In the aftermath of the deadly floods that have devastated parts of Spain, members of Spanish law firms have found ways to help victims of the disaster.

More than 200 people have been killed by flash floods caused by heavy rainfall that hit southern and eastern Spain on Oct. 29. The Valencia region was the worst affected. Infrastructure and homes were destroyed, and some residents are still missing after two weeks.

Alejandro Touriño, ECIJA’s managing partner, said the firm’s professionals in Valencia were not directly impacted but many people around them have either lost their lives or experienced damage caused by the floods.

In response, the firm launched an “ECIJA con Valencia” initiative to support impacted communities. The firm has invited its employees around the globe to donate funds to the Spanish Red Cross and promised to match their donations.

ECIJA has also created an online platform to offer pro bono legal assistance to those affected by the disaster, but the firm has to wait another month to launch and advertise the platform due to legal restrictions imposed on private practitioners and law firms.

The Spanish Bar Association’s general statute and code of ethics prohibits the advertising of legal services to victims of catastrophes or crimes for 45 days following the event, regardless of whether the services are remunerated or not.

So law firms and their foundations have found other ways to provide support during this period.

Beyond donations, foundations associated with firms have produced and published informative guides on how to apply for public aid or file an insurance claim. Valencia-based professionals at Uría Menéndez have taken part in such an effort through Fundación Profesor Uría, as has Gómez-Acebo & Pombo’s Fundación Fernando Pombo.

Members of ECIJA, Uría Menéndez and Gómez-Acebo & Pombo have also gone to affected areas as volunteers to help with clean-up and reconstruction efforts, firm spokespersons told Law.com International.

And although law firms cannot advertise their services, they can still accept clients who approach them for help, ECIJA's Touriño said. His firm has been contacted by large companies looking to assist their employees, as well as insurance companies regarding their policies, he added.

The Valencia Bar Association, being a public law entity, is not subject to the 45-day prohibition. The association is coordinating free legal assistance in the region and has trained more than 700 lawyers on how to offer free legal advice to people affected by the storm, according to its website.

As rescue and recovery efforts continue in the Valencia region and nearby areas, severe storms have again hit Spain this week with parts of Catalonia and Málaga on red alert and more than 4,000 people evacuated in Málaga.