Iberian law firm Garrigues is mourning the death of its litigation and arbitration department head Carlos de los Santos. 

The firm announced de los Santos’ passing in messages posted on its Twitter and LinkedIn pages today. ‘All of us will always miss him, not only for his professional brilliance and his dedication and contribution to the firm, but, above all, everything, as a companion and friend,’ the firm said. 

‘The Garrigues team unites to send his wife, María José, and their children our affection, our condolences and our deepest sadness,’ it said.

De los Santos spent the entirety of his career at Garrigues and was promoted to partner in 2003. He had headed the firm’s litigation and arbitration practice since 2009, a role that saw him lead more than 220 lawyers across the firm’s local offices in Spain as well as its locations in Europe, Asia and Latin America. 

He focused his practice on international arbitration, including civil, corporate and commercial litigation in multi-jurisdictional matters and on domestic arbitration. 

Throughout his career, he advised on a number of high-profile arbitration proceedings related to infrastructure, construction and energy and guided Spanish and foreign companies in matters spanning the finance, insurance, audiovisual, telecommunications and automotive sectors. 

His expertise and contributions to the Spanish arbitration community have been recognised by several international legal directories, including Chambers Europe and Legal 500. 

De los Santos was also president of the Spanish Arbitration Club (CEA), a role he held for just under two years. He also served as general secretary of the International Bar Association’s Spanish branch and as a member of the Madrid Bar Association. 

In a statement posted on Linkedin, the CEA’s vice president Alfonso Iglesia, former president Juan Fernadez-Armesto and secretary general Victor Bonnin said: ‘Carlos leaves us a great legacy with his important contribution to the arbitration world and beyond that, his indelible personal mark on all of us who have had the privilege of being able to work by his side.’

In another tribute, the European Arbitration Association wrote: ‘An important member of the Spanish arbitration community is leaving us, whose professionalism, work and commitment have notably helped to consolidate arbitration in our country.’