International law firm to launch its third international office in Madrid 

International law firm Pinsent Masons has announced plans to launch its third international office in less than 12 months, with a Madrid presence expected to open in May.

The firm has brought together a team of six partners to develop a practice around the firm’s global sectors of advanced manufacturing and technology, financial services and infrastructure.

The team comprises:

• Diego Lozano is among the most distinguished lawyers in Madrid, having served as Head of legal services for the Tax Department in the Ministry of Economy and Finance and Technical Secretary General in the Ministry of Public Works, Transportation and Environment. He also served on the Board of AENA (the Spanish airport and air navigation association), Correos y Telégrafos (the Spanish postal service) and the Banco de Crédito Local. Additionally, as Deputy General Counsel and Vice-secretary of the board of directors of the Telefónica he also oversaw a range of the telecoms giant’s corporate activities during privatisation, including its IPO.Diego went on to Head of the Corporate and Commercial Department at Ramón y Cajal and specialises in M&A and public-private partnerships, particularly in the technology and utilities sectors.
• Antonio Sánchez Montero, who specialises in M&A, corporate investment, divestment and sourcing and outsourcing. Antonio advises a range of clients across a number of sectors including telecommunications, energy, financial services, and manufacturing. Standout mandates include advising The Coca Cola Company in the merger process of all the Spanish bottlers to form Coca Cola Partners in a deal worth close to €4000m.
• Idoya Arteagabeitia, who acts for a wide range of financial services businesses, particularly in respect of project finance. Prior to private practice Idoya served as Deputy Director of the Legal Service of the Official Credit Institute (ICO) and Secretary of the General Council of the ICO, where she ran its legal team. She continues to act as Secretary to the Board of the ICO Foundation in addition to a number of funds. Idoya has developed a particular specialism in the sale of Non-Performing Loans, acting on the €300m sale of hotel-related loans from Bankia to Bank of America, and €400m sale of developer-related loans from Ibercaja to Oaktree. Idoya also advised on the restructuring of La Finca Global Assets bank debt through a €400m financing.
• Inma Castelló – Inma is a Corporate and Commercial partner specialising in M&A, corporate investment and divestments, and corporate restructuring. She is secretary of several companies and has particular expertise in the financial services and real estate sectors.  She is Secretary to the Association of Digital Health practitioners in Madrid.
• Ricardo Garcia – Ricardo has held various senior positions in house over the past 17 years and joins from global top 30 contractor OHL. Ricardo has significant experience in the infrastructure sector and has acted on projects including the €6billion high speed railway between Mecca and Medina and the €2billion Sidra Hospital project in Qatar.
• Sofia Parra – Sofia is an energy and infrastructure disputes specialist and existing Pinsent Masons partner.

The announcement comes within 12 months of the firm opening an energy-focused office in Dusseldorf and an energy and infrastructure-focused practice in Johannesburg. The firm also bolstered its European corporate practice last year through the acquisition of boutique firm Mayrhofer & Partner in Munich.

Richard Foley, Senior Partner of Pinsent Masons, says:

“Our vision is to be recognised as an international market leader in the global sectors in which we operate, and we recognise that we can only do that if we are serious about supporting our clients across key commercial centres. We have found a team in Madrid which not only exudes quality but also shares our sector-focussed vision. In particular, they share our passion for innovating for and with our clients to redefine the landscape for private practice. We are looking forward to bringing a very different type of law firm to Spain.”

Source: Pinsent Masons

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