According to information published on OK Diario, María Dolores de Cospedal, Dispute Resolution & Arbitration partner at CMS Albiñana & Suárez de Lezo, has left the firm after being cleared of charges in the so-called Kitchen case.
The former secretary-general of the PP between 2008 and 2018, and Minister of Defence in Mariano Rajoy’s government between 2016 and 2018, joined the CMS Spain as a partner in January 2020.
In the middle of last year she requested voluntary leave of absence from the firm, after being summoned under investigation by Judge Manuel García-Castellón, of the Audiencia Nacional (National High Court), for her alleged involvement in the espionage that was organised by the Ministry of Interior against the former PP treasurer Luis Bárcenas, in what is known as Operation Kitchen. Cospedal’s husband, Ignacio López del Hierro, was also summoned for investigation.
Although the ex-Minister and State Lawyer did not have to answer in court for the Villarejo case, the professional and personal damage it has caused her has been considerable.
CMS told the same media that “there are only words of gratitude and recognition for an excellent professional,” regarding Cospedal
