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The comprehensive guide to the world's leading tax firms

Cuatrecasas, Gonçalves Pereira remains a dominant force in the Spanish tax market. The firm, previously known as Cuatrecasas, became fully integrated with its Portuguese counterpart in 2003. Early this year both firms changed their names to avoid confusion ... [more]

Cuatrecasas, Gonçalves Pereira remains a dominant force in the Spanish tax market. The firm, previously known as Cuatrecasas, became fully integrated with its Portuguese counterpart in 2003. Early this year both firms changed their names to avoid confusion in the Iberian market. The law firm has about 290 tax lawyers and 68 partners in Madrid and Barcelona. They have added more than 30 tax practitioners this year including two partners. One of them, Javier Laorden, has been reinstated into the practice after spending the last seven years as a member of the general council of the Spanish judiciary. The team offers a broad range of tax services including tax litigation, transfer pricing, indirect tax, eco-tax, real estate tax, sports tax, and financial tax. This year they advised Enel in the acquisition of 25% in Endesa from Acciona. They also advised Endesa on selling its renewable-energy assets to Acciona. This was the largest deal in Spain in 2009 so far. They assisted Sacresa, the Spanish real estate investment company, on its launch to acquire Metrovacesa, its domestic listed counterpart. This has been one of the largest deals in the real estate/construction sector in Spain. It was valued at €14.4 million ($20.5 million). Carles Puig is recommended.

Ricardo Gómez, head of tax at Garrigues - Taxand, is a highly respected figure in Spain. He is recommended by numerous peers with one referring to him as "one of the best regarded professionals in the country". Another says he has "large doses of common ... [more]

Ricardo Gómez, head of tax at Garrigues - Taxand, is a highly respected figure in Spain. He is recommended by numerous peers with one referring to him as "one of the best regarded professionals in the country". Another says he has "large doses of common sense plus experience and a good track record". Despite losing partner Jordi Domínguez, who left to set up the tax department at Latham & Watkins, the group has maintained its excellent reputation this year. The team advised Grupo Planeta on the acquisition of Editis, the largest acquisition ever made in France by a foreign media group and one of the largest media M&A deals in Europe in 2008. They also advised Autogrill – Aldeasa in the acquisition of the largest duty free operator in the UK by the Spanish market leader. The deal was valued at €682 million. José Palacios is mentioned.

Uria Menendez's tax group comprises eight partners and 50 lawyers. They have offices in Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia and Bilbao. They have advised an impressive list of clients this year including Kodak, Iberdrola and Alcoa. They assisted Banco Santander ... [more]

Uria Menendez's tax group comprises eight partners and 50 lawyers. They have offices in Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia and Bilbao. They have advised an impressive list of clients this year including Kodak, Iberdrola and Alcoa. They assisted Banco Santander on the tax implications of the swap by investors of structured bonds issued by Lehman Brothers for bonds or preferred shares issued by the bank. This deal was complex as it had never been done before in the context of Lehman's bankruptcy. They are also advising British Airways on the proposed merger with Iberia Líneas Aereas de España, arguably the most important trans-European M&A on-going public transaction.

Luis Briones at Baker & McKenzie is highly recommended. One peer described him as "an authority and very highly regarded". The firm provides a full range of tax services including transfer pricing, litigation and real estate taxation. Their client list ... [more]

Luis Briones at Baker & McKenzie is highly recommended. One peer described him as "an authority and very highly regarded". The firm provides a full range of tax services including transfer pricing, litigation and real estate taxation. Their client list includes large corporations such as Fortis, Sony BMG, Sun Microsystems and Universal Music. The team advised Arcelor Mittal on a common stock and convertible note offering, a transaction valued at $3 billion. They also advised Metrovacesa in the $2.8 billion demerger process between Metrovacesa and Gecina. This was the demerger of the largest European real estate company.

Deloitte, headed by Luis Fernando Guerra, has advised an impressive list of clients this year including BBVA, Santander and Telefónica. The team offers a full range of tax services. They advised Alcoa on the preparation of a European master file, which ... [more]

Deloitte, headed by Luis Fernando Guerra, has advised an impressive list of clients this year including BBVA, Santander and Telefónica. The team offers a full range of tax services. They advised Alcoa on the preparation of a European master file, which will help the company to provide a consistent transfer pricing vision across Europe, making it easier for them to defend potential tax audits. The firm hired one partner from Ernst & Young, one director from Garrigues and three associates this year.

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer's tax department is led by Miguel Klingenberg. The team advises a number of large multinationals and 70% of their clients are financial institutions. Partner Miguel Lorán advised la Caixa on the acquisition of Morgan Stanley's ... [more]

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer's tax department is led by Miguel Klingenberg. The team advises a number of large multinationals and 70% of their clients are financial institutions. Partner Miguel Lorán advised la Caixa on the acquisition of Morgan Stanley's Spanish retail private banking division, a deal worth $833 million. He also advised Nomura Internacional in the acquisition of the investment banking, global finance and equities businesses of Lehman Brothers in Europe and the Middle East. Partner Silvia Paternain advised Schweizerische Nationalbank on the acquisition of distressed Spanish assets previously held by UBS. This was the first large initiative of a "bad bank" creation, with the purchase of assets by SNB, the Swiss National Bank, from UBS. One client commends the firm's connections with the Spanish tax authorities. Adolfo Zunzunegui is highly recommended.

One industry commentator called KPMG "the best big-four firm in Spain". He said the firm is "leading in tax" and has "made significant investments over the year". Two partners José Maria Vallejo and Rafael Nunez joined this year. Vallejo was previously ... [more]

One industry commentator called KPMG "the best big-four firm in Spain". He said the firm is "leading in tax" and has "made significant investments over the year". Two partners José Maria Vallejo and Rafael Nunez joined this year. Vallejo was previously a financial counsellor for Spain in the EU and Nunez joins from Landwell-PricewaterhouseCoopers. Victor Hernán advised CITI Group on the tax implications of the Itinere acquisition of the company. The team also advised Abengoa on transfer pricing and tax structuring for the implementation of benefits derived from the new Spanish regime on certain intangibles.

Landwell - PricewaterhouseCoopers provides a full range of tax services. The team is especially noted for its expertise in transfer pricing. The firm has 20 offices across Spain. Partner Javier Ribas and senior manager Assumpta Zorraquino write a blog ... [more]

Clients praise Ashurst for its "creativity, very good technical skills, and for being proactive". Head of tax Eduardo Gracia is highly regarded by both clients and competitors. He works alongside six other lawyers. The team advised one of the largest ... [more]

Clients praise Ashurst for its "creativity, very good technical skills, and for being proactive". Head of tax Eduardo Gracia is highly regarded by both clients and competitors. He works alongside six other lawyers. The team advised one of the largest Spanish financial groups/assets managers on the application of Denkavit and Amurta ECJ case law in a number of key EU capital markets jurisdictions this year. The team is well-known for its transfer pricing expertise. It has one office in Madrid.

Jose Ignacio Jiménez-Blanco is highly recommended. He is a partner in the Clifford Chance team. He specialises in international tax and tax structured finance. The team provides advice on all areas of tax including banking and finance tax, M&A, VAT and ... [more]

Jose Ignacio Jiménez-Blanco is highly recommended. He is a partner in the Clifford Chance team. He specialises in international tax and tax structured finance. The team provides advice on all areas of tax including banking and finance tax, M&A, VAT and real estate tax.

Peers particularly praise Ernst & Young's domestic tax work and say the practice is very active on the Spanish tax market. The firm has 14 offices in Spain offering advice on all tax areas including litigation, transfer pricing and transactional tax ... [more]

Peers particularly praise Ernst & Young's domestic tax work and say the practice is very active on the Spanish tax market. The firm has 14 offices in Spain offering advice on all tax areas including litigation, transfer pricing and transactional tax matters.

Gomez-Acebo & Pombo incorporated the tax boutique Padrol Munté in January 2009. As such, the firm's tax capabilities have increased significantly. They are now 27 tax professionals with four partners. The firm has advised a number of high profile clients ... [more]

Gomez-Acebo & Pombo incorporated the tax boutique Padrol Munté in January 2009. As such, the firm's tax capabilities have increased significantly. They are now 27 tax professionals with four partners. The firm has advised a number of high profile clients this year. They assisted Caixanova in the sale of its stake in power company Unión Fenosa. Other clients include Standard Life Investments, Abertis and Allianz. The team is headed by Heribert Padrol.

Carlos Albiñana, partner and head of tax Allen & Overy, is well respected on the Spanish tax market. He is recommended by peers for his M&A tax advice. He also advises on national and international tax planning, real estate transactions and employee ... [more]

Carlos Albiñana, partner and head of tax Allen & Overy, is well respected on the Spanish tax market. He is recommended by peers for his M&A tax advice. He also advises on national and international tax planning, real estate transactions and employee share financial instruments schemes.

Latham & Watkins opened its Spanish tax practice in February with the arrival of Jordi Domínguez from Garrigues. The firm, a new entry this year, is in the process of building its tax team. Domínguez is advising Beckman Coulter on the acquisition of ... [more]

Latham & Watkins opened its Spanish tax practice in February with the arrival of Jordi Domínguez from Garrigues. The firm, a new entry this year, is in the process of building its tax team. Domínguez is advising Beckman Coulter on the acquisition of the diagnostic systems division of Olympus for approximately $800 million.

Linklaters lost renowned partner Nicolas Martin this year after he left to join Herbert Smith. The firm now has one tax partner, Javier Garcia-Pita, who advises the main financial entities in Spain.

Lovells, another new entry this year, is highly respected by peers and is described as "a very active team". Miguel Angel Sanchez is head of the practice. He had a long career with the Spanish tax administration before joining the firm.