David Diez
Partner

David is Regulatory & Public Law Partner of Watson Farley & Williams Madrid office.

David specialises in regulated sectors and public Law, with wide experience advising in the energy, environment, waste, public infrastructure and public procurement sectors. He has a wealth of experience of advising companies pursuing regulated activities in the energy and gas industries, noteworthy examples including his participation in a host of high-profile transactions for the financing, sale and purchase and legalization of all types of renewable energy facilities (e.g. wind farms, biomass plants, photovoltaic and thermosolar energy facilities, etc.).

He is also a professor of postgraduate courses and M.A. in Energy Law in the Francisco de Vitoria University (UFdV), in the Escuela de Organización Industrial (EOI) and in Instituto de Empresa (IE).
He joined Watson Farley & Williams as a partner in 2014 from Garrigues Regulatory, Land & Enviroment.

• Legal advice to foreign and domestic companies on administrative law matters: i) public procurement; ii) financial liability of the public authorities; iii) administrative and judicial review proceedings; iv) drafting of reports and opinions.
• Advising operators in the energy, water, mines, waste and other industries, including administrative, contentious and arbitration proceedings, as well as in proceedings before regulatory bodies.
• Legal advice on project finance arrangements for projects for the generation of electricity using renewable energy sources, cogeneration and waste.
• Legal due diligence processes in sales and purchases of companies or facilities, in corporate restructurings and stock market transactions.
• Administrative and environmental law advice for the installation of electricity cogeneration, wind energy, biomass, thermo-solar, solar photovoltaic and combined cycle plants in Spain.
• Drafting of opinions and reports on the legal and economic regimes applicable to the various renewable energy and biofuel generation sources.
• Advising on environmental matters (IPPC and environmental authorizations, emission allowance trading, waste, contaminated land, effluents, noise and air pollution, etc.).
• Advice on contract negotiations.
• Legal assistance, monitoring and administrative oversight of large projects.
• Preparation of draft legislation for the public authorities at central, autonomous community and local government levels.

• 2010-2011: Master’s Degree in Energy Law (ENERCLUB – Club Español de la Energía).
• 2005: Master´s Degree in Urban Planning (CENTRO DE ESTUDIOS GARRIGUES).
• 2002: Master’s Degree in Business Law (INSTITUTO DE EMPRESA – IE Business School).
• 1996-2000: Degree in Law (UNIVERSIDAD DE NAVARRA).

• 2013 – Present: Energy Law Professor, Francisco de Vitoria University (UFdV).
• 2004 – Present: Assistant lecturer, Escuela de Organización Industrial (EOI).
• 2003 – Present: Assistant, Instituto de Empresa (IE). Madrid.
• Speaker on various courses, seminars and conferences on energy and environmental law.
• Author of various articles for the press and reviews specializing in the environment and renewable energies.

• Madrid Bar Association

• 2014 – Present: Partner – Watson Farley & Williams (Madrid)
• 2003 – 2014: Senior Associate – Garrigues (Madrid)