DLA Piper has appointed a new head of its Spanish equity capital markets practice, with the hire of corporate partner Maria Segimon de Manzanos.

De Manzanos joins the transatlantic firm's Madrid office as a partner after a spell in-house with infrastructure giant Grupo Ferrovial, where she headed up the corporate legal team.

At DLA Piper she will work closely with Juan Picon, who oversees the firm's Europe, Middle East and Asia corporate team, and local corporate chief Jose A Sanchez Dafos.

De Manzanos – who advised Grupo Ferrovial on deals including its acquisitions of Cespa, Swissport and BAA – also previously worked at Clifford Chance, spending 10 years in the magic circle law firm's London and Madrid offices.

Commenting on the appointment, Picon said: "She has a very good reputation in the Spanish market and with her track record, in both general M&A and equity capital markets… will be a valuable addition to the team. [She] will be key to the further expansion of the corporate practice."

The hire brings the number of partners in DLA Piper's Spanish corporate practice to five and the total number of lawyers to around 25. The firm's Madrid arm houses approximately 60 fee earners, including 16 partners.