Gibson Dunn to Launch in Spain With Preeminent Private Equity and M&A Partner Armando Albarrán
Firm News | January 15, 2026
Gibson Dunn announced today that Armando Albarrán, widely regarded as one of Spain’s preeminent corporate lawyers, will be joining the firm as a partner in its Private Equity and M&A Practice Groups. His arrival will be followed by the opening of Gibson Dunn’s Madrid office and represents a significant expansion of the firm’s European transactional platform.
“Armando brings a leadership ethos defined by client service, excellence, and collaboration—precisely the qualities that will drive the success of our new office,” said Barbara Becker, Chair and Managing Partner of Gibson Dunn. “Madrid is a vital European hub for private equity and cross-border M&A, particularly for sponsors and multinationals executing high-value transactions between Europe and the Americas. This expansion strengthens our ability to serve clients on their most sophisticated deals across the region.”
“Armando has advised on many of the most significant Spanish and cross-border transactions,” said Federico Fruhbeck, Co-Head of Gibson Dunn’s Private Equity Group in Europe. “His arrival positions us to advise clients on their most sophisticated Spanish matters, while also working with our London and continental European teams to deliver integrated, cross-border advice.”
Gibson Dunn’s European growth has been fueled by sustained expansion in the UK—where the London office has more than doubled in size over the past five years, from 84 lawyers in 2020 to 218 today—and by continued investment on the European mainland. The Madrid opening follows last year’s launch in Zurich and builds on the firm’s long-standing presence in Brussels, Frankfurt, Munich, and Paris.
About Armando Albarrán
Armando is widely recognized as one of Spain’s foremost corporate lawyers, ranked Band 1 by Chambers and Partners in Capital Markets (Equity), Corporate/M&A (High-end Capability), and Private Equity. He brings extensive experience advising financial sponsors and corporates on complex cross-border and domestic corporate finance transactions, including public and private M&A, IPOs, and bond offerings across sectors, including energy, infrastructure, real estate, and telecommunications.