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17th edition of the Esade Alumni Aptíssimi Awards

Rafael Fontana (Cuatrecasas), Manuel Martín (Fundación Fernando Pombo), Jesús Remón (Uría Menéndez), Fluidra, VidaCaixa, Cáritas, and Lucía García (Diplomática) were the winners in this latest edition
Aptissimi

Esade’s alumni association held the 17th edition of the Aptíssimi Awards for Business Law, which distinguish excellence, innovation, and social commitment in the field of business law every year. The awards ceremony was held at Barcelona’s Llotja de Mar this past November and brought together almost 400 professionals in the sector, making these awards a benchmark in the field of business law in Spain.

Organized by the Esade Alumni Law Club, the awards are divided into five categories: Professional Career, Best Corporate Counsel, Best Innovative Law Project, Contribution to the Sector and Society, and Insignis Alumni Awards, which are awarded by a jury comprised of representatives of prominent law firms, companies, and Esade partner institutions. With this initiative, Esade Alumni reaffirms its commitment to ethical leadership, professional excellence, and the construction of a legal community with a social impact.

Winners in each category

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The jury decided to award the Professional Career award ex aequo  to three key figures: Rafael Fontana, Manuel Martín, and Jesús Remón Peñalver.

Rafael Fontana, the president of Cuatrecasas, was recognized for his “strategic vision and transformative leadership in the field of corporate law. His drive for the internationalization of Cuatrecasas, which now has a solid presence in more than a dozen countries and key European alliances, has been crucial in positioning the firm as a global benchmark. His commitment to legal innovation is also notable, since he has proposed pioneering initiatives like Cuatrecasas Ventures and Cuatrecasas Acelera. His philanthropic efforts and involvement in access to justice and youth development projects reinforce a career marked by professional excellence and social impact.”

The jury also awarded Manuel Martín, president of the Fernando Pombo Foundation, for “his career as a role model in corporate law, especially his key role in the transformation and international expansion of Gómez-Acebo & Pombo. His leadership has been characterized by an ethical, inclusive, customer-centric vision, which has influenced both his professional work and the institutional sphere. His commitment to sustainability and ongoing training, along with his impetus from the Fernando Pombo Foundation, enhance a profile that combines technical excellence, social sensitivity, and a vocation of service.”

Jesús Remón Peñalver, a partner and president of Uría Menéndez, was also awarded for “his legal excellence and institutional commitment, with a career that combines solid academic training, experience as a state’s attorney, and leadership at Uría Menéndez. His specialization in arbitration and litigation, along with his participation in national and international bodies, make him a key figure in the evolution of the practice of trial law. Furthermore, he has been deeply involved in many initiatives involving publishing, academia, and foundations, as a jurist committed to society and the constant improvement of the profession.”

The award for Best Corporate Counsel went to Fluidra for the modernization process undertaken by its legal department, especially since the creation of the Legal Operations Area in 2022. The jury highlighted “the scope and diversity of the businesses and regions that the consultancy serves, as well as its role as a strategic partner that demonstrates a commitment to counsel in close proximity with the company.” It also appreciated “the integration of corporate values and the company’s social commitment in legal consulting, along with the way it fosters diversity, collaboration, and sustainability among its members.” This recognition highlights the team’s ability to support a company in constant growth with many activity lines and a presence in more than 47 countries, driving the transformation of legal management through process optimization, technology adoption, and smart data use.

The award for the Best Innovative Law Project went to VidaCaixa for its commitment to the digital transformation of the legal function with a preventive, customer-centric approach. The jury mentioned “the authenticity of the customer care project which uses case analysis supported by artificial intelligence to identify each person’s concerns and offer them information and peace of mind through personalized emails or messages, which avoids future complaints.” It also underscored the positive social impact of this strategy.

The Contribution to the Sector and Society award went to Cáritas for its free legal counsel and support service for people in situations of vulnerability, an initiative undertaken by Diocesan Cáritas of Barcelona. The jury stressed “the efforts of the lawyers who provide the service, who work to spread legal knowledge among the citizens they assist, as well as technical teams and volunteers,” and it underscored that “their constant struggle against exclusion and inequalities is a huge contribution to social justice, which strengthens the third sector through law as a transformative tool that multiplies the social impact.” The jury also noted that “Cáritas is unquestionably  a key player in the drive for social change and the creation of opportunities, which it also achieves through its lawyers.”

The Insignis Alumni Award went to Lucía García Rico, a diplomat and director general of United Nations, Human Rights, and International Bodies (Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union, and Cooperation, government of Spain) and Esade Law School alumna. The jury highlighted “her brilliant professional career since taking the civil service exams to join the Diplomatic Corps of Spain. Her performance has stood out at the Spanish embassies in Mauritania and Turkey, and in the Spanish delegation at NATO, as well as her current position as the director general of United Nations, Human Rights, and International Bodies within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Her career is a shining example for new generations.”

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