Garrigues focuses on state law with double takeover

Niche planning firm Perales will soon join Garrigues' Madrid office to strengthen Garrigues' existing zoning and city planning team. The deal, completed last week, adds managing partner Francisco Perales, senior partner Julio Luquero and four other lawyers to the 57-partner Madrid office.
Cáceras two-partner public law firm Hernandes Mancha y Asociados has also just become part of the Andersen Legal network. Garrigues' managing partner Jose Maria Alonso initiated the Mancha takeover to deal with changes in local government administration in the Extremadura region.
Alonso said: "There have been some changes in the region that the existing public law and administration department did not have the capability to deal with. We approached Mancha as it was the ideal firm to assist us with local government matters."
Garrigues has also just made two lateral hires to strengthen its public law and employment capability. Former adviser to the president of the Catalonian assembly Joaquim Triadú will join Garrigues' Barcelona office as a specialist in public law. Former president of the Spanish Economic & Social Council, Federico Dúran, will join the Madrid office as a consultant to the firm's employment practice.
According to Andersen Legal's worldwide managing partner Tony Williams, Garrigues' public sector recruitment drive is part of a worldwide Andersen Legal strategy. "The Andersen network is trying to get closer to the machinery of government, as all clients want informed legal advice on governments and regulatory authorites," he said.