ICAM appoints Ricardo Alonso as General Director of its future University

The Madrid Bar Association (ICAM) announced today the appointment of Ricardo Alonso García as Director General of ICAM University, the university center affiliated with the Complutense University of Madrid (UCM).

The Dean of ICAM, Eugenio Ribón, highlighted: “This appointment is a real milestone for the Spanish legal profession and academia, as it brings one of the most prominent figures in Administrative Law and European Union Law in Latin America and Europe to the forefront of the project. With the addition of Ricardo Alonso, ICAM University is born under the leadership of one of the most respected voices in European law and contemporary administrative doctrine. It is a giant step forward in consolidating this project as an academic and professional benchmark in Spain and Latin America.”

Ricardo Alonso

Professor of Administrative and European Union Law at the UCM, Ricardo Alonso has been Dean of the Faculty of Law (2016–2025) and, since March 2025, has directed the Complutense School of Legal Practice. He is also a full member of the Royal Academy of Jurisprudence and Legislation (medal no. 38), three-time holder of the Jean Monnet Chair, and member of the Advisory Council of Aranzadi La Ley.

His career has been recognized with distinctions such as the Rafael Martínez Emperador Award from the General Council of the Judiciary, the Eduardo García de Enterría Award for European Legal Studies, the Aequitas Award from the UNAM, the Rosalba Medal from the Permanent Review Tribunal of Mercosur, and the Gabriela Mistral Medal from the Andean Parliament. Several universities in Argentina, Peru, Bolivia, and Brazil have also awarded him honorary doctorates.

Doctrinal reference and Ibero-American bridge

Author of reference works such as Sistema jurídico de la Unión Europea (The Legal System of the European Union) and co-author of the Código de la Unión Europea (Code of the European Union), Alonso is considered a pioneer in the analysis of jurisdictional dialogue between Luxembourg, Strasbourg, and national courts, as well as in the reception of European law in Spanish contentious-administrative jurisdiction.

His work has transcended borders thanks to a solid Ibero-American presence, with academic and judicial links that are now being put at the service of the ICAM University project to turn it into a true international hub of legal excellence. The objective is clear: to make Madrid a meeting point for law students, academics, and professionals from both sides of the Atlantic.

For his part, Ricardo Alonso said: “Taking on the role of Director General of ICAM University is an exciting challenge. Our goal will be to put Madrid on the international map for legal education excellence, combining academic tradition, professional practice, and commitment to society.”

ICAM University: a pioneering project

ICAM University will be the first university center in Spain promoted by a bar association, affiliated with the UCM and offering official bachelor’s and master’s degrees.

“The center will have state-of-the-art facilities and an innovative teaching model, focused on academic excellence, professional practice, and internationalization, with scholarship programs and affordable tuition to attract diverse talent,” ICAM shared in a statement. They also reported that this alliance with the Complutense University of Madrid, one of the oldest and most prestigious universities in Europe, provides the new center with first-rate institutional support and the academic guarantee of a university tradition with more than five centuries of history.

The magnitude of ICAM makes the new center a project of national and international scope, backed by an unparalleled professional community with bridges on both continents. As well, the ‘ICAM University’ project has been promoted to date by Ester Mocholí, member of the ICAM Governing Board, who was recently appointed rector of the University of Villanueva. Mocholí will continue to be involved in the project, but from an external position, as she will remain the ICAM member responsible for training.