Littler Enters Tenth European Country in Spain
Littler, the world’s largest employment and labor law practice representing management, is pleased to announce that Abdón Pedrajas, a leading labor and employment law firm in Spain, is joining its global platform. The move into Spain marks the tenth European country Littler has expanded into – alongside continued growth in North America, South America and Asia – and gives the firm a presence in Western Europe’s five largest economies.
“Since making our first foray into Europe less than five years ago, we have strategically grown our footprint and become a major presence across the continent,” said Tom Bender and Jeremy Roth, co-managing directors of Littler, in a joint statement. “We are excited to celebrate the milestone of entering our tenth European country by joining forces with the talented and highly-regarded team at Abdón Pedrajas. Particularly with the myriad of workplace issues brought on by COVID-19, our model of combining deep experience and expansive resources with teams well-versed in local laws and cultures has proven to be an effective approach to serving clients’ global employment needs.”
Since establishing its first foothold in Europe in October 2015 with a move into Germany, Littler has expanded across Europe through a strategy that includes combining with top labor and employment law firms in the world’s business centers. The addition of Abdón Pedrajas follows Littler’s moves into Poland and Austria in 2020, as well as the opening of its first Asia office in Singapore in late 2019. Littler now has more than 1,500 attorneys across 23 countries.
Having recently celebrated its 50th anniversary, Abdón Pedrajas is comprised of 39 attorneys and has offices in Madrid and Barcelona. The firm counsels clients on a wide range of labor and employment issues, including corporate restructuring, collective bargaining, pension plans, social security issues, labor audits, M&A due diligence, discrimination and equality, and data protection. Abdón Pedrajas also has deep experience in finance and tax law, advising clients on workforce-related taxation issues.
“Littler has built a team of top-notch lawyers who bring extensive experience in their respective markets and combine to offer a powerful platform from which to counsel employers,” said Antonio Pedrajas Quiles, managing partner of Abdón Pedrajas. “Our experience working closely with the firm in recent years has made clear why Littler has such an excellent reputation. We are delighted to be formalizing our relationship and believe our firm’s cultures and client service models will fit well together.”
Pedrajas has nearly two decades of experience advising national and multinational companies in labor relations and employment matters, including collective bargaining negotiations with trade unions and works councils, collective agreements, employee terminations and reductions-in-force, and modification of working conditions. In addition to Pedrajas, the nine attorneys that make up the firm’s partnership include well-known global lawyer Sonia Cortés, who advises clients on collective redundancies and agreements and on setting up business operations in Spain; Iván López García de la Riva, known for his litigation skills and work in collective claims related to outsourcing agreements and changes in employment terms; and Inés Molero Navarrois, a litigator highly regarded for her work in contentious employment matters.
“Spain is the world’s 13th largest economy and the fifth largest in Europe, which is why establishing a presence in the region is an important step in our continued growth,” said Stephan Swinkels, a Littler shareholder who helps lead the development and integration of the firm’s global practice. “It was also important to find the right partner in Spain, so we’re extremely pleased to be teaming up with Abdón Pedrajas, a firm known for its dedication, preparedness and ability to quickly advise on complex labor and employment matters.”
“Not only will the addition of Spain further enhance our European capabilities, but given the strong ties between business interests and investments in Spain and Latin America, a presence in the country is equally important for our more than 160 attorneys and 15 offices across Latin America,” said Peter Susser, Littler’s Global Practice Leader and chair of the firm’s International Employment Law practice. “Navigating Spanish labor and employment laws, including strong protections for employees, poses unique challenges for companies and our clients will benefit significantly from Abdón Pedrajas’ deep experience and knowledge.”
Abdón Pedrajas and its attorneys have been recognized as leaders in labor and employment law by such international ranking organizations as Chambers & Partners and Legal 500. The firm represents clients in a variety of industries, including banking and finance, energy, food distribution, fashion, hotels and tourism, insurance, manufacturing, pharmaceutical and medical devices, technology and transportation.
Littler’s international operations span four continents and include teams in Austria, Belgium, Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, France, Germany, Guatemala, Honduras, Italy, Mexico, the Netherlands, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Poland, Singapore, Spain, the United Kingdom, the United States and Venezuela. The firm’s global capabilities also include U.S.-based lawyers with exceptional international experience, who are dually licensed practitioners in Australia, Brazil, Japan and South Africa.
