International law firm Bird & Bird adds two new partners to its Madrid office. Fernando Gutiérrez Rizaldos joined the Finance & Financial Regulation team on 1 September 2023 and Conchita Sáinz Sodupe joins the Real Estate team today on the 4 September 2023.
The arrival of Fernando and Conchita is part of our wider strategy to strengthen and grow Bird & Bird’s presence in the Spanish market. With the finance and real estate markets becoming increasingly more active in Spain, particularly in areas such as fintech, asset finance, restructuring` and real estate transactions, the arrival of the two new partners will significantly broaden Bird & Bird’s capacity, both in Spain and internationally.
Joining with Fernando is associate Ariadna Sanmatín Parcet and joining with Conchita are associates Laura Sánchez García and Alba Aparicio Martín.
Conchita is a Spanish qualified lawyer with extensive experience in the real estate sector. Her transactional experience covers the whole life cycle of real estate, including land, construction, urban planning as well as licenses, leases, acquisitions, real estate asset management, finance, sale and leasebacks and disposals of all types of assets. Conchita’s hire will also expand the firm’s international capabilities in the Hotel, Hospitality & Leisure sector, particularly in the field of sustainability and energy efficiency.
Conchita has a reputation for successfully completing transactions, whilst maintaining a strong client focus. She is very well-respected in the real estate sector, as demonstrated by her excellent rankings in key legal directories, including being recognised as a ‘rising star’ in Legal 500 for two consecutive years, 2022 and 2023.
Conchita will be leading and growing the Real Estate practice in Madrid, working with Bird & Bird experts across a number of jurisdictions.
Fernando has over 16 years of experience advising on finance transactions and financial regulation. He has rich knowledge across the banking and finance sectors, including project finance, real estate finance, asset finance, artwork finance as well as refinancing and restructuring.
Fernando also has a wealth of experience in financial regulation, including providing regulatory advice to credit institutions, investment firms and insurers. Fernando’s practice also has a strong focus on Fintech and fund formation. His knowledge is also reflected in his rankings in major legal directories, including two rankings in Legal 500: Spain - Banking & Finance and Spain - Private Equity (Regulation).
At Bird & Bird, he will expand the Finance & Financial Regulation practice in Madrid, as well as the team’s capabilities across the firm’s international network, with a particular focus on advising clients on project finance matters in the energy and real estate industries.
Coral Yáñez, Head of Bird & Bird Spain, comments: “We are absolutely thrilled to have both Fernando and Conchita join along with their teams. Fernando’s knowledge and experience, particularly in project finance and fund formation, makes him an ideal addition to our Finance & Financial Regulation team in Madrid, especially as the market is becoming increasingly more active in Spain.
We are also very excited to have Conchita join and lead the Real Estate practice in Madrid. Her client-oriented and enthusiastic approach and extensive experience in the real estate sector will be instrumental to bolstering our offering in the Spanish market.”
Fernando comments: “The team and I are delighted to be joining a talented team of experts in the Finance & Financial Regulation practice at Bird & Bird. The firm’s strong focus on innovation through the use of tech will allow me to further develop my practice, particularly in the fintech space. I am very excited to work with my new Bird & Bird colleagues to enhance the services we offer to clients in this area.”
Conchita adds: “The team and I are very excited to join the firm and collaborate with my new colleagues at Bird & Bird to provide innovative legal solutions for our clients. The Spanish hospitality and tourism industry continues to boom and legal insight plays a pivotal role in navigating complex real estate transactions and regulatory nuances.”
