Garrigues
Professional services
UnclaimedA major Spanish-origin international law firm serving corporations, financial institutions, governments and other organizations.
Last updated October 14, 2026
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Overview
Garrigues is a Spanish-origin professional-services firm whose principal business is legal advice. It was established in 1941 by the brothers Joaquín Garrigues Díaz-Cañabate and Antonio Garrigues Díaz-Cañabate, and developed from a Madrid practice into one of the best-known Iberian firms with international operations. Its work spans corporate and commercial law, mergers and acquisitions, tax, employment, litigation, arbitration, financial regulation, public law, restructuring, insolvency, compliance and other specialist areas. The firm also advises clients in sectors such as financial services, energy, infrastructure, real estate, technology, life sciences and industrial businesses. The firm’s early identity was closely connected with the development of modern Spanish commercial law. Joaquín Garrigues was an academic and commercial-law specialist who participated in legal reform work and contributed to the preparation of legislation affecting corporations and limited-liability companies. Antonio Garrigues combined legal practice with senior public service, including diplomatic and ministerial roles. This combination of legal scholarship, public-law engagement and business advice helped establish the firm’s profile in Spanish legal and commercial life. During the second half of the twentieth century, J&A Garrigues expanded its role as Spanish business became more internationally integrated and the country moved through democratic and economic transformation. In 1997, the practice merged with Arthur Andersen’s legal and tax advisory business, becoming Garrigues & Andersen. The arrangement connected the firm with a major international professional-services network and broadened its advisory platform. Following the collapse of Andersen Worldwide’s network in 2002, the firm became independent and adopted the Garrigues name. Garrigues has pursued international growth through a combination of alliances, affiliated practices and offices under its own brand. Its Portuguese operations date from the firm’s participation in the Portuguese Legal Group in 1991 and later developed through Garrigues Portugal, which began operating in its present form in 2005 after incorporating Leónidas, Matos & Associados. From 2013, the firm began developing its own office network in Latin America rather than relying only on alliance structures. The firm has also maintained an international presence in locations including London and New York, alongside operations in other countries. The brand is positioned as a high-end business law adviser with particular strength in Spanish and Portuguese-speaking markets and cross-border matters. Its value proposition is based on multidisciplinary advice, knowledge of regulated industries and the ability to coordinate legal work across jurisdictions. Garrigues is not a publicly traded consumer brand and does not disclose a conventional retail product portfolio; its offerings are partner-led legal and advisory services. Public reference material has described it as one of the largest law firms by turnover in continental Europe at various points, although current financial figures are not included here because a source and reporting period are not specified. Garrigues has pursued international growth through a combination of alliances, affiliated practices and offices under its own brand. Its Portuguese business began in 1991 with participation in the Portuguese Legal Group, later developed through Garrigues Portugal, which took its current operating form in 2005 after incorporating Leónidas, Matos & Associados. Since 2013, the firm has been developing its own network of Latin American offices rather than relying solely on alliance structures. The firm also maintains international offices including London and New York and operates in other countries. The brand is positioned as a premium business-law adviser, particularly strong in Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking markets and cross-border matters. Its value proposition rests on multidisciplinary advice, knowledge of regulated industries and the ability to coordinate legal work across jurisdictions. Garrigues is not a publicly listed consumer brand and does not disclose a traditional retail product portfolio; its products are partner-led legal and advisory services. Public references have described it as one of the largest continental European law firms by turnover, but current financial data is not included here because no source and reporting period are specified.
History
Garrigues traces its origins to 1941, when Joaquín and Antonio Garrigues Díaz-Cañabate founded J&A Garrigues in Spain. The brothers brought complementary experience to the practice. Joaquín was a commercial-law professor and legal scholar, while Antonio was a practicing lawyer who also held senior government and diplomatic positions. Their backgrounds placed the firm close to the development of Spanish business law and public institutions. Joaquín Garrigues became a professor of commercial law at a relatively young age and was involved in legal reform work. He participated in work connected with Spanish company-law reform, established the Revista de Derecho Comercial in 1946 and contributed to drafting initiatives that led to legislation on corporations and limited-liability companies. Antonio Garrigues served as director-general of registries and notaries during the Spanish Republic, later became Spain’s ambassador to the United States and the Vatican, and served as minister of justice in the first government of the restored Spanish monarchy. These public roles strengthened the firm’s visibility in national legal and institutional affairs. Throughout the second half of the twentieth century, J&A Garrigues expanded alongside Spain’s changing economy and legal system. The firm advised businesses during periods of legislative modernization, economic opening and democratic transition. Its practice broadened beyond traditional commercial work into tax, employment, transactions, disputes, finance and sector-specific regulation. This expansion laid the groundwork for its later position as a broad-based business law firm rather than a narrow specialist practice. International development became more important from the late twentieth century. In 1991, Garrigues participated in the Portuguese Legal Group, a grouping involving firms in Portugal, Brazil and the United Kingdom. In 1997, it merged with Arthur Andersen’s legal and tax advisory arm, becoming Garrigues & Andersen. The transaction provided access to a wider professional-services network and reinforced the firm’s international orientation. The relationship ended after the disappearance of Andersen Worldwide’s network in 2002. Garrigues then became independent and continued under its own name. The Portuguese business later operated as Garrigues Portugal. According to the reference account, that structure became operational in January 2005 after incorporating Leónidas, Matos & Associados. The firm subsequently continued to build a network covering Spain, Portugal and selected international markets. In 2013, it began moving toward its own office network in Latin America, reflecting the importance of Spanish-speaking cross-border commerce and investment. Its international footprint has also included offices in London and New York and operations in other countries. Garrigues remains a professional-services organization centered on legal advice. It serves companies, financial institutions, public bodies and other sophisticated clients across a wide range of industries. Its principal brand attributes are technical depth, multidisciplinary coverage, knowledge of Spanish and Iberian regulation, and the ability to coordinate matters involving several jurisdictions. Public sources have characterized it as one of the largest continental European law firms by turnover at certain historical points. No current turnover, ownership, partnership structure or complete office list is stated here without a directly documented source and period.
- 2017
Fernando Vives re-elected executive chairman
[1]Fernando Vives is reported to have been re-elected for another five-year executive-chairman term.
- 2013
Move toward a proprietary Latin American network
[1]Garrigues takes an initial step toward opening its own office network in Latin America.
- 2005
Garrigues Portugal established in its current operating form
[1]The Portuguese practice incorporates Leónidas, Matos & Associados and operates as Garrigues Portugal.
- 2002
Return to independence
[1]After the Andersen Worldwide network disappears, the firm becomes independent and operates as Garrigues.
- 1997
Arthur Andersen merger
[1]The firm combines with Arthur Andersen’s legal and tax advisory business and adopts the name Garrigues & Andersen.
- 1991
Participation in the Portuguese Legal Group
[1]Garrigues joins a cross-border legal grouping involving Portugal, Brazil and the United Kingdom.
- 1946
Commercial-law publishing initiative
[1]Joaquín Garrigues establishes the Revista de Derecho Comercial, reflecting the firm’s connection with commercial-law scholarship.
- 1941
Founding of J&A Garrigues
[1]Joaquín and Antonio Garrigues Díaz-Cañabate establish the law firm in Spain.
Products and positioning
Premium international business law firm with Spanish and Iberian roots, offering multidisciplinary advice for complex domestic and cross-border matters.
Legal services
Corporate and commercial law
Advice on corporate governance, company formation, shareholder matters, commercial contracts, reorganizations and other legal issues affecting businesses and their operations.
Transactional legal services
Mergers and acquisitions
Legal support for acquisitions, disposals, mergers, joint ventures and other strategic transactions, including due diligence, structuring, negotiation and implementation across relevant jurisdictions.
Legal and advisory services
Tax
Tax planning, controversy, transactional tax and advice on domestic and cross-border tax issues for companies, investors and other organizations.
Legal services
Employment and labor
Advice on employment relationships, workforce reorganizations, collective matters, executive arrangements, labor disputes and regulatory obligations affecting employers.
Dispute resolution
Litigation and arbitration
Representation and strategic advice in commercial disputes, judicial proceedings, arbitration and related enforcement or settlement matters.
Brand decisions
2013
Develop a proprietary Latin American office networkStrategyBackground
The firm identified Latin America as an important region for cross-border legal work and Spanish-linked business activity.
Action taken
Garrigues took an initial step toward opening its own network of offices in Latin America.
Aftermath
The move marked a shift toward direct international expansion rather than relying solely on alliances.
2002
Re-establish independenceStrategyBackground
The dissolution of Andersen Worldwide’s network changed the organizational environment in which Garrigues & Andersen operated.
Action taken
The firm separated from the Andersen network and continued as an independent practice under the Garrigues brand.
Aftermath
Garrigues preserved its legal-services platform while developing its own international identity and office network.
1997
Merge with Arthur Andersen’s legal and tax advisory businessM&ABackground
The firm sought a broader international professional-services platform and combined with Arthur Andersen’s Asesores Legales y Tributarios business.
Action taken
J&A Garrigues merged with the Arthur Andersen legal and tax practice and operated as Garrigues & Andersen.
Aftermath
The firm later became independent in 2002 after the Andersen Worldwide network disappeared, returning to the Garrigues name.
Sources2 sources
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