Gibson Dunn builds Madrid team as Armando Albarrán exits Freshfields
According to Iberian Lawyer sources, Armando Albarrán has left Freshfields, formally ending his tenure at the firm on Friday, 20 March. The move follows Gibson Dunn’s announcement in January that Albarrán would join the firm to lead the launch of its Madrid office (here the news). The US firm has confirmed to Iberian Lawyer that Albarrán officially started at Gibson Dunn today, 23 March.
The firm has not confirmed either the opening date of the office or its location. However, according to market sources, the launch appears to be imminent and could take place shortly after Semana Santa (Holy week).
The Madrid team is expected to include Asís Martín de Cabiedes Arranz, who appears on LinkedIn as joining as of counsel, and Mario Pacini, who is set to join as senior associate also according to LinkedIn. Both previously worked as senior associates in Freshfields’ Corporate/M&A and Private Capital teams led by Albarrán. According to unconfirmed market sources, the associate Alberto Broseta is also expected to join the new office, although neither the timing nor the move itself has been confirmed.
Gibson Dunn has been shaping its Spain launch since January. In February, Iberian Lawyer reported that Reka Palla had joined from A&O Shearman as of counsel, becoming the first addition to the Spain team being assembled under Albarrán. At that stage, the planned Madrid office was expected to focus on private equity, infrastructure and healthcare (here the news).
While Gibson Dunn has reiterated that Albarrán’s arrival will be followed by the opening of its Madrid office, Madrid does not yet appear on the firm’s public locations page, which currently lists 22 offices globally and, in Europe, London, Paris, Frankfurt, Munich, Brussels and Zurich.
The development also comes against the backdrop of a tougher approach by Freshfields to partner exits. As previously reported, the firm has begun applying the full six-month notice period provided for in its partnership agreement to certain non-US partners leaving the firm, amid a rise in senior departures across Europe (here the news).
Following our publication, Gibson Dunn has now officially confirmed Armando Albarrán’s arrival in a press release, stating that he has joined the firm as a partner in its Private Equity and M&A practice groups and that his hire will be followed by the opening of the firm’s Madrid office. The firm described the move as a significant step in the expansion of its European transactional platform. “Armando brings a leadership ethos defined by client service, excellence, and collaboration—precisely the qualities that will drive the success of our new office,” said Barbara Becker, Chair and Managing Partner of Gibson Dunn. “Madrid is a vital European hub for private equity and cross-border M&A, particularly for sponsors and multinationals executing high-value transactions between Europe and the Americas. This expansion strengthens our ability to serve clients on their most sophisticated deals across the region.” “Armando has advised on many of the most significant Spanish and cross-border transactions,” said Federico Fruhbeck, Co-Head of Gibson Dunn’s Private Equity Group in Europe. “His arrival positions us to advise clients on their most sophisticated Spanish matters, while also working with our London and continental European teams to deliver integrated, cross-border advice.”
