Go back to News
NEWS
Almudena Arpón de Mendivil, IBA Vice President in the Aptissimi Awards
The International Bar Association (IBA) is the recipient of the 2021 Aptissimi award for Contribution to the Legal Sector and Society. Organised by the ESADE Alumni Law Club, the Award recognises the outstanding contribution of organisations and individuals to the development of, or innovations in, business law as well as positive impacts on society.
Patricia Valenti, Director of ESADE Alumni, commented: ‘Among the many merits of the IBA, the panel has especially valued its leading role in the global development of the profession and its values since its founding more than 70 years ago, highlighting the promotion of human rights, the rule of law and the administration of justice. The IBA is a global reference point for the legal profession and notably contributes to shaping the profession. The IBA is the most important worldwide association of international lawyers and has proven to be an unparalleled forum for legal professionals to meet and debate, with a large social impact beyond a strictly legal sense.’
Now in their 13th year, the Aptissimi – Latin for the most competent – Awards were introduced to acknowledge individual or institutional ethos and endeavours that align with the core values of the global business and law school ESADE; integrity, sensitivity, diversity, contributing to the common good and working towards a fairer and more sustainable society.
IBA reaction to receiving the Aptissimi Award for the Contribution to the Legal Sector and Society includes:
IBA President Sternford Moyo, Senior Partner and Chairman at Scanlen & Holderness in Zimbabwe, commented: ‘The Aptissimi Awards have long been a marker of excellence.
It is a great honour for the International Bar Association to be recognised by such a key player in the field of legal education as ESADE. We are proud to be a leader in the global development of the legal profession, and to play a part in shaping it for the good of society.’
Almudena Arpón de Mendívil, IBA Vice President and Partner at Gómez-Acebo & Pombo in Madrid, said: ‘This award is a great honour for the International Bar Association and for the entire legal sector. The IBA was formed under the conviction that it may, and must, contribute to stability, to global peace, to progress and ultimately to the promotion and protection of the Rule of Law. Since its founding, and thanks to the work of so many volunteers everywhere and of a great executive team, the IBA contributes to the building of a robust legal sector where business law practitioners and ESADE, as a leader in legal education in Spain, have a principal role.’
IBA Executive Director, Dr Mark Ellis, added: ‘In conferring this accolade on the International Bar Association, the judging panel has recognised the IBA’s key contribution to the global development of the legal profession, as well as its focus on the promotion of human rights, the rule of law and access to justice. It is humbling to be recognised for the strides we have made in these areas.’
The award ceremony took place on Thursday 7 October 2021 in Barcelona, Spain. Ms Arpón de Mendívil received the award on behalf of the organisation.
Patricia Valenti, Director of ESADE Alumni, commented: ‘Among the many merits of the IBA, the panel has especially valued its leading role in the global development of the profession and its values since its founding more than 70 years ago, highlighting the promotion of human rights, the rule of law and the administration of justice. The IBA is a global reference point for the legal profession and notably contributes to shaping the profession. The IBA is the most important worldwide association of international lawyers and has proven to be an unparalleled forum for legal professionals to meet and debate, with a large social impact beyond a strictly legal sense.’
Now in their 13th year, the Aptissimi – Latin for the most competent – Awards were introduced to acknowledge individual or institutional ethos and endeavours that align with the core values of the global business and law school ESADE; integrity, sensitivity, diversity, contributing to the common good and working towards a fairer and more sustainable society.
IBA reaction to receiving the Aptissimi Award for the Contribution to the Legal Sector and Society includes:
IBA President Sternford Moyo, Senior Partner and Chairman at Scanlen & Holderness in Zimbabwe, commented: ‘The Aptissimi Awards have long been a marker of excellence.
It is a great honour for the International Bar Association to be recognised by such a key player in the field of legal education as ESADE. We are proud to be a leader in the global development of the legal profession, and to play a part in shaping it for the good of society.’
Almudena Arpón de Mendívil, IBA Vice President and Partner at Gómez-Acebo & Pombo in Madrid, said: ‘This award is a great honour for the International Bar Association and for the entire legal sector. The IBA was formed under the conviction that it may, and must, contribute to stability, to global peace, to progress and ultimately to the promotion and protection of the Rule of Law. Since its founding, and thanks to the work of so many volunteers everywhere and of a great executive team, the IBA contributes to the building of a robust legal sector where business law practitioners and ESADE, as a leader in legal education in Spain, have a principal role.’
IBA Executive Director, Dr Mark Ellis, added: ‘In conferring this accolade on the International Bar Association, the judging panel has recognised the IBA’s key contribution to the global development of the legal profession, as well as its focus on the promotion of human rights, the rule of law and access to justice. It is humbling to be recognised for the strides we have made in these areas.’
The award ceremony took place on Thursday 7 October 2021 in Barcelona, Spain. Ms Arpón de Mendívil received the award on behalf of the organisation.
Press contact
Sandra Cuesta
Director of Business Development, Marketing and Communications
Sandra Cuesta
Director of Business Development, Marketing and Communications
More information about
Gómez-Acebo & Pombo
PUBLICATION
2 days ago
On Call Protocol for the Alimentaria and Hostelco 2026 Trade Fairs
In preparation for the Alimentaria and Hostelco 2026 trade fairs, the Commercial Section of the Barcelona First Instance Court has approved a rapid response protocol to deal promptly with any potential conflicts relating to intellectual and industrial property rights (patents,trademarks, designs, and copyright), as well as trade secrets and unfair competition issues that may arise during these events.
PUBLICATION
4 days ago
Jurisdiction of national courts of States party to the Agreement on a Unified Patent Court in respect of actions relating to classic European patents during the transitional period
During the transitional period of the Agreement on a Unified Patent Court, national courts retain jurisdiction to hear cases concerning classic European patents, without the need for the proprietor to have exercised the opt-out option, i.e. without the need to have excluded the jurisdiction of the Unified Patent Court over such patents. However, the Venice Court ruling discussed here considers that national courts may only be used if the opt-out has been exercised, contradicting the provisions of Article 83 of the Agreement.
PUBLICATION
21 Jan, 2026
Incompatibility between practising a healthcare profession and having a pecuniary interest in the manufacture or sale of medicinal products or medical devices
Royal Legislative Decree 1/2015, of 24 July, approving the recast version of the Medicinal Products and Medical Devices (Guarantees and Rational Use) Act, prohibits healthcare professionals with prescribing powers from having a direct pecuniary interest in activities related to medicines. This prohibition does not extend to indirect interests, as distinguished in Article 4 of said legislative decree. Judgment no. 483/2025 of the High Court of Justice of the Basque Country concludes that mere membership of a group of companies does not entail incompatibility if each entity retains real autonomy.
PUBLICATION
21 Jan, 2026
Sustainable Mobility Act 9/2025: measures to promote climate neutrality in the transport sector
This paper presents changes introduced by Act 9/2025 to promote decarbonisation in transport, including obligation for transport entities to calculate and report their carbon footprint, the drawing up of sustainable mobility plans in large centres of activity and companies, measures to electrify ports and promote renewable fuels, the deployment of charging points and the publishing of a national grid capacity map.
PUBLICATION
15 Jan, 2026
Financial institutions’ customer services following Act 10/2025
Act 10/2025 reforms the regime governing financial institutions’ customer services and introduces a procedure for the submission, processing and resolution of complaints filed by their customers, including special provisions when such customers are consumers, such as a free helpline and the availability of channels that allow for personalised service to vulnerable consumers or people without access to certain basic financial services that are not defined in the new law.
PUBLICATION
15 Jan, 2026
Excessive extension of the Bolar clause in the 'pharmaceutical legislative package'
The Bolar clause allows studies and trials necessary to obtain marketing authorisations for medicinal products to be carried out without infringing patents. Its scope has grown during the passage of the pharmaceutical legislative package, incorporating more actors and more activities, to include participation in public tenders before the patent expires. This extension raises questions about compatibility with the TRIPS Agreement, which only allows limited exceptions to patent rights. Participation in tenders could be considered an offer to sell, thus violating the limits set by that agreement.
PUBLICATION
09 Jan, 2026
Continuing or permanent building damage and risk of no limitation period (Supreme Court (Civil Division) Judgment no. 1463/2025 of 21 October 2025)
With regard to actions under the Building (Unified Regulation) Act, the Supreme Court reaffirms that there is no continuing damage, but rather permanent damage. The solution is more efficient for all parties, as well as fairer. Also cheaper for the judicial system.
PUBLICATION
08 Jan, 2026
Sustainable commute plans: a new obligation for some companies
Companies with more than 200 employees or 100 per shift must have a sustainable mobility plan as part of their collective bargaining, the aim of which is to rationalise journeys
to the place where employees, customers, suppliers and visitors carry out their activities.
PUBLICATION
19 Dec, 2025
Requirements for lawful descriptive use of a third-party trade mark with reputation
In Judgment 1505/2025, the Supreme Court analyses the use of the term 'Donut' by a competitor that markets ring-shaped pastry under another trade mark. Although previous instances considered the use to be merely descriptive, the Supreme Court rejects this on the grounds that it is a reputed trade mark, which triggers enhanced protection. This protection requires avoiding any unfair use of the prestige or distinctive character of the trade mark. The court concludes that the use made was not fair and may involve parasitism and dilution.