Latham & Watkins is edging towards opening in Spain, and is in talks with Cuatrecasas corporate partner Jose Luis Blanco Ruiz for the launch.

One Cuatrecasas partner said: “It is clear that Latham has a position to open in Spain and one of the candidates is Jose Luis. It is not finalized but it is a possibility.”

Blanco Ruiz specializes in M&A transactions in the tech sector, working from the firm’s Barcelona base.

Blanco Ruiz has advised clients such as Procter & Gamble on its €172 million acquisition of Laboratorios Vita, The Carlyle Group in its €130 million acquisition of the Iberian subsidiaries of ConAgra Food.

Juan Manuel de Remedios, chair of Latham & Watkins’ Brussels-based Spanish practice, declined to comment.