US firm Gibson Dunn & Crutcher is planning to launch in Spain following the hire of private equity and M&A partner Armando Albarrán.
Albarrán joins from Freshfields, where he led the firm’s corporate/M&A and capital markets groups in Spain. Albarrán will spearhead Gibson Dunn’s new Madrid office to expand its European transactional platform.
His practice involves advising financial sponsors and companies on cross-border and domestic corporate finance deals, including M&A, IPOs and bond offerings. His regular clients include Amadeus, Naturgy, MásMóvil, Merlin Properties and private equity firms such as Cinven and KKR.
The Madrid office will be Gibson Dunn’s sixth in mainland Europe and follows the firm’s launch in Zurich last year.
Barbara Becker, Gibson Dunn’s chair and managing partner, said: “Armando brings a leadership ethos defined by client service, excellence and collaboration – precisely the qualities that will drive the success of our new office.”
She added: “Madrid is a vital European hub for private equity and cross-border M&A, particularly for sponsors and multinationals executing high-value transactions between Europe and the Americas. This expansion strengthens our ability to serve clients on their most sophisticated deals across the region.”
Albarrán arrives after 29 years at Freshfields, where he has cultivated a reputation as one of Spain’s leading corporate lawyers. He is ranked Band 1 by Chambers and Partners for equity capital markets, corporate/M&A and private equity work.
Federico Fruhbeck, co-head of Gibson Dunn’s private equity group in Europe, said: “Armando has advised on many of the most significant Spanish and cross-border transactions. His arrival positions us to advise clients on their most sophisticated Spanish matters, while also working with our London and continental European teams to deliver integrated, cross-border advice.”
Albarrán’s exit from Freshfields is the latest high-profile departure from the UK Magic Circle firm this week after former co-managing partner Rafique Bachour defected to Skadden in Brussels.
Lateral moves involving international firms in Madrid have been relatively rare of late. In May 2024, UK firm Kennedys hired a 13-strong group from Clyde & Co in Madrid, led by partners Ignacio Figuerol, Ricardo Garrido and Susana Martinez. And in April 2024, Addleshaw Goddard absorbed King & Wood Mallesons' 70-lawyer Madrid office to open in Spain.
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