Javier Fontcuberta, new managing partner of Cuatrecasas

Cuatrecasas has approved the appointments of Javier Fontcuberta as new managing partner, Rafael Fontana as non-executive senior partner until December 31, 2025, and Luis Pérez de Ayala as new non-executive senior partner from January 1, 2026. The appointments, part of the succession process in the Firm’s governing bodies, were approved at the Extraordinary Partners Meeting held at its Barcelona office on April 10. Five new partners were also appointed, whose noteworthy careers, proven talent and excellent service will contribute significantly to the firm’s growth and development in areas and sectors of high strategic value.

Rafael Fontana had been appointed executive senior partner in August 2022. In December of that same year, Javier Fontcuberta was appointed managing director and Luis Pérez de Ayala, non-executive vice chair.

Regarding his appointment, Javier Fontcuberta stated: “Today, we have formalized the Firm’s generational changeover. With responsibility and ambition, I take the baton and assume the position of managing partner, fully and loyally committing to laying the Firm’s future foundations.”

Appointment of new partners

Another highlight of the Extraordinary Partners Meeting was the appointment of five new partners who represent the various practices and regions of Cuatrecasas.  It approved the promotion to partner of three of the Firm’s lawyers: Alessandro Jones-Capobianco (Tax, Spain), Aina Maragall (Public Law, Spain) and Tomás Ugalde (Financing and Restructuring, Spain); and the appointment of two recently hired partners: Eduardo Pastor (Litigation, Spain) and Luis Vázquez (Tax, Mexico). 

Alessandro Jones-Capobianco (Tax partner, Spain): He has a strong track record specializing in strategic advice on complex corporate transactions. He specializes in transactional insurance (tax insurance, W&I, and contingent insurance) and handles complex claims. He is an expert in the international taxation of foreign investments and has participated in crossborder transactions in the industrial, real estate and energy sectors. He is a member of the Barcelona, Paris and Quebec bar associations, and regularly speaks at forums specializing in W&I insurance and tax.

Aina Maragall (Public Law partner, Spain): She has extensive experience advising business groups and investment funds on real estate acquisitions, and on selling and financing real estate assets. She specializes in land planning, urban planning and management from a preventive standpoint, as well as defending clients before the authorities and in court. A member of the Barcelona Bar Association, WIRES (Women in Real Estate Spain), Barcelona Global and the 22@Network Association, she is an associate lecturer at Universitat Abat Oliva and regular speaker at conferences on urban planning law.

Tomás Ugalde (Finance and Restructuring partner, Spain): He has extensive experience in current and long-term corporate financing, including bank loans and credits, factoring and guarantees, as well as acquisition finance, and energy and infrastructure projects. He is an expert in real estate finance, debt restructuring and insolvency law, working on highly complex national and multijurisdictional transactions. He regularly participates in training sessions and conferences and contributes to various legal publications.

Eduardo Pastor (Litigation partner, Spain):He is a senior judge specialized in commercial issues. He is a doctor of laws, specializing in competition law, and an associate lecturer at Universidad Católica de Valencia. In addition to being an author of various books, he has spoken at several conferences and seminars on commercial and competition law, as well as publishing in law journals. His experience includes roles in the Provincial Court of Valencia and the Commercial Court of Barcelona.

Luis Vázquez (Tax partner, Mexico): He has over 20 years of experience in litigation and tax disputes. He has advised and represented multinationals in audits and tax refunds, particularly in infrastructure, mining and finance.  A specialist in tax treaties and transfer pricing, he worked as an international associate in the firm’s Madrid office. He holds a Bachelor of Laws from Universidad Iberoamericana and a Master in International Taxation from Georgetown University. He is an active member of the International Fiscal Association and the Mexican Bar Association where he held key positions, including coordinator of the Tax Law Commission.