Sonia Velasco
Sonia Velasco
Partner | Cuatrecasas
OFFICE LOCATION
Barcelona, Spain
JURISDICTIONS QUALIFIED IN
Spain
TOP 3 AREAS OF EXPERTISE
Personal and estate planning
Succession planning
Residency and domiciliation
CROSS-BORDER CLIENT EXPERIENCE IN
What has been the highlight of your practice over the past 12 months?
Our private client team in Cuatrecasas has been very successful due to its extensive knowledge in tax and civil law matters, gained through its extensive client base. We have organised our firm in practice groups based on technical expertise such as private client expertise, but also on business sectors and clients’ jurisdictions. We are advising many of the top families in the Catalonian region where I am based and I am proud of having been part of that success.
What advice would you give rising stars/new lawyers in the private client world?
Based on the kind of clients we advise on private client issues, I would say that trust has to be the basis of any relationship. Clients have to see us as someone who is on their side and who will treat their heritage as if it were our own. Trust and confidentiality is the other principle that any relationship has to be based on.
What is your favourite quote?
"Communication, the thing humans forgot when we invented the words," Richard Branson.
Patricia Garcia Mediero
Patricia Garcia Mediero
Senior Partner | Avantia Asesoramiento Fiscal y Legal
OFFICE LOCATION
Vizcaya, Spain
JURISDICTIONS QUALIFIED IN
Spain
England and Wales
TOP 3 AREAS OF EXPERTISE
Personal and estate planning
Asset holding structures
Tax
CROSS-BORDER CLIENT EXPERIENCE IN
What has been the highlight of your practice over the past 12 months?
The increasing demand for our services in very complex cross-border work.
What advice would you give rising stars/new lawyers in the private client world?
Stay calm and focused. Notice what is NOT being said.
What is your favourite quote?
“Every problem is also an opportunity.”
Florentino Carreño
Florentino Carreño
Partner | Cuatrecasas
OFFICE LOCATION
Madrid, Spain
JURISDICTIONS QUALIFIED IN
Spain
TOP 3 AREAS OF EXPERTISE
Personal and estate planning
Succession planning
Tax
CROSS-BORDER CLIENT EXPERIENCE IN
What has been the highlight of your practice over the past 12 months?
As a consequence of the recovery of Spanish activity, an increase in structuring new projects and investments. Other highlights include increased Brexit and US legislative work, tax compliance, succession planning and reallocation work involving Latin-American, British, US and Spanish individuals and families.
What advice would you give rising stars/new lawyers in the private client world?
You must have a good understanding of the world and the trend of internationalisation. Always assume the need for complete transparency with clients and have excellent knowledge and working application of the jurisdictions they are in.
Iñigo Aguirrezabala
Iñigo Aguirrezabala
Partner | Cuatrecasas
OFFICE LOCATION
Barcelona, Spain
JURISDICTIONS QUALIFIED IN
Spain
TOP 3 AREAS OF EXPERTISE
Personal and estate planning
Asset holding structures
Tax
CROSS-BORDER CLIENT EXPERIENCE IN
What has been the highlight of your practice over the past 12 months?
During the last year, one of the most interesting technical issues that I have advised on was the applicability of the tax treaties signed by Spain, under Article 4, to a resident under the Spanish "impatriate" preferred tax regime.
I have also advised regarding pre-immigration tax structure for a Peruvian UHNWI moving to Spain that had multiple assets and structures in different jurisdictions.
What advice would you give rising stars/new lawyers in the private client world?
I would advise them to focus on the clients and anticipate their needs since the clients and their legal well-being are the most important thing of our profession.
I would also advise them to acquire as much legal international knowledge as possible.
What is your favourite quote?
“Education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world,” Nelson Mandela.
Carlos Ferrer
Carlos Ferrer
Partner | Cuatrecasas
OFFICE LOCATION
Madrid, Spain
JURISDICTIONS QUALIFIED IN
Spain
TOP 3 AREAS OF EXPERTISE
CROSS-BORDER CLIENT EXPERIENCE IN
What has been the highlight of your practice over the past 12 months?
What advice would you give rising stars/new lawyers in the private client world?
What is your favourite quote?