Málaga: Spain’s new legal hub
Economic growth, international investment, and the arrival of talent are positioning Málaga as an expanding legal market. Iberian Lawyer spoke with several firms to explain the phenomenon
by gonzalo blázquez de sande
Experts: Alejandro Beigveder, managing partner at Garrigues in Málaga; Santiago Gómez-Villares Pérez-Muñoz, partner in charge of the Málaga offices of Montero Aramburu & Gómez-Villares Atencia; José Miguel Soriano, managing partner at Andersen in Málaga.
Málaga has undergone a significant transformation in recent years. It has shifted from a primarily tourism-driven economy, and more recently a tech-focused one, to become an increasingly relevant business and legal hub in southern Europe. The growth of sectors such as real estate, technology, and alternative investments has driven demand for sophisticated legal services.
In the province, there are more than 2,000 registered law firms and legal professionals, reflecting Málaga’s growing weight in Spain’s professional services ecosystem. Firms are not only expanding to support existing clients, but are also pursuing new opportunities linked to international investment. In this context, Málaga is emerging as an alternative to Madrid and Barcelona for specialized advisory services.
THE INITIAL BET
For many firms, Málaga is not a speculative move but a strategic one. The roots of the city’s legal ecosystem go back decades. Garrigues was the first major firm to establish a presence in the city, anticipating its future as a legal hub. Alejandro Beigveder, managing partner in Málaga, frames it this way: “Garrigues has been in Málaga since 1987. Our presence reflects a strong commitment to Andalucía and the need to support Málaga’s robust economic and business growth, especially in sectors such as technology, finance, real estate, tourism, and services”.
Rather than simply reacting to a recent boom, firms like Garrigues have been active participants in the city’s transformation. “We have been advising companies here for almost 40 years. We have directly contributed to the city’s development and have witnessed its consolidation as a market with great potential”, Beigveder explains.
Today, the firm’s expansion responds to a dual dynamic: loyalty to local clients and service to new international investors. “It is about maintaining our commitment to the local business community while addressing the growing demand from incoming companies and international talent that require high-level, global legal services”.
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