Iberian law firms dominate FT’s top 10 in Europe
Financial Times‘ list of the top 10 European law firms outside the United Kingdom, in the special edition FT Innovative Lawyers: 20 Years, features seven Iberian names in it. The list is the result of an analysis of the most frequent appearances in the FT Innovative Lawyers‘ overall European ranking. This ranking covers a period of almost two decades (2006–2024) and highlights the firms that have most often stood out in the global legal innovation assessments promoted by the Financial Times and RSGI.
The top 10 starts with Cuatrecasas and goes on with Garrigues, Uría Menéndez (all Spanish), NautaDutilh, (Netherlands), Vieira de Almeida (Portugal), Arthur Cox (Ireland), PLMJ (Portugal), Gómez-Acebo & Pombo (Spain), Matheson (Ireland) and Morais Leitão (Portugal).
The 2025 edition of the FT Innovative Lawyers report emphasises the ongoing transformation of the legal sector, driven by the adoption of new technologies and a shift towards more collaborative and transparent service delivery models.
The 20 most influential figures
As part of the celebrations marking the 20th anniversary of the FT Innovative Lawyers, among the 20 most recognised lawyers over the past 20 years are Santiago Martínez Garrido (Iberdrola) and Luis de Carlos (former managing partner at Uría Menéndez), the only Spanish lawyers to appear on the list. João Vieira de Almeida, senior partner at VdA, was also recognised, as the sole representative from Portugal.
“Throughout his career, João Vieira de Almeida has played a central role in the modernisation and internationalisation of legal practice, promoting a culture of innovation, ethics, and social impact within the profession. These distinctions represent not only a source of immense pride, but also a reflection of a collective effort guided by a long-term strategic vision”, says VdA.
