The Firm
MLAB is the leading Spanish law firm in competition and European Union law. Founded in 1985, the year Spain signed its Treaty of Accession to the European Communities, the firm has emerged as a key player in the development and application of both disciplines in Spain.
Over the past 20 years, our firm has also developed strong expertise in private (civil) enforcement of competition law, particularly in damages claims and unfair competition cases, as well as advising on regulatory law.
We are a legal boutique specialising in these specific branches of law. We take on highly complex cases and work to the highest standards, thanks to our seasoned team of partners with unrivalled experience in Spain. Our partners are directly involved in each case and draw on the support of an excellent group of associates.
Our managing partners Rafael Allendesalazar and Helmut Brokelmann are invariably recognised in international directories at the top of their fields of practice. They have headed the firm since 2017, joined by Mariarosaria Ganino, Alfonso Rincón and Roberto Vallina, partners with extensive experience; of counsel Juan José Montero Pascual, a professor of administrative law specialising in regulatory law; and our young lawyers, the firm’s bet for the future. The combined expertise of this exceptional team is what sets us apart.
We strive to fully understand the uniqueness of each client’s circumstances and find the best solution for their cases. Highly personal and direct involvement of our lawyers is a hallmark of MLAB, combined with their exceptional level of specialisation and thorough knowledge of the sectors in which our clients operate. Our commitment to excellence is attested to by our clients in the prestigious Chambers Directory interviews, where we have been singled out for those qualities: ‘The team stands out for its very personal and direct treatment of clients and high level of specialisation in competition matters, with a clear perspective and knowledge of the sector. The team is fully available at any time for any questions and is very decisive’.
By relying on the best professionals and treating each matter with the dedication it requires, MLAB has earned the trust and respect of leading companies and institutions across a wide variety of sectors, both in Spain and abroad, over the course of almost 40 years.
The firm is particularly well positioned to advise and defend companies in all areas of activity of the Spanish Commission for Markets and Competition (CNMC), both in competition law and regulatory matters.
MLAB advocates for our clients before any institution or court, in Spain and in the European Union.
The core of our legal practice consists of advising and defending our clients on restrictive practices (in particular, cartels and abuses of dominant position, as well as unfair competition practices) and advising on restraints arising from public intervention in the market (State aid, industry regulation, State obstacles to business activity).
Our expertise extends to counselling companies on potential antitrust problems of mergers. We engage in complex notification processes, representing our clients before the CNMC in Spain and the European Commission.
The firm has a robust presence in the field of private enforcement of competition law, specifically in compensation for damages caused by competition law infringements, an area in vibrant legislative and judicial development.
MLAB’s practice extends beyond competition and EU law.
We also defend companies and other entities across a wide spectrum of areas such as unfair competition, regulatory matters (in sectors such as transport, telecommunications and audiovisual, postal services, pharmaceutical, digital economy, sports, energy, tobacco and gambling, among others) and intellectual and industrial property. Our expertise allows us to address the problems and opportunities our clients confront in their operations and those posed by competitors, suppliers and customers, as well as by government intervention.
To meet the growing global needs of our clients, we team up with the most prestigious professionals from around the world, enabling us to deliver international legal services with the same unwavering excellence in multijurisdictional cases.
Our firm primarily serves companies and public sector entities, as well as trade associations in a variety of industries. And MLAB also advises professional associations, collecting societies, Spanish authorities and European Union bodies.
