Cuatrecasas fields a strong team of lawyers specialised in Spanish and EU food law, offering advice to large international and domestic food and beverage companies on a spread of matters, from production and branding rights to transportation and advertising issues. Its broad service covers corporate, regulatory, competition issues as well as litigation and IP. Focused on IP, data protection and new technologies, Alejandro Negro handles a mix of advisory work, contractual matters and litigation for major food companies.

A variety of clients, ranging from large national food conglomerates and cooperatives, to associations and investors, turn to Garrigues' ‘very solid and very well-coordinated team’ for its in-depth knowledge of the food industry and 'the world of agriculture in Spain'. The team is particularly skilled at handling M&A deals for national and international PE funds looking to invest in the domestic food sector. Murcia-based Miguel Ángel López Mateo, a key contact for several international funds focused on the food and agribusiness spaces, oversees the department with Jose Ramón Tenor Peñafiel in Sevilla, the latter of whom is trusted by several industry associations.

The team at Gómez-Acebo & Pombo is regularly called upon to assist food and beverage clients with a multitude of non-contentious and contentious matters. Noted for its 'great expertise and experience in the sector', the firm is equipped to handle a mix of M&A, compliance issues, product liability claims and matters related to food chain law, labelling and recalls. Leadership of the group is shared between José Luis Palma, whose strong background in administrative law makes him a go-to choice for advice on food regulations, health claims and animal welfare, and Mónica Weimann, who undertakes a blend of work relating to product advertising, labelling, and acquisitions. IP specialist Sofía Martínez-Almeida is noted for her extensive experience in labelling and advertising matters.

Bringing together multidisciplinary expertise in transactions, contracts, regulatory issues, competition and IP rights, Uría Menéndez advises on the gamut of matters that arise within the food and beverages sectors. The team manages a busy workload where joint ventures and M&A feature alongside advertising, distribution and contentious matters. Montiano Monteagudo co-leads the group from Barcelona, attracting unfair competition and corporate mandates from domestic and multinational players. Fellow co-head Teresa Paz-Ares is based in Madrid, and advises clients in this space on regulatory, corporate and commercial issues.

Andersen is home to ‘a multidisciplinary team with extensive knowledge of the sector’, offering its national and international client base commercial, IP, regulatory, competition, tax and dispute resolution advice. Notes for his specialist knowledge of the Food Chain Act, José Miguel Soriano is active in litigation in the food and agribusiness sectors, while Ignacio Aparicio predominantly handles M&A transactions for food sector clients.

International and Spanish food manufacturers and brands routinely turn to Baker McKenzie, which fields a ‘large team of people with different skills', covering transactional, competition and IP matters. Based in Barcelona, Cristina Duch draws on her strong background in trade marks and IP litigation to assist clients from the food and beverages sector with IP rights, advertising and unfair competition issues. Juanjo Corral oversees the team in Madrid, and is the first point of contact for private equity clients engaged in M&A in this space.

Bird & Bird acts for a wide range of Spanish and international clients across the food and beverages industry. Offering advice on IP, competition, data protection and transactional matters, the group is regularly retained by biotech and agriscience, manufacturers, food supply chain companies, retailers and distributors. Lourdes Ayala takes the lead on corporate and M&A work, while Antonio Cueto focuses on IP issues. IP is also a key specialism for Manuel Lobato, who possesses a strong track record in patent litigation before the Spanish courts, and Mariano Santos, who handles trade mark prosecution matters.

DLA Piper is a firm favourite for food-sector clients, including manufacturers, looking for assistance with matters concerning food safety, labelling, packaging, advertising and distribution. Benefitting from the firm's full-service structure, the team is well positioned to handle corporate and M&A transactions, compliance, investigation and contentious issues. Diego Ramos leads the practice, regularly advising major food and beverages companies on IP law.

Equipped with a sound ‘understanding of the specifics of the food industry’, Ramón y Cajal Abogados expertly handles matters for some of the largest national food sector clients. The team, whose expertise encompasses Spanish and EU regulations affecting the agri-food sector, is led by a capable duo: José Ignacio Vega - noted for his public law capabilities - adeptly helps distilleries and agri-food clients navigate food chain law and legislative changes; and Javier Salinas, who is well versed in competition matters. Claudia Castillo is another name to note for competition matters.