Operating equally in a global market
The scale and rapid spread of the issues currently affecting the
world's finance markets is indicative of both the interconnection
and complexity of modern deal-making. But the global business
environment is one in which Iberian companies are increasingly
comfortable, believes Julián GarcÃa RubÃ, managing partner of
Cuatrecasas in Madrid.
de los asuntos a los que
las empresas españolas
se enfrentan como
resultado de la crisis
económica mundial, se
refleja no sólo en la
sofisticación de las
operaciones
empresariales, sino
también en su interés en
mirar hacia el exterior,
afirma Julián Rubí, socio
co-director de
Cuatrecasas en Madrid.
Latinoamérica se
presenta como uno de los
destinos con más
posibilidades.
'The nature of the issues being
generated by the current financial
crisis, including within Spain the
restructuring of non-performing loans and
distressed debt, are clearly demonstrative of
very highly sophisticated business markets.'
Among the main challenges Iberian
companies now face is to be able to compete
equally within a global context and to
undertake and manage effectively multijurisdictional
deals, he says.
'In order to do so lawyers within law firms
as much as companies have to learn new skills
and apply new business methods. Iberian
companies are increasingly comfortable
exploring opportunities internationally and
matters often now require a combination of
Civil and Anglo-Saxon legal and business
concepts' says García Rubí.
This expansion inevitably includes
exploring opportunities presented by Europe's
finance capitals and deal markets, but also
those further afield. Asia is of growing interest
but it is Latin America that remains a region of
natural interest for Iberian companies, notes
García Rubí, and where Spain is now the
second largest investor after the US.
It is important for Iberia's law firms
therefore to be able to adequately facilitate the
evolving needs of their clients as they expand
internationally, he believes, including within
Latin America, and particularly within those
countries in which the presence of Iberian
companies is already significant and stable.
Argentina, Mexico and Chile are among the
countries in the region to have seen the largest
share of Iberian investment, but significant also
has been the interest in Brazil, he says.
'Talk of an upturn in interest in Brazil
among Iberian companies is perhaps indicative
of a lack of awareness of the depth and spread
of investments already being made by
companies, and the creation of linkages
between Spain and the region will undoubtedly
be reflected elsewhere as companies continue
to increase their international investment
ambitions.'
