Eduardo Soler Tappa
Eduardo is the office managing partner and leads our litigation and arbitration practice in Madrid.
He advises major corporations, energy companies and financial institutions on litigation and arbitration, with a special focus on the energy and financial services sectors.
He joined the firm as head of the litigation and arbitration practice in Madrid, at the same time playing an active role working with clients on litigation/arbitration, public law and regulation, especially in the energy practice.
He held the position of State Attorney General (Deputy Director) at the State Attorney's Office in Barcelona; State Attorney at the Barcelona Port Authority (during which time he was involved in over 1,700 disputes before various courts, including liability claims) and State Attorney General at the Secretariat of State for Energy. He also held the position of Secretary of the Board of Directors of Invest in Spain (INTERES) and State Attorney in the public entities Centro para el Desarrollo Tecnológico e Industrial (CDTI) and Instituto para la Diversificación y Ahorro de la Energía (IDAE).
Recognition
His expertise in dispute resolution particularly in energy sector is recognised by Chambers Europe and Legal 500 since 2014.
- 'Eduardo Soler Tappa is a brilliant lawyer who is able to handle sophisticated matters.', Chambers Global & Europe 2025 - Spain (Litigation: Elite)
- 'Eduardo knows how to adapt to the client's needs. His capacity for strategy is exceptional.', Chambers Global & Europe 2024 - Spain (Dispute resolution)
- 'His international mindset and ability to deal with both national and international cases with full competence make him a unique asset.'; 'He anticipates the problems.', Chambers Global & Europe 2023 – Spain (Dispute resolution)
In 2016, Eduardo was nominated by major economic media "Expansion" as 'one of the best lawyers in Spain'.
Academic activities
Eduardo has written a large number of publications, books and articles regarding the energy regulation sector in Spain covering areas of civil and administrative law, especially energy law.
He is a regular lecturer, speaker and professor in numerous courses and seminars. He assists in the preparation of candidates to the State Attorney's Office and he was a member of several panels for entry into the different departments of the Administration. He has tutored students at the Universidad de Barcelona, Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Universidad San Pablo CEU de Madrid and Universidad Pontificia ICADE.
Experience & capabilities
Selected matters
- the Kingdom of Spain on its defence against two arbitration claims lodged by 25 investment funds based on the Energy Charter Treaty (regarding new Spanish legislation applicable to photovoltaic technology)
- an energy company v other company on an ICC arbitration (€500 million): an award has been rendered in the arbitration proceedings upholding client's claim
- an energy company vs other company in relation to a gas sale and supply contract subject to an ICC arbitration
- an engineering company vs another sector company in relation to the construction of a power distribution line subject to an ICC arbitration
- a TMT Company vs another sector company in relation to a data traffic contracts subject to an arbitration
- a Spanish banking group on several criminal judicial actions
- Santander, Barclays and BBVA on several proceedings regarding financials products (preferent shares, bonds, etc)
Background
He has a law degree by Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (Spain) and joined the State Attorney Office in 2000.
He is a member of the Ilustre Colegio de la Abogacía de Madrid (ICAM - Madrid Bar Association), the Corte Española de Arbitraje (CEA - Spanish Arbitration Court), the International Bar Association (IBA) and the Asociación de Abogados del Estado (State Attorney Association).
He speaks Spanish, English and Italian.
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