Uría Menéndez is one of the oldest legal firms in Spain with a proven legal capacity across all areas of financial law. Founded in 1946, it started with a small office in Madrid and today almost 600 lawyers are working in the firm in 12 different offices, located across Europe, the Americas and Asia.
Focusses / specialisms
The firm is experienced in cross-border and domestic transactions across all areas of corporate law and project development.
In banking and finance, it advises foreign and international banks on a broad range of transactions, including various types of loans, green financing, acquisition financing and corporate financing. In project finance it has a track record of advising borrowers and lenders on financing in various sectors, most notably in the renewable energy sector.
In capital markets it is experienced in advising all sides on bond issues, securities and IPOs.
In corporate and M&A it has a track record in advising the buy side and the sell side on mergers and acquisitions and share capital increases across various industries, with a particular focus on the financial industry, banking, TMT and renewable energy industries.
In project development the firm is equally experienced in advising contractors and developers on PPPs and concessions, and also on the design and the implementation of projects. Its clients come from various industries, including energy, social infrastructure, transport and healthcare.
Key clients
Among its clients are Banco Santander, BBVA, Barclays Bank, CaixaBank, ING, Unicaja and Banco Sabadell, Isolux, Blackstone, Goldman Sachs, Cerberus, Lone Star, European Investment Bank, Santander, BBVA, Bankia and CaixaBank.
Research period review: 33rd edition (2023/2024)
During the research period the firm was active in all areas of corporate law and project development.
In banking and finance the firm advised borrowers and lenders on direct financing transactions, refinancing, acquisition financing and project financing. Its project financing practice consists of a prolific record of deals advising borrowers and lenders on projects in a broad range of industries, ranging from oil and gas, and industrials and manufacturing to renewable energy and social infrastructure.
In capital markets the firm advised clients in all sub practice areas: debt, equity and structured finance. In debt capital markets it advised mostly issuers and also clients in underwriter’s roles on high-yield bond and note issues and green senior secured notes. The equity practice of the capital market team includes advising most often issuers on share capital increases and IPOs. Its structured finance and securitization practice consists of advising mostly issuers and originators on securitization of receivables and mortgage-backed performing loans.
In corporate and M&A it advised acquirers, sellers and targets on acquisitions in various industries, including utilities, transport, real estate, food and beverages, energy, industrials and manufacturing and technology and telecommunications.
In project development it represented project developers on concessions as well as PPP and private projects in various sectors, including social infrastructure, mining, transport and aviation.
In restructuring and insolvency, it advised mostly creditors on financial restructurings.
A recent staffing change is a new addition to the project development team, the recruitment of Miguel Martínez Gimeno, a partner in Public Law & Environment, coming from a position in the Spanish state.
Deal highlights: 33rd edition (2023/2024)
ERCROS €40 million financing
Food Delivery Brands group €468 million restructuring
Nuevo Hospital de Burgos €162 million PPP
Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy €4 billion private acquisition
