Martínez-Echevarría bolsters banking practice with Jesús Palencia

Martínez-Echevarría Abogados continues to expand its banking and finance practice with the appointment of Jesús Palencia as of counsel. His arrival follows the recent incorporation of Carlos Gutiérrez as head of the department, further reinforcing the firm’s expertise in financial law.

Palencia joins Martínez-Echevarría from DLA Piper’s Madrid office, where he served as Of Counsel in the corporate practice. His specialization lies in capital markets and corporate governance, advising on a broad range of transactions, including: Public listings on the Spanish Continuous Market and BME Growth, Capital increases and issuances of convertible, exchangeable, and hybrid securities, Public takeover bids (OPAs), delistings, and accelerated placements of listed securities as well as Block trades and shareholder remuneration plans.

In addition to his transactional expertise, Palencia has played an active role in corporate governance, having served as Deputy Secretary of the Board of Directors for two publicly traded companies listed on the Spanish Continuous Market.

In IPOs, among other companies, he has advised KKR in the IPO of Telepizza Group, Banco Santander and Société Générale as underwriters of Naturhouse, or Iberdrola Renovables in its IPO.

In debt issues, he has worked for Bankia, Bankinter, Deutsche Bank, among other financial institutions, or for Abengoa S.A.

In terms of takeover bids, we can highlight the operation with Atlantia as bidder in the takeover bid for Abertis Infraestructuras, or the advisory services to Europac, EDP Renováveis, Azora Gestión, Clínica Baviera or CVC Capital Partners.