Pérez-Llorca: drive and renewal
With a 33% increase in 2024 and sales quintupled over the last decade, the firm is focusing on key markets and new governance to tackle future legal challenges
by ilaria iaquinta
Constant self-examination, despite favourable figures, to grow further and better: this seems to be the path charted by Pérez-Llorca. Despite having quintupled its sales in the last decade, a continuous growth trajectory over the past five years, and a 33% increase in global turnover in 2024, surpassing €165 million (€133.6 million, +8% in Spain), the firm has not chosen to rest. In fact, it has strongly committed to international expansion, investing particularly in key markets such as Portugal—with the opening of its Lisbon office at the end of 2023, where nearly 45 professionals are already working—and Mexico, through the integration of the firm González Calvillo, completed in July last year, not forgetting the strategic strengthening of its New York headquarters, which now encompasses not only Spanish law but also Portuguese and Mexican law.
But it’s not just about geographical expansion. Significant internal decisions have also been made to prepare for the future. The adoption of new governance at the beginning of last year marks the start of a gradual succession after decades of sole leadership by Pedro Pérez-Llorca, who has been the firm’s managing partner since 1997. This change is materialised in the promotion of key figures such as Julio Lujambio, appointed executive partner; Iván Delgado, international executive partner; and Constanza Vergara, partner and COO of the firm, in addition to the creation of an international partnership board of 30 members that ensures representation from Spain, Portugal, and Mexico. And, to complete this ambitious project, Pérez-Llorca has decidedly committed to innovation and digitalisation. The integration of Legora, a second-generation generative artificial intelligence tool, demonstrates the firm’s commitment to modernising its processes and responding to the growing demand for efficiency and agility in the provision of legal services.
Below, in a frank and revealing conversation with Pedro Pérez-Llorca, the factors that have driven this success are broken down, and the future prospects of one of the most dynamic firms in the legal landscape are glimpsed.
The law firm has concluded a very positive year. Despite geopolitical uncertainties and inflation…
We are very pleased with 2024 and satisfied with the growth over the past decade. The 2024 results are driven by two main factors. Firstly, our activities in the Spanish and Portuguese markets have grown across nearly all practices, both transactional and non-transactional. Additionally, there is an extraordinary factor: our entry into the Mexican market through an integration. Together, these factors explain the 33% figure.
The law firm has accelerated its international expansion. Can we say that Pérez-Llorca’s current ambition is primarily focused abroad?
Not exclusively. While our recent international expansion is notable—we’ve grown from operating solely in Spain to establishing a presence in Portugal and Mexico within a year—our ambition for growth within Spain remains strong. We continue to work with an increasing number of clients, participate in the country’s most significant transactions, and expand through both internal promotions and external hires. Therefore, while we are committed to international growth, we maintain a significant focus on expanding our operations within Spain.
How are you progressing in Portugal and Mexico? Are the objectives being met?
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