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Barcelona
+34 93 253 37 00
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Registered lawyer nº 39.111
I. Colegio de la Abogacía de Barcelona
Manel Santilari is Counsel at Garrigues in the Data Economy, Privacy and Cybersecurity practice. He has extensive experience in data protection, cybersecurity and new technologies. In the field of data protection, he has advised numerous national and international clients on regulatory compliance (including GDPR implementation), as well as in sanctioning proceedings before the Spanish Data Protection Agency (AEPD) and in administrative litigation before the National High Court and the Supreme Court.
He is a regular lecturer and author of publications and articles on Data Protection and Technology Law.
Experience
Counsel in Garrigues’ Corporate Law Department at the Barcelona office and a member of the firm’s Data Economy, Privacy and Cybersecurity practice.
His areas of expertise include data protection, cybersecurity and new technologies. He also has solid experience in consumer law.
In recent years, he has advised national and international clients on numerous GDPR compliance projects, regulatory matters and the analysis of projects involving artificial intelligence. He has also participated in the management of data breaches and security incidents (both in the initial response and subsequent stages) and has been involved in some of the most significant sanctioning proceedings initiated by the Spanish Data Protection Agency (AEPD).
Academic background
- Law degree from the University of Barcelona (2011).
- LL.M. in International Law, Foreign Trade & International Relationships from Instituto Superior de Derecho y Economía (2012).
Teaching activity
- Coordinator of the Data Protection module in ESADE’s Master’s Degree in Legal Practice.
- Coordinator of the Data Protection module in ESADE’s Master’s Degree in ICT Law, Social Media and Intellectual Property.
- Coordinator of the course “Personal Data Protection: A Theoretical and Practical Approach” at Instituto Superior de Derecho y Economía (ISDE).
- Lecturer in the Industrial Designs course in ISDE’s Master’s Degree in Access to the Legal Profession and Master’s in International Legal Practice.
- Lecturer in the Codes of Conduct course in the Master’s Degree in Digital Law and New Technologies at the University of Salamanca.
He also regularly participates as a speaker at conferences and round tables. Some of the most recent include:
- “Artificial Intelligence: A New Challenge for Legal Professions”, organized by the European Land Registry Association (2025).
- “AI vs. Data Protection: Experts Speak”, organized by the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP) and ESADE Alumni (2025).
- “The Rise of Data Breaches and the Legal Challenges That Follow”, organized by the International Legal Technology Association (ILTA) (2025).
Memberships
- Member of the Barcelona Bar Association.
- Member of the Information and Communication Technology Law Section of the Barcelona Bar Association.
Publications
- Co-author of Treatise on Personal Data Protection (“Tratado de Protección de Datos Personales”). Atelier, 2025.
- Co-author of “The EU Data Act and its Interaction with Competition, Privacy and Other Recent Regulations”. Thomson Reuters, 2024.
- Author of “Processing of the National Identity Document: Applicable Regulations and Interpretation by the AEPD” (“El tratamiento del Documento Nacional de Identidad": normativa aplicable e interpretación de la AEPD”). Communications on Industrial Property and Competition Law Journal, Center for Studies for the Promotion of Research, 2024.
- Co-author of “Presence Control Processing Using Biometric Systems: Practical Implications” (“Tratamientos de control de presencia mediante sistemas biométricos: implicaciones prácticas”). Communications on Industrial Property and Competition Law Journal, Center for Studies for the Promotion of Research, 2024.
- Co-author of “Circular 1/2023 of June 26 on the Application of Article 66.1(b) of Law 11/2022 of June 28, General Telecommunications Law” (“La Circular 1/2023, de 26 de junio, sobre la aplicación del artículo 66.1 B) de la Ley 11/2022, de 28 de junio, General de Telecomunicaciones”). Communications on Industrial Property and Competition Law Journal, Center for Studies for the Promotion of Research, 2023.
- Co-author of “The Obligation to Consult Advertising Exclusion Systems (Robinson List) Following the New General Telecommunications Law” (“La obligación de consultar los sistemas de exclusión publicitaria (Lista Robinson) tras la nueva ley general de telecomunicaciones”). Communications on Industrial Property and Competition Law Journal, Center for Studies for the Promotion of Research, 2023.