Herbert Smith has pounced on the Madrid office of Linklaters for three partners to open an office in the city. The firm has brought four Spanish lawyers in total into its partnership for the launch. They include former Linklaters M&A and restructuring partner Alvaro Sainz and Miguel Riaño, an energy and infrastructure specialist. The hires will be joined by Herbert Smith finance partner David Wyles, who will relocate from the firm’s London office. Herbert Smith senior partner David Gold said: “This provides Herbert Smith with a very strong platform on which to achieve our objective of building a full-service premier practice in Spain.” A management committee of Sainz, Riaño and David Wyles is to be established. Sainz and Riaño will have lead roles in developing the practice, while Wyles will support the Madrid office’s integration with Herbert Smith’s international alliance with Gleiss Lutz and Stibbe and develop the finance practice.