Henar González Durántez
Henar is the head of the competition and trade practice in Madrid.
She has almost two decades of experience advising clients on business conduct and transactions to ensure compliance with EU and Spanish competition law. She regularly represents clients before competition authorities and courts with a special focus on dawn-raids, cartels cases and investigations on unfair practices and other abusive behaviour and has experience in securing merger approvals and state aid matters. Over the course of her career, she has been successfully involved in a large number of investigations and filings to the European Commission and the CNMC, the Spanish Competition Authority.
Henar has worked in Brussels and was trained at the EU Commission, which has enabled her to offer a practical knowledge of the competition, legal and policy issues that clients most commonly face. She uses her business understanding to advise leading companies predominently in the retail and consumer products sectors as well as in energy, digital markets, telecomunications, pharmaceutical, transport, banking and insurance.
Recognition
She has been recognised in Competition in Chambers Europe and EMEA Legal 500 since 2015 y 2020, respectively.
'Henar González is an intelligent and very experienced lawyer, who dedicates quality time to her matters.' 'Her treatment of the client is unbeatable and she always manages to expand the knowledge of those people who are lucky enough to receive her advice.' 'Aside from her deep knowledge of the subject, she is able to situate her advice very well in the business. She explains things in a clear way for those who aren't lawyers.' 'Henar González is always up-to-date with the latest news and trends in our sector.' 'She works directly and closely with the client, so that the knowledge of each subject is used to the maximum, obtaining the best results.', Chambers Europe 2025 - Spain (Competition/EU law)
'Henar González is the best and most qualified person that I have had the pleasure to work with. Her knowledge of competition law and our company makes it possible for her to give precise, informed and sophisticated advice in a very complex field.' 'Her capacity to foresee some of the aspects that the clients need to take into account really helps in guiding the client through the different stages.' 'I would highlight her ability to be constantly up to date on any changes, her capacity to give highly qualified answers to particularly complex issues and her constant availability.' 'The main thing we enjoy with Henar González is that she has the vision to foresee what is coming but also to prepare for it.', Chambers Europe 2024 - Spain (Competition/EU law)
'High knowledge of their specialties and involvement in the work they do. The partner with whom I have most contact is the outstanding Henar González Durántez.’, EMEA Legal 500 2024 - Spain (Competition/EU law)
Academic activity
She is a regular speaker and lecturer at several universities and professional institutions in Spain. She has also written a number of specialised articles on competition law for legal publications and is co-author of the book "Problemas Prácticos y de Actualidad del Derecho de la Competencia", Civitas 2014.
She regularly speaks at seminars and is very active writing articles, publications and chapters in collective works in the EU and competition practice area.
Experience & capabilities
Selected matters
- a leading multinational in the railway sector in relation to the potential acquisition of a portfolio of assets arising from the divestment derived from the merger between Siemens and Alstom
- a paper and cardboard manufacturer on the investigation by the Spanish Competition Authority in the Spanish paper and cardboard sector, including assistance during the dawn-raid, its defence during the investigation procedure and the appeal before the National Court of Appeal
- a Spanish retailer on the investigation of the European Commission concerning the collective negotiation of purchasing conditions and coordinated temporary stopping of orders to suppliers by three international alliances in the retail sector
- a leading multinational engineering and construction company on two investigations initiated by the CNMC for alleged participation in cartel agreements
- a multinational company in the building materials sector in relation to the European Commission's investigation into alleged cartel activity involving a number of cement producers operating at worldwide level*
- a major transport group in relation to investigations initiated by the CNMC in relation to alleged cartel activities in the provision of passengers and freight maritime transport services*
- a multinational rent-a-car company in relation to a CNMC's investigation regarding the exchange of commercially sensitive information at airports*
- a telecommunications operator in Spain in relation to a number of complaints for abusive behaviour*
- Eroski on its acquisition of more than 470 supermarkets from Caprabo (a phase II merger review in Spain closed without commitments or conditions)*
*Experience prior to joining the firm
Background
She has a law degree at the Universidad of Valladolid (1991-1996) and D.E.S. (European law) at the Université Catholique de Louvain (1996-1997) in Belgium. She is a member of the Ilustre Colegio de la Abogacía de Madrid (ICAM - Madrid Bar Association).
Prior to joining the firm as partner in 2015, she previously worked in Brussels and Madrid at a Spanish leading law firm, where she was a member of the EU and Competition law practice group.
She speaks Spanish, English and French.
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