News

Garrigues was twice awarded as ‘European Firm of the Year’ and ‘Firm of the Year in Iberia’ yesterday night in Barcelona, in the first-ever European awards organized by The Lawyer. The British publication, one of the main references in the UK’s legal sector, recognized the Firm’s outstanding ambition.

“There is a multitude of reasons why Garrigues wins the top award”, writes Tom Phillips, editor of The Lawyer and a member of the Awards’ panel, today on their website. The panel, integrated by lawyers from private practice and multinational corporatioans, along with The Lawyer’s editorial team, valued the Firm’s international commitment. “It has taken the strength of its home practice and exported it to an extensive network across the world,” says the editor.

More specifically, in just two years, Garrigues has consolidated its position in Central Eastern Europe, with last year’s opening of the Bucharest office, as well as in Northern Africa, where it launched its Tangiers office in January of this year, standing by its clients in their internationalization process.

The panel also recognized the Firm’s strong presence in the Iberian market, with 29 offices spanning Spain and Portugal, as well as its strong financial performance, with FY09 revenue amounting to €334.3m. It also commended the Firm’s bold strategies in Iberia, which have allowed it to position itself amongst the biggest law firms in Portugal in just four years.

Garrigues’ Corporate Social Responsibility report –the only big Iberian law firm to publish an annual GRI-rated report- was also specifically commended, as well as its Equality Plan.

Garrigues Managing Partners, Fernando Vives and Ricardo Gómez-Barreda, expressed their satisfaction in obtaining this honor. "This award recognizes our firm commitment to the Iberian market, as well as the excellence of our team of professionals, which translates into high value added to the client,” they conveyed.

Following a highly competitive process, the Awards’ panel has gone through nearly 100 submissions from 25 jurisdictions. In order to identify the outstanding law firms across continental Europe, the panel looked for evidence of strong local identity and market share, and entries were judged on the following criteria: strategic vision; strong partnership ethos; strong financial performance and growth; consistent excellence in their chosen sectors; excellent talent management.

The Lawyer Awards in the UK has been an important industry’s benchmark of quality for more than a decade.