Garrigues vote confirms departure from Andersen

Garrigues & Andersen has left the Andersen Legal network and changed its name to J&A Garrigues SRC.
The firm first announced its plans to leave the network a fortnight ago, but after having doubts, put the decision to a partner vote. The vote decided the departure from Andersen's network last Wednesday (27 March). This was the same day that the accounting arm of Andersen in Spain also announced that it was not following the Andersen European network into merger talks with KPMG.
Reports in the Spanish press of Garrigues' decision to leave Andersen have sparked rumours that Garrigues' competitors are preparing to swoop on disenchanted members or offices of the 22-office firm. There is strong speculation that PricewaterhouseCoopers' tied law firm Landwell is talking to Garrigues lawyers in Spain. Spanish magic circle firm Cuatrecasas is also understood to be eyeing Garrigues' 180-lawyer Bar-celona office.
Garrigues originally told The Lawyer that it was planning to leave the Andersen legal network two weeks ago. But last week the firm made a volte-face, and said that it was considering entering the KPMG merger talks, which would have made it part of the KLegal network. At that time, the accounting arm of Andersen in Spain was also involved in the KPMG talks. Garrigues now has two other options which would help it maintain an international presence. Partners will decide whether to revert to independence - involving joining or creating an international best friends network - or to join another international alliance.
Garrigues, Cuatrecasas and Landwell in Spain were unavailable for comment.