Gibson Dunn hires Armando Albarrán to launch in Spain

Gibson Dunnis opening an office in Madrid and has hired Armando Albarrán, formerly of Freshfields, as a partner in its venture capital and M&A practices. The move strengthens the firm’s European transactional platform.

“Armando brings a spirit of leadership 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 venture capital and cross-border M&A, particularly for sponsors and multinationals conducting high-value transactions between Europe and the Americas. This expansion strengthens our ability to serve clients in their most sophisticated transactions throughout the region.”

Armando Albarrán’s career

Albarrán joins from Freshfields, where he was a partner responsible for the commercial, M&A and capital markets areas. He has extensive experience in advising financial sponsors and companies on complex corporate financing transactions, both domestic and cross-border, including public and private mergers and acquisitions, IPOs and debt issuances. He has worked in sectors such as energy, infrastructure, real estate and telecommunications.

The new partner has participated in numerous landmark transactions with a Spanish component. His regular clients include companies such as Amadeus, Naturgy, MásMóvil and Merlin Properties, as well as investment banks, financial institutions and financial investors, including large international private equity funds such as Cinven and KKR. He advises them on a wide range of domestic and international corporate financing transactions in the energy, infrastructure, real estate and telecommunications sectors.

“Armando has advised on many of the most significant Spanish and cross-border transactions in recent years,” said Federico Fröhbeck, co-head of Gibson Dunn’s Private Equity Group in Europe. “His addition puts us in a unique position to advise on the most complex matters in Spain, working closely with our teams in London and continental Europe to offer a truly integrated service.”

Gibson Dunn in figures

Founded 135 years ago, Gibson Dunn has nearly 2,000 lawyers in 22 jurisdictions. In Europe, the firm has offices in Brussels, Paris, Frankfurt, Munich, Zurich (opened last year) and London, to which Madrid is now added.

According to The American Lawyer, the firm revenue $3.6 billion in 2024, making it the fifth largest firm in the United States in terms of revenue. It also has one of the highest profits per equity partner in the market, at $7.2 million per partner.

Gibson Dunn’s growth in Europe has been driven in particular by sustained expansion in the United Kingdom, where its London office has more than doubled in size over the last five years, from 84 lawyers in 2020 to 218 today, as well as by continued investment in the European continent.

The firm also has a strong track record in advising on public sector matters, with a highly specialised team that includes more than 80 lawyers with prior experience in the US government, more than 450 former US judicial clerks and more than 40 former US Supreme Court clerks.