Ignacio Gómez-Sancha is the Office Managing Partner of Latham & Watkins’ Madrid office. His practice focuses on representing investors and companies at critical stages of their development, with particular emphasis on capital markets transactions. Mr. Gómez-Sancha advises on corporate and capital markets law, assisting both Spanish and foreign companies in all legal matters related to their business in Spain: IPOs, takeovers, venture capital transactions, mergers and acquisitions, special situations, and distressed investments. He has a deep understanding of the functioning of financial markets, which helps him in very complex matters.
Mr. Gómez-Sancha was the General Counsel of Bolsas y Mercados Españoles (BME, the Stock Exchange operator) and a member of the Consultative Committee of the Spanish CNMV (Securities and Exchange Commission) (2000-2008). He has also been a member of the “Legal Certainty Project Experts Group” of the European Commission, and an independent expert appointed by Unidroit for the preparation of the convention on financial netting.
Recognitions
Ignacio Gómez-Sancha is recognized as one of the market’s leading capital markets practitioners. He was praised for his exceptional market knowledge, intellect, and “innovative approach to legal practice.” Iberian Lawyer 2019
Clients are quick to single out Mr. Gómez-Sancha for praise: “He has excellent technical knowledge and skills, full availability and total commitment to his clients.” Another source adds: “He is the kind of lawyer you want on your side.” Chambers Global 2018
Mr. Gómez-Sancha earns significant praise for his work on both the underwriter and issuer sides of complex equity transactions. Sources report that he “is always prepared and defends his clients’ interest in a constructive way.” “He is super-commercial, very sharp and the fact that he has been in-house before gives him an edge.” Chambers Global 2017
Mr. Gómez-Sancha’s recent CM signature activity includes advising:
- Morgan Stanley in the rights issue of Colonial (€1 billion)*
- Société Generale in the IPO of Naturhouse, S.A.*
- Dominion in the IPO of Dominion Global Access, S.A.*
- Abengoa on a €1.3 billion class B shares issuance in the context of the conversion of its share capital structure from A shares to a dual class of full and low voting shares (class A and class B)*
- Entrecampos in the IPO of Entrecampos SOCIMI*
- T-Rowe Price in the IPO of Axia Real Estate SOCIMI into the main Spanish market*
- KKR in the IPO of Telepizza*
- KKR in the convertible obligations for NH Hoteles (€3 billion)*
- CVC Capital Partners in the Takeover bid over Deoleo, S.A. (€500 million)*
- CVC Capital Partners in the merger of R (owned by CVC) and the listed company Euskatel*
- Abengoa on the sale of its 40% stake in Telvent to Schneider Electric (US$1.36 billion)*
- Corporación Financiera Alba, S.A., et al., as majority selling shareholders, takeover bid over Clínica Baviera, S.A. (€200 million) launched by Ayer Eye*
- Oaktree, as majority selling shareholder, on the 100% takeover bid over Campofrío launched by Sigma (€650 million)*
- Repsol in the €10 billion Guaranteed EMTN Programme*
- Repsol in three investment grade bond offerings of between €500 million and €900 million*
- For Goldman Sachs, as joint bookrunner and lead manager, in the issue by "Telefónica Emisiones, S.A.U." of US$1.25 billion fixed rate senior notes and US$750 million fixed rate senior notes*
- Citibank as underwriter and lead manager, five notes offerings of Abengoa (two convertible notes offerings and three HY offerings); more than €1 billion in total*
- Banco Santander in six different international securitizations of loans "blue chips" worth US$3 billion*
*Matter handled prior to joining Latham