It is undeniable that there is still a long way to go in achieving equality between men and women in the legal sector. Despite the fact that the role of female lawyers has been steadily growing over the last decades, the sector still has barriers that continue to complicate the access of women to partner and managing partner positions although data shows more women are graduating with a law degree than men. Factors such as the salary gap and work-life balance continue to make it difficult for the legal sector to achieve true equality between men and women.
In the latest research by CGAE (General Council of Spanish Lawyers) in March 2020, 58.54% of the professionals who have joined the Bar Associations in Spain are women. This ratio, however, is not reflected either in the composition of law firm management (only 5.3% of women occupy the position of managing partner) or in the salary received (the salary gap reaches 23%). This data indicates that diversity within the legal profession in Spain is still lacking.
The M&A, private equity, venture capital asset acquisition legal work in Spain has traditionally been dominated by men, however Leaders League has identified women lawyers who are at the forefront of private equity transactions.
Isabel Rodríguez, King & Wood Mallesons – Ranked Leading in: Best Law Firms – Fund Formation
Partner in KWM’s Madrid office. Isabel specializes in structuring and establishing domestic and international investment funds. She advises private equity managers, financial institutions, pension funds and insurance companies, public institutions and institutional investors.
María Pilar García Guijarro, Watson Farley & Williams – Ranked Excellent in: Best Law Firms for Private Equity Transactions
Managing Partner of WFW’s Madrid office. She specializes in the energy and infrastructure sectors in Europe, LATAM and the Middle East, with a special focus on wind and solar sectors.
Ana Lorenzo, Watson Farley & Williams – Ranked Excellent in: Best Law Firms for Private Equity Transactions
Partner at WFW´s Madrid office. She regularly advises on corporate transactions, mergers and acquisitions, private equity investments and divestments as well as corporate restructuring, insolvency proceedings.
Graciela Llaneza, Hogan Lovells – Ranked Highly Recommended in Best Law Firms for Private Equity Transactions
Partner and Head of Hogan Lovells’ private equity practice in the Madrid office. She specializes in the financial services, consumer, healthcare and energy sectors advising financial investors in domestic and cross-border transactions for both Spanish and international companies.
Alejandra Font, Alter Legal – Ranked Highly Recommended in: Best Law Firms – Fund Formation
Partner of Alter Legal’s Madrid office specialized in fund formation for both Spanish and international corporations and regulatory advice to fund managers.
Marta Gil de Biedma, López-Ibor Abogados – Ranked Recommended in: Best Law Firms for Private Equity Transactions
Marta Gil de Biedma is a partner in the firm’s Madrid office. She specializes in the mid-market sector with an international component advising both in the private and public sector.
Ana Torres, Clifford Chance – Ranked Recommended in: Best Law Firms – Fund Formation
Counsel of Clifford Chances’ Barcelona office. She specializes in advising on the establishment and structuring of fund management businesses and private funds with extensive experience in local and cross-border mergers and acquisitions.
Click on the links below to access the full rankings:
https://www.leadersleague.com/en/rankings/private-equity-ranking-2021-law-firm-spain
Publish on: Leaders League