Finalists: A&L Goodbody (highly commended); Mannheimer Swartling; Mason Hayes & Curran.

Madrid-based Garrigues lifted the independent law firm of the year title as it continues to expand its transatlantic business reach.

Cross-border dealmaking has been top of its achievements, advising on the largest real estate transaction on record in Spain (US private equity firm Blackstone Group's joint venture with Banco Santander to buy all of Banco Popular's real estate business), and advising Spanish toll road operator OHL on a tender offer from Australian investor IFM for a stake in OHL Mexico. It also advised Blackstone on its sale of UK logistics firm Logicor to Chinese sovereign wealth fund China Investment Corporation.

Garrigues has been investing heavily in tech and innovation, introducing in the last year an innovation thinktank, a robotised document management system, and a programme to improve digital security. It has also been boosting headcount, adding 280 staff during the past 12 months with 12 partner and 58 senior associate promotions. A diversity initiative to advance equal opportunities for women has also been established (including extra time off following maternity and paternity leave).

"The firm is really strong, with a number of very significant deals and a clear investment in innovation in the last year," commented a judge.

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