Uría, Garrigues, and Cuatrecasas reaffirm their dominance in the Spanish market in Chambers Europe 2025 — analysis by María Sol Rubio in Cinco Días

Chambers Europe 2025: The most anticipated rankings in the Spanish legal sector

In Spain, this publication is particularly significant, having become a key reference point in business law and the most competitive international directory in the legal sector.

Chambers Europe highlights the best firms and lawyers across 44 jurisdictions, covering large markets like Spain, Italy, and the Netherlands, as well as lesser-known ones like Monaco, Kosovo, or Andorra. It also provides cross-border coverage through regional rankings, such as for the Baltic countries, general Europe, and Central and Eastern Europe.

To prepare its rankings, the Chambers team conducts tens of thousands of individual interviews with clients and market leaders, seeking to understand their experiences and perceptions of the legal services received. This qualitative approach makes it an essential source of market intelligence for those looking for the best legal service providers in Europe—particularly for the direct clients of firms focused on business law.

In the new edition for Spain, a clear trend toward hyper-specialization is confirmed, reflected in the launch of new sub-tables that allow more firms to be recognized—both in team and individual rankings.

Split of the Dispute Resolution area

One of the most notable developments in this jurisdiction is the split of the Dispute Resolution area into two independent categories: Litigation and Arbitration, confirming the growing importance of arbitration as a key practice area in the Spanish market. Additionally, Litigation is now divided into two levels: “Elite” (for major players in procedural law) and “Highly Regarded” (for specialized boutiques).

In the Litigation ranking, the main players continue to be Cuatrecasas, Garrigues, Uría Menéndez, and Pérez Llorca, who also lead the new Arbitration table.

Another major development is the launch of the Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) ranking, where Cuatrecasas and Uría Menéndez share the top band. This new table highlights firms advising on key topics such as decarbonization projects, sustainable financing, human rights, and environmental compliance, demonstrating that sustainability is no longer a trend, but a cross-cutting priority in legal advisory.

This landscape not only provides insight into the current market positioning but also invites firms to reflect on the strategic role that ranking submissions must play. Positioning work is more than just a visibility exercise—it’s a planning and growth tool that must be approached with anticipation, focus, and alignment with each firm’s business objectives.

For this reason, beyond the results analysis, it is crucial to strategically plan each submission, considering new categories, specialization trends, and the desired positioning. The new submissions cycle is already open, and the first deadline is April 23—a key date to start building tomorrow’s results today.

María Sol Rubio
Partner at Gericó Associates