Garrigues
The "Iberian giant" Garrigues dates back to 1941, when two small law firms run by brothers Joaquin and Antonio Garrigues Diaz-Canyabate merged. The company grew in size over the next 50 years, opening an office in New York in 1973 and Brussels in the next decade.
Garrigues may actually have been the first Spanish law firm to begin expanding internationally. In the 1980s, he created a global network known as the Club de Avogados (the Lawyers' Club), providing access to like-minded companies in other countries. A major turning point for Garrigues came in 1997 when he merged with the Spanish tax and legal division of the audit firm Arthur Andersen. The merger was successful. In just five years, the number of employees has doubled and turnover has increased by 130%.
In 2011, the company acquired 152 new shareholders as part of its transition to a more egalitarian structure. Finally, nearly 95% of the partnerships were shareholders in a modified state.
Antonio Garrigues Walker, son of Antonio Garrigues Diaz-Canyabate, joined the company in 1954. He became Chairman of the Board of Directors in 1962 when his father was appointed Spanish Ambassador to the United States, and he held that position for an astonishing 52 years, retiring in 2014 at the age of 80. The company's partners appointed him honorary chairman after his retirement.
Current Chairman Fernando Vives was the Company's Corporate and Commercial Management Officer from 2001 to 2009, when he was appointed Co-Management Partner with tax partner Ricardo Gomez Barreda.
Vives and Gomez Barreda replace Jose Maria Alonso and Miguel Gordillo, who headed the company from 2000 to 2009.
In 2011 Garrigues reorganized his leadership. Vives became the sole managing partner and Gomez Barreda was appointed as the senior partner. When Antonio Garrigues retired, Vives added "Executive President" to his position and Gomez Barreda was re-elected as Senior Partner.
Vives were re-elected for another five years in January 2017.
The Lawyer research data
- European 100 rank: 1
- Revenue: €386.9
- No. of Partners: 326
Country: Spain
Website: https://www.garrigues.com/en_GB
