Barcelona annual report
A new
beginning?
The innovative nature of the
Barcelona economy is both a
benefit and a burden for lawyers in
the Catalan capital – meanwhile,
if Catalonia was to achieve
independence, the effect on its law
firms could be “extraordinary”, say
some observers
Barcelona’s reputation for
innovation in some ways benefits,
but in other ways disadvantages,
the city’s law firms. The capital of
Catalonia is a fertile ground for
business start-ups, particularly
in the technology sector, and
many of them look to law firms
to help them get their businesses
off the ground. The experience
of advising a start-up can teach
law firms valuable lessons about
new ways of doing business
and innovative methods of
communicating with clients, for
example. However, innovation
can happen so quickly that law
firms are often left trailing in its
wake. As a result, firms often
lack the money to invest in
the infrastructure necessary to
effectively support their clients,
while also finding it difficult to
find the type of people they need
to best serve them.
Meanwhile, political
machinations in Catalonia
mean that steps taken by both
law firms and clients are not as
sure-footed as they would like.
Some lawyers highlight “serious
political disruption” as the
biggest challenge law firms face.
The more pessimistic of those say
extraordinary, given that Spanish
laws would be replaced by
Catalan laws and the area would
ultimately withdraw from the
European Union.
Exports rising
However, despite the climate of
uncertainty, Barcelona emerged
well from the crisis, according
to Cuatrecasas partner Héctor
Bros. “Exports are up and
represent around 25 per cent
of the city’s economy, and the
city is increasingly becoming
an international hub,” he says.
“There has also been a big
boost in newer sectors such
as biosciences, technology
entrepreneurship,
and fintech – in
There has also been a big addition, there has
been a car industry
boost in newer sectors such revival.”
as biosciences, technology
Law firms are
coming up with
entrepreneurship, and
innovative new
fintech.
business models
to deal with the
Héctor Bros
changing demands
Cuatrecasas
of clients, says Alex
Llevat, partner at
the issue of Catalan independence
Roca Junyent. “Law firms have to
could potentially disintegrate into
adapt to new collaborative ways
civil and social unrest. They also
of doing business with clients, by
claim that, if Catalonia was to
using and applying technology,”
become independent, the effect on
he says. “The challenge is to
the region’s law firms would be
adapt to this new reality, though
“
40 • IBERIAN LAWYER • March / April 2017
”
younger lawyers believe in this
new world.”
Firms are now thinking about
how to provide new services, says
Santiago Doce, partner at Deloitte
Legal. “Law firms need to be
more proactive and move to other
types of business, there should be
more say for junior lawyers and
more flexibility and we need to
invest in services.”
There are new investors
coming into Barcelona and
internet businesses, in particular,
are attracted to the city, says
Enrique Viola, lawyer at Pintó
Ruiz del Valle. “However, it can
be difficult to go as fast as them
and they are growing quickly –
some of these companies come
with money and some with only
an idea, but they can use law
firms to get investment and this
can be a good way [for a law firm]
to enter into a relationship with a
company,” he adds.
Can’t get the staff?
Small entrepreneurial businesses
in Barcelona are often looking for
lawyers that can solve problems,
says Toni de Weest Prat,
managing partner of Andersen
Tax & Legal in Barcelona. He
adds that the city is unique
and that foreign investors are
investing because they cannot
find similar businesses in other
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