After Baker & McKenzie merged with the tax firm of Briones Alonso Martín 18 months ago, the two organisations march firmly at a single beat. The resulting Spanish firm harmonised a combined 150 lawyers practice with strong recognition in tax, financial, commercial and labour matters.
Since the Briones merger in January 2001, the Baker & McKenzie Spanish offices have participated in outstanding projects. These include the Euro 865 million acquisition of 40% of Cintra, a major Spanish infrastructure company with substantial projects in Spain and abroad; the tax and commercial advise on the reorganisation of the major shareholder of Inditex (Zara's trademark owner ) in the context of an Euro two billion sale of shares in Inditex. Other engagement projects include cross border acquisitions by Spanish clients in Latin America (Prosegur) and Asia Pacific (Dogi), attesting Baker & McKenzie international muscle.
However, Baker & McKenzie plans for Spain did not end with the Briones merger. Following the parameters of a successful Firm world wide policy to develop its major projects area, public and energy law was made part of the Spanish post-integration agenda. The Firm already runs a substantial public law practice in Barcelona, but the international projects and public law market demands law firms with a presence in the country's capital and a highly recognised profile in the field. Consistently, the Baker & McKenzie Spanish partners approved a strategic plan calling for the development of their current public law and energy practice in Madrid.
The results of the plan have materialised now merging with the local legal boutique García-Trevijano, a recognised, top-notch public law practice in the country. Name partner of the merged firm, Jose Antonio García-Trevijano, is a former "Letrado del Consejo de Estado" who joins Baker & McKenzie as an international partner. His brother Ernesto, also a Letrado del Consejo de Estado will also join as an international partner as soon as he gets the leave approval from the "Consejo de Estado", the Spanish State Advisory Council, where he currently serves.
The Letrados del Consejo de Estado are, without any hesitation, the most elite, highest level and prestigious professional category in the area of public law in the country. There are approximately 25 of them in Spain and their function is to advise the Spanish Government at top level (Ministers, Cabinet, President of the Government) in all areas of public law. In fact, there are various well-known cases where Letrados del Consejo de Estado took a leave to serve Spanish Cabinet position.
The García-Trevijano firm is a small practice engaged in technically challenging cases including Government procurement; industrial estates planning; public administrative requirements; major construction and real estate projects and zoning laws; contentious-administrative and civil litigation. At the Consejo de Estado, Ernesto García-Trevijano area of expertise covers a wide range of matters and topics in public law, including in particular energy; de-regulation; privatization; infrastructure; industrial policy; public aids; consumer and pharmaceutical law.
- Baker & McKenzie was established over 50 years ago, and with the opening of the Antwerp office on 1 July, will have 64 offices in 35 jurisdictions. The Firm established a truly global presence, with an office in each of the world’s major money centres, more than 25 years ago.
- Worldwide, Baker & McKenzie has 605 partners, 3,131 qualified lawyers and a total of over 4,180 legal professionals. The Chairman of the International Firm is Christine Lagarde.
- Baker & McKenzie posted record financial results for FY01, with a global fee income figure of US$ 1 billion
- Baker & McKenzie opened offices in Madrid in 1965 and in Barcelona in 1988.
For further details please contact the following partners:
In Madrid: Jose A. Arcila, Paseo de la Castellana 33.
In Barcelona: Rafael Jiminez-Gusi, Avda Diagonal 652.