Iberian Lawyer Labour Awards 2026, the winners
The winners of the Iberian Lawyer Labour Awards 2026 were announced during the gala ceremony held at the VP Madroño in Madrid. Once again, the Labour Awards recognized the excellence amongst Iberian professionals active in this area.
The winners were the following:
MARKET LEADER
Sagardoy
The firm stands at the forefront of employment law, delivering strategic solutions in labour disputes, restructurings, salary litigation, and social security matters. Trusted by leading companies across retail, healthcare, hospitality, and banking, it is known for its proven success and forward-thinking leadership in the field.
LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR
CECA MAGÁN ABOGADOS
The employment department has been the fastest-growing labor practice in the Spanish market, having doubled its size in three years. The team is particularly active in collective dismissals, large-scale layoffs, subsequent collective bargaining agreements, as well as related litigation and restructuring processes.
LAWYER OF THE YEAR
Silvia Bauzá – EY Abogados
The lawyer has over twenty-five years of experience, specializing in complex litigation, senior executive matters, and incentive systems, with extensive expertise in the labor aspects of M&A, corporate turnarounds, and restructuring processes.
LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR INDUSTRIAL & TRADE UNION RELATIONS
BROSETA
During the research period, the team demonstrated strong work capacity and leadership in addressing highly complex issues and participated in numerous relevant negotiation procedures with unions.
LAWYER OF THE YEAR INDUSTRIAL & TRADE UNION RELATIONS
Pedro Madeira de Brito – BAS – Sociedade de Advogados
The professional possesses strong expertise and specializes in collective labour agreements and negotiations with trade unions, with a particular focus on advising human resources departments and handling court procedures.
LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR LITIGATION
Sérvulo & Associados
The team combines deep expertise with a pragmatic, accessible approach, maintaining a strong labour litigation practice representing national and multinational companies in complex disputes.
LAWYER OF THE YEAR LITIGATION
Alberto Novoa Mendoza – RocaJunyent
The professional has demonstrated excellence in complex litigation, leading collective and individual proceedings with significant impact in the energy and private security sectors, while consolidating key jurisprudential criteria.
LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR NON-CONTENTIOUS & ADVISORY
Augusta Abogados
The professionals adopt a proactive approach to legal advisory, ensuring labour law compliance and strategic HR support across diverse sectors. The team combines commercial awareness with responsiveness and is fully equipped to address intricate cross-border cases.
LAWYER OF THE YEAR NON-CONTENTIOUS & ADVISORY
Covadonga Roldán Moralejo – Deloitte Legal España
The lawyer provides strategic, client-focused advice and has extensive experience handling non-contentious labour matters at both national and international levels. She advises a broad range of clients across the financial services, real estate, consumer business, IT, and transport sectors.
LAWYER OF THE YEAR AGENCY RELATIONSHIPS
Nuno Abranches Pinto – Littler Portugal
The professional brings extensive experience in labour law, particularly in agency relationship matters, and provides ongoing legal advice, strategic guidance, and practical support to clients across a wide range of industries.
LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR TOP MANAGEMENT
SPS-Barrilero
During the research period, the law firm’s team successfully handled several significant matters, coordinating all relevant legal aspects while providing strategic guidance and tailored solutions.
LAWYER OF THE YEAR TOP MANAGEMENT
Carlos Gil – Addleshaw Goddard
With over 30 years of experience, the professional has extensive expertise in senior executive employment relationships. During the research period, around 70% of work has focused on top management advisory, including remuneration, incentive plans, terminations, executive hiring, and board restructuring.
LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR RESTRUCTURING
Eversheds Sutherland Spain
The team advises on collective dismissals and executive terminations and is highly regarded for restructuring-related employment mandates, delivering strong strategic insight and effective execution.
LAWYER OF THE YEAR RESTRUCTURING
Inés Molero Navarro – Abdón Pedrajas | Littler
The lawyer is an experienced practitioner in complex restructuring matters, encompassing employee terminations and international transfers, and is well known for her flexibility and responsiveness to client needs.
LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR CORPORATE REORGANISATIONS
A&O Shearman
The team handles complex corporate reorganisation procedures, including workforce reorganisation processes covering collective and individual layoffs, incentivised exit plans, and combines vast, up-to-date technical expertise with constant availability.
LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR M&A AND EMPLOYMENT-RELATED ISSUES
Gómez-Acebo & Pombo
The team effectively handles complex M&A and employment-related transactions and comprises talented lawyers who are highly regarded for their responsiveness and technical expertise.
LAWYER OF THE YEAR M&A AND EMPLOYMENT-RELATED ISSUES
Ignacio Regojo – Squire Patton Boggs
The lawyer has expertly managed complex M&A and employment-related transactions, addressing numerous labour issues that arise in such deals, and is highly regarded for his responsiveness, approachability, and pragmatic approach.
LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR SOCIAL SECURITY
pbbr
The firm maintains a strong presence in standalone employment law and HR-related matters, with particular expertise in social security and social security litigation. Its professionals deliver strategic advice on complex issues, working collaboratively to provide high-quality legal support through a client-focused approach.
LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR PUBLIC SECTOR EMPLOYMENT
Cerejeira Namora, Marinho Falcão
The highly skilled legal team developed a strong and effective strategy for the operations under review, leveraging its extensive experience in labour law within the public sector and its thorough understanding of the applicable laws and regulations.
LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR EQUALITY PLAN
Lopes Barata & Associados
During the research period, the team has increasingly established itself as a reference point in the evolving field of gender pay gap compliance, providing support in developing action plans, conducting pay-equity assessments, and implementing defensible methodologies for assessing pay gaps.
LAWYER OF THE YEAR EQUALITY PLAN
Paz De La Iglesia – A&O Shearman
The highly experienced lawyer advises clients with strategic advice on equality issues, drawing on extensive expertise to align workplace policies with evolving requirements on compensation equity and employee security.
LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR SPORTS LAW
14 Sports Law
The team has extensive experience in national and international dispute resolution before sports arbitration bodies. The professionals offer expert guidance on disciplinary matters, contracts, and regulatory issues, while supporting clients navigating the sports legal landscape.
LAWYER OF THE YEAR SPORTS LAW
Alberto Fernández Irizar – BROSETA
The professional plays a key role in the sports law sector, participating in complex operations while advising a significant client across all stages of employment matters, demonstrating strong technical expertise and a proactive approach.
LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR CRIMINAL EMPLOYMENT LAW
Ospina Abogados
The team is widely recognized for its profound expertise and client-centered approach, with professionals distinguished by their consistent delivery of precise advice in complex cases.
LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR DIVERSITY & INCLUSION
RocaJunyent
The team has designed and implemented comprehensive equality and harassment prevention programs for top retail, industrial, and cosmetics companies, promoting inclusive, respectful, and supportive workplace cultures.
LAWYER OF THE YEAR DIVERSITY & INCLUSION
Aurora Sanz Tomás – Grant Thornton
The professional is experienced in the drafting and implementation of equality plans, promoting employee well-being, multicultural work environments, safe workplaces, and effective anti-harassment protocols.
TEAM OF THE YEAR ESG & SOCIAL IMPACT
Abdón Pedrajas | Littler
The team led the negotiation and execution of an equality plan for a major client, in collaboration with two trade unions, marking an important milestone by establishing concrete commitments on equal treatment, work–life balance, internal promotion, and the prevention of harassment.
