Bird & Bird‘s global IP practice provides a strong platform for the team in Spain, which is frequently involved in high-value, cross-border matters in key industries, among them pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, apparel and chemicals. Prosecution partner Mariano Santos and patent licensing expert José Miguel Lissén lead a ‘a very solid team, with a high level of specialisation'. Vastly experienced of counsel Manuel Lobato is highly regarded for patent litigation and strategic advice, particularly in the life sciences sector, and senior associate Maria Fernandez handles the prosecution and defence of IP rights all over the world. Associate Marta Arteaga is a key adviser to clients in the food, fashion, entertainment and electronics sectors.

Clifford Chance is a standout practice for patent litigation and it frequently acts for high-profile international clients in the consumer goods and retail, biotechnology, media, pharmaceutical, and telecoms sectors. It is currently involved in the largest pan-European patent litigation case in the pharmaceutical sector. The ‘urbane, thoughtful, creative‘ Miquel Montañá leads the practice from Barcelona, where litigation partner Josep Montefusco and associates Adrián Crespo and Ana  Benetó play key roles. Clients note that ‘the technical level is more than outstanding‘ and that the practice is ‘consistently one of the best patent litigation outfits anywhere in the world‘. Though litigation is undoubtedly its strong point, the firm’s IP lawyers are all able to handle both advisory work and disputes.

Gómez-Acebo & Pombo‘s IP group frequently advises on protection, commercialisation and licensing matters, but is best known for its litigation practice, which is called upon to protect patents in the technology, life sciences, electronics and telecoms sectors. The lead partners in Madrid are Jesús Muñoz-Delgado, who specialises in biotechnology and plant variety matters, and litigator Sofía Martínez-Almeida. Associate Mercedes Corbal has significant experience in administrative proceedings before the Spanish Patents and Trade Marks Office and the European Union Intellectual Property Office. Partner Gonzalo Ulloa retired in 2023.

IP boutique Grau & Angulo ‘exudes confidence and skilfully guides the client through long and complex legal procedures'. Acting for an impressive roster of international blue-chip clients from industries such as life sciences, energy and telecoms, the firm is sought after for its expertise in injunction proceedings, patent infringement matters and counterclaims. The team is led by Barcelona-based Javier Huarte, who is one of the most experienced patent litigators in Spain, and cross-border litigation specialist Alejandro Angulo, alongside Madrid-based partner Jesús Arribas, who frequently handles cases involving telecoms, electronic and mechanical patents. Up-and-coming partner Ignacio Pontijas in Madrid is a key name for patent litigation in the life sciences space.

HOYNG ROKH MONEGIER is a standout firm for cross-border patent litigation, and clients remark that it is ‘a niche firm with top-tier expertise‘. The Madrid office is part of a multi-national European group that provides high-level advice from a pan-European perspective. Practice head Luis Fernández Novoa is ‘a leading light in Spanish patent litigation‘. José Antonio Sanmartín is noted for his litigation capabilities and knowledge of procedural law, and Álvaro Velázquez is a key specialist in litigating a broad range of IP rights including patents. Counsel Laura Cantero is ‘extremely conscientious‘ in multijurisdictional patent litigation concerning the pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors. Clients appreciate the firm’s ability to ‘dig into deep technical matters to fully understand patented technology‘.

Elzaburu‘s patent department works closely with the firm's other practices, notably the litigation, anti-counterfeiting and anti-piracy teams, to provide a comprehensive service across patent prosecution and litigation. Home to trained engineers who bring their technical knowledge to patent prosecution and litigation, the firm works with numerous applicants for Spanish and European patents, and has a long track record of success in the management and protection of inventions. The key contacts are new head of patents Ruth Sánchez, patent prosecution expert Francisco Saez, litigation specialist Enrique Armijo, head of legal and business Javier Fernández-Lasquetty, and anti-counterfeiting expert Juan José Caselles.

The Madrid office of Eversheds Sutherland is home to IP and litigation practices that combine to provide a comprehensive range of services in relation to patents. Though best known for its work in the pharmaceutical industry, having handled complex and high-value patent disputes for national and multinational clients, the firm is increasingly involved in matters in the industrial engineering, retail and automotive sectors. The Madrid-based team is led by health and life sciences litigation partner Kiko Carrión, litigation and prosecution expert José Mariano Cruz, and European Patent Lawyers Association member Marta González. Counsel Inmaculada López and legal director Eduardo Buitrón also play pivotal roles in the practice.

Garrigues has a broad offering in patent prosecution and litigation, having handled complex matters such as infringement through 3D printing, AI, AdWords, ISP liability, NFTs or online exhaustion of rights, as well as advising on the management of IP assets in complex M&A deals. Carolina Pina and João Miranda de Sousa, both based in Madrid, lead a five-partner IP group that combines both legal and technical expertise, as many practitioners are qualified engineers and biochemists. Indeed, clients praise the firm for ‘combining the legal and the technical in an understandable and effective way‘. In Bilbao, Mónica Arizti is head of the firm’s technical patent department, handling patent prosecution matters worldwide.

Hogan Lovells Spain has a 40-strong group of IP lawyers across its offices in Spain, and is well versed in patent, design, copyright and trademark infringement litigation and enforcement actions. It is particularly well known for its strong credentials in cross-border litigation. IP litigator Burkhart Goebel in Madrid and key partner Imogen Fowler in Alicante oversee the IP, media and technology group, in which Madrid-based partners Ana Castedo and Inmaculada Lorenzo are standout practitioners. Castedo is a name to note for tech, pharma and chemical companies engaged in contentious patent matters, while Lorenzo stands out for her experience in the life sciences and TMT sectors.

Uría Menéndez's IP and unfair competition practice is strong in both advisory matters and litigation, including both licensing and business transactions. The firm has a highly specialised IP practice for which patents are a key focus, particularly on behalf of clients in the pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, digital food and chemical sectors. Lead partners Montiano Monteagudo in Barcelona and the Madrid-based team of Ingrid Pi, Borja Sainz de Aja and Carles Vendrell combine skills in  TMT, digital law, and IP matters, enabling the firm to advise on patents as part of large M&A transactions, as well as actions to nullify or protect patents in infringement cases. Senior associate Marcos Fraile also plays a key role in the practice.

Baylos has a large team covering all aspects of IP, and the firm now manages the brands of more than 5000 entities across the world. Its work includes advice on patents and designs in key industries, among them pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, automotive, and medical devices. All partners, including practice head David Gómez, are litigators. New hire Ana Padial, who joined from Arochi & Lindner, SC in 2023, also has experience in pre-judicial and judicial disputes. Patent and unfair competition specialist Pedro Merino Baylos and experienced litigator Juan Luis Gracia are also key members of the Madrid-based practice.

Cuatrecasas calls on expertise across its network of international offices to advise on intellectual and industrial property and trade secrets, and its local offices are frequently involved in the protection of inventions and designs, as well as litigation concerning the validity and ownership of patents. Albert Agustinoy in Barcelona and Álvaro Bourkaib in Madrid oversee the five-partner practice, with Bourkaib handling much of the client-facing work. He specialises in the protection and transfer of intangible assets - from traditional IP to groundbreaking technology - in all types of commercial and corporate transactions for clients in diverse sectors, including life sciences, manufacturing, automotive and gaming.

The IP and IT law department in Deloitte Legal‘s Madrid office is the focal point for IP advice in a 13-office local network, and its lawyers handle the exploitation of IP rights, issues of validity and infringement, and license agreements. The firm is particularly active in the media sector, frequently providing advice to major Spanish film producers. Clients praise the firm’s ‘practical sense and business orientation’. Lead partner Dulce Miranda is experienced in litigation and the drafting of agreements across the whole range of IP, though patents feature strongly in her work. TMT partner Rodrigo González provides support in key matters.

Pérez-Llorca continues to build its capability in TMT and IP, and continues to provide ‘security in the approach and execution of the cases‘. In Madrid, practice head Eduardo Castillo is the standout lawyer for IP matters, focusing predominantly on patent litigation in the chemical, life sciences  and telecoms sectors. Counsel and infringement specialist Álvaro de Castro handles litigation concerning the acquisition, exploitation, infringement and validity of intangible assets. In Barcelona, litigation partner Rais Amils frequently acts for innovative pharmaceutical companies. As a whole, the group typically works in multijurisdictional transactional projects and disputes.

The patents, technological development and innovation department at PONS IP is ‘outstanding‘ and one client remarks on its ‘very sophisticated practice‘. Lead partner Ana Herrera, who is highly trained in biotechnology, has extensive experience in preparing patentability, infringement and freedom-to-operate opinions, and drafting and prosecuting European, Spanish, and international patent applications. Former practice head Patricia Ramos is overseeing an ambitious digital transformation programme that will see it incorporate new technologies such as artificial intelligence and blockchain in the surveillance and defence of intangible assets.

ABG Intellectual Property has a full-service IP offering, and stands out for its advice on the infringement and validity of patents. The firm fields a strong team of scientists and patent attorneys with in-depth technical knowledge, led by partner Laura Montoya in Madrid, whose work on the protection of intangible assets covers patents, utility models, designs, trade secrets, trade marks, copyright and new technologies. ‘Professional and competent‘ associate Irene Vazquez in Barcelona is recommended for patent prosecution.

Abril Abogados is a boutique IT and IP firm that predominantly handles patent, trade mark and copyright advisory work and litigation. Clients praise the firm’s ‘very detailed and well structured analysis‘ of domestic and cross-border matters. Working from five offices across Spain, the practice provides prosecution, transaction, and valuation services to numerous multinational corporations, including technology and pharmaceutical companies, as well as to universities. IP litigators Ignacio Temiño and Fernando Ortega in Madrid and patent prosecution specialist Salvador Diaz in Barcelona jointly lead the practice.

Baker McKenzie is singled out for its track record in pioneering patent cases in key sectors including pharmaceuticals, technology, chemicals and energy. Lead partners José María Méndez (Madrid) and Cristina Duch (Barcelona) handle patent prosecution, litigation and licensing mandates. The drafting and prosecution of patent applications, and the performance of freedom-to-operate and infringement analyses are among their key areas of activity.

Boutique firm Vidal-Quadras & Ramon stands out for its skills in IP litigation, though it handles a broad range of work around patent validity and infringement. Name partners Miguel Vidal-Quadras and Oriol Ramon, both based in Barcelona, ‘propose easy solutions to problems‘, and client praise their in-depth knowledge of the pharmaceutical industry. Indeed, the firm is best known for representing generic and bio-similar companies in pharma disputes with originators.