Javier de Carvajal
Javier heads the litigation and arbitration practice in the Madrid office, focusing on commercial and corporate disputes, as well as on insolvency law.
With more than 25 years of experience, he advises a wide range of clients on precontentious and contentious issues mainly in civil, commercial and company law matters, having appeared before Spanish Tribunals of all instances and jurisdictions.
He has broad experience in domestic and international arbitration proceedings, as well as in arbitration-related judicial proceedings, namely exequatur, injunctions and enforcement proceedings. He also specialises in pre-insolvency and insolvency (bankruptcy) law, including restructuring processes, and has acted in insolvency proceedings as counsel for the debtor and for the creditors, as well as for directors, shareholders and any other party related to the pre-insolvent or insolvent company.
He also participates in distress-related transactions involving productive units, distressed credits (NPLs portfolios and single names), special situations and real estate-backed debt investments.
His professional career is complemented by non-contentious work, including pre-litigation and pre-insolvency advice, negotiation of out-of-court settlements and issuing legal opinions on a number of issues of civil, procedural., commercial, pre-insolvency and insolvency law.
Recognition
His expertise is highlighted in Chambers & Partners and Legal 500 for dispute resolution and restructuring & insolvency since 2020.
- 'He projects calmness and confidence.' 'Javier de Carvajal has a practical outlook and excellent knowledge.', Chambers Global & Europe 2026 – Spain (Arbitration)
- 'We are very satisfied with Javier's work, which has been impeccable in solving any problem and in coordinating with other departments in the firm.' 'Javier has experience in complex litigation in Spain. He is a good advocate and able to navigate us through the intricacies and nuances of Spanish litigation procedures.', Chambers Global & Europe – Spain (Litigation: Elite)
- 'Javier Carvajal is a technically excellent lawyer with a strong commercial vision.', Chambers Global & Europe 2025 – Spain (Litigation: Elite)
- 'He seeks solutions that can help us instead of overcomplicating things.', Chambers Global & Europe 2024 – Spain (Dispute resolution)
- 'Javier de Carvajal understands our way of working and thinks outside the box."; "Javier makes the process very easy for his client.', Chambers Global & Europe 2023 – Spain (Dispute resolution)
Experience & capabilities
Selected matters
- a leading global alternative investment management firm on its work-out strategy in relation to the enforcement of securities and collection of debt. Also, defence against several lawsuits brought by its debtors. Aggregate value of over €70 million
- the most important Spanish toy manufacturer on its defence in several civil proceedings against former shareholder, acting both as plaintiff and as defendant. Aggregate value of over €25 million
- a family investment vehicle: advising one of the biggest creditors in the Nueva Rumasa group insolvency proceedings -- one of the largest and most well-known insolvencies in Spain. Furthermore, acting as defendant's counsel against a claw-back claim filed by the insolvency administrators (the value of the claim was €4.5 million)
- an important real estate developer, acting both as plaintiff's and defendants' counsel in several litigation cases related to sale and constructions agreements. Aggregate value of over €17 million
- a Mexican construction company on an ICC arbitration against a Bolivian infrastructure state-owned company for the undue and illegal termination of the works contracts (FIDIC) in relation to the construction of the dual carriageway in the road Santa Cruz-Cochabamba in Bolivia. Aggregate value of over €20 million
- a Swiss financial services company on a claim filed by a Spanish bank against 12 of its employees for allegedly engaging in acts of unfair competition
- a real estate developer on an ICC arbitration regarding several real estate projects. The dispute relates to the termination of the relevant contracts and the compensation for damages claimed as a consequence of those terminations
- Nueva Pescanova on a litigation against one of its shareholders regarding the nullity of a €300 million facility agreement granted to companies belonging to Grupo Nueva Pescanova by certain financial entities, entered into after a complex period of negotiations in the context of the insolvency proceedings and the group restructuring to avoid liquidation
Background
He has a Law degree and a Business studies diploma by the Universidad Pontificia Comillas (ICADE E-1) (Spain). He is a member of the Ilustre Colegio de la Abogacía de Madrid (ICAM – Madrid Bar Association), as well as of the Club Español de Arbitraje (Spanish Arbitration Club) and of the Spanish Insolvency Law Club (CEDI – Club Español del Derecho de la Insolvencia). He speaks Spanish, English and French.
Prior to joining the firm, he worked in another international law firm and in one of the major Spanish law firms.
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