Montero Aramburu & Gómez-Villares Atencia and Eskariam join forces

Spanish law firm Montero Aramburu & Gómez-Villares Atencia has entered into a strategic partnership with litigation specialist Eskariam to advise and represent the hotel and tourism sector in claims against Booking.com for alleged anticompetitive practices that have impacted the industry’s profitability and commercial freedom for years.

The collaboration follows the landmark judgment issued by the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) on September 19, 2024, which cast doubt on the legality of the so-called parity clauses imposed by Booking.com. The Court ruled that these clauses — which prevented hotels from offering better prices or conditions on their own websites or other platforms — were neither necessary nor proportionate, effectively restricting competition and the hotels’ commercial autonomy.

Thanks to this alliance, Montero Aramburu & Gómez-Villares Atencia — which has a strong client base in the hotel sector across Andalusia and the Canary Islands — will offer a full-service legal solution that combines sector-specific expertise, territorial proximity, and a multidisciplinary team of more than 300 professionals.

Integrated Legal Solution for Large-Scale Litigation

Eskariam, a recognized leader in large collective claims in Spain — such as the multi-billion euro Milk Cartel litigation — brings deep experience in complex group claims. For the Booking.com case, Eskariam has reinforced its team with Pedro Suárez and Javier Pérez from legal boutique Rēgula, two of Spain’s most respected competition law experts with strong international credentials.

The economic analysis and damage quantification, a key component of the case, is being prepared by Compass Lexecon, a leading global consultancy in antitrust economic damages.

Montero Aramburu & Gómez-Villares Atencia will contribute its deep knowledge of the regional hotel ecosystem, especially in southern Spain and the islands, ensuring personalized support throughout the entire legal process.

“This is a case with direct implications for the tourism sector in our regions. We wanted to offer our clients a solid, specialized, and effective legal response. That’s why we’re partnering with Eskariam and the outstanding team leading this collective action,” said Maite Cerezo, Partner and Head of the Commercial Law Department at the law firm.

David Fernández, CEO of Eskariam, added “Montero Aramburu & Gómez-Villares Atencia brings an unmatched understanding of the Andalusian and Canarian hotel sector, along with a close client relationship model. Together, we will offer hotels a high-quality legal path to seek redress for the damages caused by Booking.com’s anticompetitive behavior”.