to the client.”

KEY INDIVIDUALS José Pérez Santos is widely recognised as an experienced and talented telecoms lawyer. Clients are quick to praise him, reporting that “he is creative, knows how to build a project, and is very business-oriented.”

Sources note media contact Teresa Paz-Ares's impressive reputation and visibility on media transactions.

Department head Pablo González-Espejo “is a balanced, sophisticated lawyer. He knows where you want to get and helps you to get there. He is not too aggressive and will be diplomatic when necessary.” He covers both technology and telecoms transactions. 

Clients value technology partner Cecilia Álvarez and note that “whatever we ask, she has worked on something similar, which is very reassuring. The most important thing is that she always gives a straight answer – there are no grey areas.”

THE FIRM Telecoms is a particular area of expertise for this domestic firm, and the team wins praise for its specialised, high-quality advice. The group provides both regulatory and transactional advice to a broad client base. It has recently been particularly active on a range of contentious mandates.

KEY INDIVIDUALS Firm founder José Manuel Villar Uríbarri has unrivalled experience in telecommunications, having served as Secretary General for Communications. Peers regard him as “an exceptional lawyer and the go-to guy for telecoms,” and particularly rate his expertise in regulatory matters.