Iñigo Erláiz offers his vision for the future of Gómez-Acebo & Pombo | Iberian Lawyer

Gómez-Acebo & Pombo’s Managing Partner, Iñigo Erláiz, reveals his focus on profitability and commitment to artificial intelligence, sustainability and international expansion to consolidate its leadership in his latest interview for Iberian Lawyer.

Gómez-Acebo & Pombo under the leadership of Íñigo Erlaiz, is preparing to conclude 2024 with a strategic focus on maintaining its leading position in Iberia, while expanding its reach internationally. GA_P’s approach is based on a strong commitment to profitability, artificial intelligence (AI) integration and sustainability initiatives. Rather than merely focusing on growth figures, the firm emphasises ‘other ratios related to profitability and positioning’, as Erlaiz noted, with the firm prepared to adapt its pace of growth as needed to maintain a stable position over the long term.

GA_P has identified key practice areas – such as mergers and acquisitions (M&A), litigation and restructuring – as essential drivers of the firm’s performance. The firm has also strengthened its presence in Portugal, where it achieved 30% growth in 2024, further establishing itself as a leading Iberian firm. This expansion is supported by strategic hires in key practice areas and increasingly close collaboration between the Lisbon and Madrid offices, fostering a cohesive Iberian identity.

A significant aspect of GA_P’s growth strategy is its commitment to Latin American markets. Although GA_P currently lacks a physical office in the region, it has intensified its partnerships with local firms, especially in Mexico, and its New York office acts as a crucial hub for connecting with Latin American markets and US-based clients. This triad – Spain, Portugal and Latin America – is central to the company’s international outlook.

GA_P is also investing in AI to optimise legal processes, with applications such as Fillip, an AI tool that improves operational efficiency in document analysis and standardisation. Although GA_P claims that AI is not the basis of legal drafting, these tools significantly help in the preparatory work, saving time for its lawyers. This investment aligns with the firm’s goal of integrating innovation responsibly into its practice, setting a standard for combining legal expertise with technological advances.

Finally, sustainability remains a cornerstone of GA_P’s ethos. The company’s internal sustainability plan, which covers the period 2022-2024, focuses on environmental and social objectives with clear priorities. Externally, GA_P assists its clients in areas such as green taxation and sustainable finance, embodying a ‘double dimension’ of sustainability that benefits both the firm’s operations and advisory services to clients. This holistic approach to growth, innovation and sustainability underscores GA_P’s mission to be a socially responsible and forward-thinking leader in the legal sector.

Read the full interview here

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