International operations and political risk
Operating across jurisdictions requires more than translating contracts: it requires understanding two legal systems, two negotiating cultures, and two radically different approaches to risk. A contract drafted with a Spanish mindset may be unenforceable in New York. A standard US clause may have unintended consequences in Spain.
Request a consultationA lawyer in both systems — not a correspondent
Pablo Gómez-Acebo is admitted to practice in both Madrid (Ilustre Colegio de Abogados de Madrid) and New York (New York State Bar). He spent four years as Legal Counsel at the World Bank Group (MIGA) in Washington D.C. and subsequently 21 years as Director of Political Risk Management (2002–2023), advising multinationals on identifying and covering political and non-commercial risks in cross-border investment projects worth over $1.5 billion. Sectors: electricity transmission, solar generation, solid waste management, toll roads, port terminals and telecoms. Instruments: PPAs, Senior Loans, Performance Guarantees, Land Agreements, Syndicated Loans, EPCs and concessions. LL.M. in International Legal Studies from Georgetown University Law Center.
International contracts
International sale of goods, distribution, joint ventures, licensing, technology transfer, supply — with careful attention to choice of law, dispute resolution clauses, and the differences between legal systems.
Structured finance
PPAs, Senior Loans, Land Agreements, Syndicated Loans, EPCs and concessions in strategic sectors: electricity transmission, solar generation, waste management, water, port terminals and telecommunications.
Political risk coverage
Structuring non-commercial risk coverage, interaction with multilateral organisations (World Bank, MIGA), export credit agencies and international financial institutions.
International dispute resolution
Mediation, arbitration and cross-border litigation, with direct experience mediating disputes between international investors and host governments.
Do you recognise yourself?
If any of these situations describe your current challenge, we can help.
- Your Spanish company invests, sells or has partners abroad and needs advice that understands both sides.
- You are a foreign company or investor with operations in Spain and need a counterpart who speaks your legal language.
- You need to negotiate or review an international contract and want a lawyer who understands both legal mindsets — common law and civil law.
- You are structuring an infrastructure investment and need advice on structured finance: PPAs, Senior Loans, Performance Guarantees, EPCs, concessions.
- You need to assess and cover political or non-commercial risks in a cross-border investment.
- A dispute has arisen with a foreign counterparty and you need to evaluate options before litigating in one jurisdiction or another.
For M&A with an international component, we integrate transactional advice with multijurisdictional expertise.
For real estate investment in Spain by non-residents, we cover everything from due diligence to tax structuring.
If the group already has a Spanish subsidiary, corporate housekeeping and board secretarial work is the quiet task that prevents surprises at the next audit.
Let's talk about your transaction
A first consultation is the best moment to assess your options. No obligation. Reply within 24-48 working hours.
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