News

Garrigues received recognition for its technological innovation from the Financial Times at the FT Innovative Lawyers 2008 Awards ceremony held in London last night by the British newspaper for the most innovative initiatives by European law firms. The Firm received top honors in the “Technology and Know-how” category for the creation of Logalty, a service for the generation and custody of electronic evidence which provides legal certainty for online transactions. In implementing the service, Garrigues relied upon the technical experience of T-Systems, part of the Deutsche Telekom Group, which provided the technology needed to ensure that electronic evidence has the reliability sought.

The Financial Times paid tribute to the pioneering nature of this initiative, the only one of its kind in Europe, which offers specific solutions to the legal uncertainty that exists on the Internet nowadays. Thanks to Logalty, there is now greater confidence in the use of telematic means, as the service is established as a neutral and independent node between the parties to a transaction. The aim is for electronic evidence to be adduced as proof in court proceedings. “The involvement of a Trusted Third Party is essential to ensure the durability and inalterability of electronic evidence, with a view to it being viewed positively by the courts,” explained José María Anguiano, a Garrigues partner and IT expert. 

As well as the groundbreaking nature of Logalty, the Financial Times also acclaimed the research behind the service. The Garrigues and T-Systems teams are constantly defining new proposals in order to offer competitive advantages to clients and enable business models to keep pace with technology. The panel of judges also highly rated Logalty’s international outlook. Both Garrigues and Deutsche Telekom are strongly placed to offer a global service.

The most innovative firm in Continental Europe

In addition to Logalty, the Financial Times praised other projects developed by Garrigues, such as its client advice, human resources and corporate social responsibility initiatives, all of which have led to the firm’s being ranked as the most innovative firm in Continental Europe. Specifically, the ranking highlights the Firm’s innovation in the Aguacanal project in Navarra, the first irrigation network in Spain to be developed under a PPP-like scheme.
 
In the Client Service category, the paper commended the Affinitas CO2 project, an international network that integrates the services of legal and other professionals specializing in climate change. In the Human Resources category, the Firm was highly commended for its post-graduate program in contract law for trainees, organized by Garrigues in partnership with Harvard Law School.

Last but not least, in the Responsible Business category, the paper commended Garrigues’ Corporate Social Responsibility report, now in its second edition, and the accounting course for Latin American judges taught by several Firm professionals, which is run by the Garrigues Foundation in partnership with the World Bank.