Jacobo, what is your assessment since your appointment as managing partner for Spain?
I am still as excited as I was on the first day, and the assessment is very positive. It has been a difficult time for all of us, but we have a team of top-level professionals with an absolute commitment and a clear vocation for excellent service to the client.
Regardless of the fact that it has been a good year from an economic point of view (we have grown by 21.5% in turnover, significantly increasing our profitability), the most important thing is that the business transformation projects we are carrying out are being developed in good harmony. Our success in fulfilling the basic pillars of our strategic plan gives us a very ambitious outlook for the coming years.
What does the new appointment to the European Board mean for you? Will you continue to be one of the heavyweights in the firm´s Labour area?
I accepted the position proposed to me by Ian Gray (chairman of ES Europe) with great enthusiasm and responsibility. I am very grateful for the opportunity. I am aware that we have an international network with a lot of potential. For me, the opportunity of getting to know the professional and labour relations existing in the firm at a global level is a challenge that motivates me and that complements my day-to-day work as a partner in charge of the labour area.
Of course, I will continue my professional practice as a Labour lawyer in the department, as this is my main vocation, and, in addition, I have a very solid team with which to face our next challenges.
What growth plans do you have for the firm in 2022? What areas would you like to strengthen?
Our growth plan assumes a clear commitment to our financial and transactional services, a strong sector specialisation and an ambitious commitment to the development of the services we offer globally by coordinating our LATAM alliance. All this is combined with the development of our leadership in order to continue to position ourselves as an international company that offers qualified and specialised services to guarantee excellence to leading companies in the Spanish and world economy.
I should point out that we began our journey with a plan that involved doubling our turnover in a period of 5 years, with an ambitious growth in our profitability. During the first year and a half, we have achieved our objectives, and, of course, our intention is to continue on this path.
We are fully focused on continuing with the established strategic plan, marked by the degree of specialisation and excellence already mentioned.