Iván Zaldua joins Garrigues as New Partner at its Tax Team

Garrigues has announced the appointment of Iván Zaldua as a new partner, bringing significant expertise in both national and international tax advisory services. Zaldua, a highly regarded lawyer, is known for his successful defense of Xabi Alonso in a high-profile tax litigation case, in which the former Real Madrid player was acquitted, marking a key precedent in Spain’s tax law regarding athletes’ image rights.

Previously a partner at Zaldúa Etxebarría, the firm he co-founded in 2013, Zaldua joins Garrigues to bolster its tax practice, working from the Bilbao office alongside a team of three additional lawyers. His arrival is seen as a strategic move to enhance the firm’s capabilities in handling complex tax matters.

Zaldua’s career spans two decades, with early experience in the tax departments of KPMG and Cuatrecasas. Alongside his legal practice, he has taught in the Master’s programs in Tax Advisory at the University of Deusto and the University of the Basque Country. He has also contributed to various legal publications, co-authoring notable works on succession planning and income tax.

With a law degree from the University of Deusto and a Master’s in Tax Advisory from IE Business School, Zaldua’s addition to Garrigues signals the firm’s continued commitment to bringing top-tier talent into its ranks.