Eversheds has strengthened its Spanish litigation practice with two new partner hires.

The firm has hired Amadeu Blasco from Blasco & Advocats Associats, where he was a partner, and Gomez Acebo & Pombo associate commercial litigator Antonio Bravo.

Both Blasco and Bravo have already joined Lupicinio Eversheds, with Blasco joining the firm's Barcelona office and Bravo joining in Madrid.

Although he has joined the litigation practice, Blasco's practice focuses on restructuring work – which sits within litigation – with a particular focus on advising debtors on turnaround and insolvency issues. As well as being the founder of Blasco, he is also co-founder of corporate renewal organisation Turnaround Management Association Spain. Bravo advises on all aspects of litigation and arbitration.

Blasco told Legal Week: "Eversheds is building up a good reputation in Spain – it has an outstanding international network and gives me the opportunity to do the kind of work I want to do in the future."

Lupicinio Eversheds senior partner Lupicinio Rodriguez said: "Blasco and Bravo will play a key role in the new business strategies that the firm has undertaken and will build on the capabilities of the litigation team and Eversheds International."

The hires are the latest in a series of moves to expand Eversheds' international network. Earlier this month Legal Week reported that the firm is planning to re-enter the Dutch market and is also working towards sealing an alliance to take it into Norway and Finland. The firm previously had an alliance with Boekel de Neree but pulled out of the market in 2002, with the split thought to be because of a lack of referrals.

This year the firm has also launched an office in Abu Dhabi and sealed its first presence in Africa after agreeing a tie-up with South African firm Routledge Modise.

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