Leading global law firm Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer announced today that Esteban de Santos Smith will be joining the firm as a partner in the Corporate practice in Madrid next January.
Esteban joins from Linklaters in Madrid. His practice focuses on advising Spanish and international private capital investors and strategic corporates, supporting on domestic and cross-border corporate transactions. He works on complex and structured mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, shareholder arrangements, corporate restructurings and corporate governance. His experience covers the financial services, technology, data centres, real estate, sports and entertainment, and consumer goods sectors.
Eduardo Soler Tappa, Madrid Managing Partner at Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer, commented: “Esteban has established a strong reputation in the market, known for his commercial fluency, client commitment and technical ability. His arrival further strengthens and expands our offerings from Madrid to both domestic and international clients. We are delighted to welcome Esteban to the firm.”
Mike Flockhart, UK and EMEA Managing Partner of Corporate at Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer, added: "Esteban’s skill set further builds out our corporate capabilities across our EMEA and our wider global network. We look forward to working with Esteban, drawing on his deep understanding of the market to advance our private capital strategy.”
Esteban de Santos Smith said: "Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer is a natural fit for my practice, given the Madrid team’s strong positioning in the private equity market, the collaborative nature of the network, and the firm’s enhanced US presence after the combination with Kramer Levin earlier this year. I am excited to join the firm and to work with my colleagues on cross-practice and cross-border deals.”
Esteban’s hire reflects a further investment in the firm's Madrid office, following the arrival of Sergio Cires who joined as a Finance partner and the promotion of Miguel Fraga to the partnership, in recent years.
This year, the firm has welcomed several new partners across EMEA, including Emanuela Da Rin and her team (Banking and Finance) in Milan, Mohammed Al Eshaikh (Corporate) in Riyadh, and Laurence Bary (Competition, Regulation and Trade) in Paris.