I am a freelance Spanish lawyer, a former partner of Ernst & Young Abogados, specialized in the coordination of multinational and multidiscipline projects. I coordinate lawyers, tax specialists, accountants, labor specialists, auditors, treasurers, etc. – in short, the whole team necessary to bring a project to a good conclusion.
My professional career has taken place mainly in the London office of Medio & Co. for 3 years, 16 years in Ernst & Young Abogados, Madrid, working 3 years in the New York office. I currently work from Madrid but moving to where each project requires
Before I began to study Law, I played chess professionally for 3 years. This activity taught me that, besides having a strategic vision (the plan), you have to know how to execute it (the tactics).
Alter graduating in Law at the Complutense University in Madrid, I obtained a scholarship to take a master’s degree at London University on Legal Aspects of International Transactions. A good job opportunity came my way and I joint the Spanish office of Medio & Co, with responsibilities in the legal area of British investments abroad, especially in Spain.
While in London I received an interesting offer from Ernst & Young, and I returned to Madrid.
In EY I have spent the bulk of my professional career. Before becoming a partner there, I was involved in a variety of projects that consolidated my training. I worked mainly in coordination of international projects, though I also had time to specialize in real estate law, and in questions of copyright and industrial property. I also played a role in the different internal departments of EY International for the creation of a world network of EY legal practices. But what I would most like to highlight here is the time I spent in New York.
In 1998, it was thought important to develop the EY Madrid legal desk in New York, and they considered that I was the appropriate person to carry out this task. It was basically a matter of sending to the United States a Spanish lawyer to carry out the projects that the international tax specialists in New York had been discovering. The idea functioned well and, in a little more than two years, the department saw a prodigious expansion, both in billing and in the number of professionals involved. Also very important, however, was the recognition we obtained on the part of the American partners in New York. The work done there was initially that of coordination and documentation of international corporate restructurings, though it immediately gave rise to a number of independent jobs extending to more than 90 countries (see “Experience”). It was at this time I received the nickname of “doer,” on account, it was said, of my ability when it came to making things happen.
Three years and two children later, I returned to Madrid to set up, in EY Madrid, the International Legal Services department. The ILS team began with the objective of offering overall (legal, tax and labor) counseling to Spanish firms with investments abroad. This was a new service in Spain, not offered by other legal offices, and it developed with great success. Together with my stay in New York, it was at this time that I consolidated an international network of contacts with lawyers practically throughout the world.
This, in general lines, is the road that has led me to decide to offer my experience and knowledge on a much more personal basis. I believe that a balance of experience and agility may be of great value to my clients. At present I am working as a freelance lawyer for Spanish and foreign companies in specific projects.
To be short about it, I have my qualities, and if they fit in with your needs, I am on your team and we can begin to work.