José Manuel Sala

Of Counsel
Madrid
About

José Manuel is Of Counsel in the Public Law Department at DLA Piper’s Madrid office. He has extensive experience in the field of economic public law. He has represented clients in significant judicial proceedings against decisions issued by authorities and has advised major Spanish and international public and private companies on regulatory matters. He has also acted as an external advisor to various public administrations.

Areas of FocusLitigation, Arbitration and InvestigationsRegulatory and Government AffairsEnergy and Natural ResourcesWasteRenewables

EXPERIENCE

  • Administrative and judicial appeals related to the award of public sector contracts.
  • Advising on public procurement procedures and contract performance, including financial rebalancing of public domain, public service, and public works concessions.
  • Drafting and reviewing tender documents and contractual specifications.
  • Expert counsel in administrative sanction proceedings, representing clients in appeals before key regulatory and supervisory bodies such as the Bank of Spain, the Spanish Securities Market Commission (CNMV), and the National Commission on Markets and Competition (CNMC).
  • Regulatory oversight into banking and capital markets.
  • Regulatory advice on M&A transactions, infrastructure financing, and public takeover bids.
  • Legal advisory on the regulatory and economic framework of electricity generation, distribution and supply; natural gas storage, transport and distribution; as well as water supply, hydroelectric concessions, and irrigation rights.
  • Advising multinational and Spanish companies on emissions trading regulations, environmental liability, waste management, and legal frameworks for data centers.
  • Legal representation in numerous proceedings before the Spanish Supreme Court, the Constitutional Court, and the Court of Justice of the European Union, particularly in regulated sectors and competition matters.

Languages
  • Spanish
  • English
  • French

Awards

  • Chambers & Partners Europe - Energy - 2013 - 2024 (Ranked)
  • Chambers & Partners Europe - Public Law - 2013 - 2024 (Top Ranked)
  • Best Lawyers - Public Law - 2013 - 2024 (Top Ranked) 
Education

  • Universidad de Navarra, Degree in Law

  • Universidad de Navarra, Ph.D, cum laude

Publications

  • The BBVA/Sabadell Takeover Bid: Uncommon Questions – Expansión, May 14, 2025
  • Towards Lobbying Regulation in Spain – Expansión, March 31, 2025
  • The Liberalization of Spanish Railway Transport before the European Courts – Expansión, October 27, 2023

Prior Experience

  • 2013 to date, DLA Piper, Of Counsel
  • 2001 to date, Professor of Administrative Law at the Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Madrid
  • 1985 to date, State Attorney
  • 2002 to 2013, Founding partner of a Spanish law firm
  • 1992 to 2002, Co-founding partner, with other Administrative Law Professors, of a law firm focused on Public Law
  • 1992 to 2000, Professor of Administrative Law at the Universidad de Valladolid-Burgos
  • 1989 to 1998, Secretary of the Board of Directors of a Securities and Stock Exchange Firm
  • 1977 to 1992, Head Professor of Administrative Law at the Universidad Autónoma, Madrid
  • 1974 to 1982, Civil Servant at the Senior Corps of Civil State Administrators.  Working at the President's Office between 1975 and 1982

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Recipient of the Gold Medal, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos

MEMBERSHIPS AND AFFILIATIONS

  • Madrid Bar Association
  • Management Committee for the Spanish Section of the International Institute of Administrative Sciences
  • Spanish Royal Academy of Jurisprudence and Legislation
  • Spanish Association of Administrative Law Professors

My latest insights

News

DLA Piper advises BBVA on the first project financing for a green hydrogen plant in Iberia

16 April 2025 .1 minute read

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Phone

+34 91 790 16 79
(Work, Madrid)