New head boosts banking & finance
José Guardo is the new Head of Banking and Finance at Clifford Chance in Spain, replacing Alberto Manzanares, who continues as a Partner in the department. A widely recognised lawyer in the Spanish financial and banking sector, he joined Clifford Chance as a Partner in September 2011 after 18 years at Garrigues.
Guardo specialises in structured and project finance, particularly in the energy and infrastructure sectors, both domestically and internationally. He advised the bank syndicate on the financing of the winning consortium for the Medina-Mecca high-speed train deal and also on financing the construction and start-up of Gas Natural’s underwater storage, Project Castor.
“José has brought to the Firm his technical excellence,” says Jaime Velázquez, Managing Partner of Clifford Chance Spain, “and an extraordinary international vocation and great pragmatism when taking on the challenges in the sector today”.
Guardo will lead a team of six Partners and 40 lawyers specialising in all types of financing transactions, and will also be heading the implementation of the Firm’s strategy in Latin America.
