After Dentons’ revelations on global integration and cherry-picking in Latin America, we spoke for our special Leaders 2026: vision and challenges of Spanish law firms with Cristina Camarero, Managing Partner, Ontier Spain, who exclusively outlines her disruptive strategy: AI protocols with full supervision to balance efficiency and human quality, a complete shift from time to real value through innovative pricing structures, and expansion across Ibero-America—“our natural market”—Italy, and the Middle East, prioritizing culture and a long-term vision.
The alliance with The Cube delivers tangible, not theoretical, innovation, while the firm is committed to retaining young talent through training in AI, sustainability, and challenging projects within a meritocratic and flexible environment. Against a backdrop of persistent inflation and global fragmentation, Ontier foresees a strong year in M&A, insolvencies, ESG, fintech, and cross-border arbitrations:
“Technology increases efficiency, but our value lies in deep sector knowledge and creative solutions.”
Ontier and AI: efficiency without sacrificing human judgment
For Ontier’s managing partner, balancing efficiency and quality control in AI integration requires a “strategic approach: defining objectives, clear usage protocols, oversight and audit committees, and ongoing training for teams. There must be a total guarantee that the use of AI does not compromise judgment or quality.”
Technology “is a magnificent tool for achieving very high levels of efficiency, but the value Ontier brings will continue to lie in its in-depth knowledge of the sectors in which its clients operate and its ability to provide creative solutions to the obstacles they encounter in growing their businesses.”
“We must be open to new business models and prioritize customer-centric practices”
In the midst of the legal sector’s transformation, Cristina states that in 2026 “it is clear that law firms must continue to innovate in order to remain competitive. Ontier’s alliance with The Cube has allowed us to bring our professionals closer to real, rather than just theoretical, innovation environments.
It is true that innovation has a lot to do with technology, which is evolving by leaps and bounds, but that is not all. We must be open to new business models and prioritize client-centered practices.”
In this context, he said that they will continue to “delve deeper into the migration from time to value, building proposals with pricing structures that prioritize that value over the time invested, and committing to attracting top-level professionals who have in-depth knowledge of the sectors that are strategic for Ontier and its clients. And, of course, we will fight to retain the talent we already have.”
“In 2026, global disruption will drive up demand for specialized consulting”
The outlook for 2026 places us in a global scenario undergoing transformation, marked by persistent inflation, the rapid emergence of AI, changes in monetary policy, and geopolitical fragmentation. Regulatory pressure will continue to be very significant in many sectors, posing operational challenges for companies and potentially having negative effects on economic activity and on companies’ ability to innovate.
At Ontier, we are confident that we will continue on our path of growth thanks to the digitization of processes and innovation; the diversification and specialization of services; and the recruitment and retention of talent that reinforces our sectoral focus.
In changing environments, the need for specialized advice increases and opportunities arise in areas such as M&A, restructuring, insolvency, and large-scale litigation and arbitration, both nationally and internationally.
Ibero-America: Ontier’s strategic hub for 2026
Latin America will continue to be a strategic geographical region for us, one in which we see many opportunities for growth. It is a natural market for Ontier, which began its internationalization in the region.
Our priority will be to continue consolidating and strengthening existing teams and to analyze growth opportunities very selectively. We are not looking for rapid expansion, but rather projects that fit with our culture, our way of working, and our long-term vision.
We are also committed to consolidating our presence and continuing to grow in the United Kingdom, Italy, and the Middle East. Italy has grown significantly in 2025, and our launch in the Middle East has given us the opportunity to participate in some extremely interesting projects.
Innovation, ESG and high capacity: Ontier’s pillars of differentiation
Cristina Camarero emphasized that the firm’s differentiation is “based on two very clear pillars that we have already discussed: innovation and sustainability, in the broadest sense.”
Regarding ESG matters, she said that they are not limited to mere regulatory compliance. “A good example is El Observatorio de Impacto (The Impact Observatory), which we launched more than two years ago together with the consulting firm Transcendent, and which was created with the aim of generating reflection, analysis, and concrete proposals on sustainability and real impact in organizations. We believe that this approach allows us to better support clients in strategic decisions that are already critical to their growth.”
In line with this strategic support in ESG, Ontier is also prepared to absorb massive client demands in high-volume areas.
To respond effectively, they apply a “structured approach with clear and well-defined processes,” precise technology, appropriate allocation of specialized resources, and proactive communication. “The key is in the organization and the teams,” and Ontier has both strengths aligned to convert volume into value.
M&A, ESG and fintech will lead the boom in 2026
Ontier forecasts a year of growth in “M&A, restructuring, insolvency, and major litigation and arbitration. Also for regulatory compliance and ESG, Fintech and digital finance, data protection, and AI.”
Ontier’s managing partner stated that they will continue to “strengthen teams, focusing on profiles with strong sector specialization and promoting close collaboration between areas. The complexity of issues increasingly requires a cross-cutting vision.”
“Talent in general, and young people in particular, need to feel that they are growing and evolving in the right environment”
In Cristina’s opinion, “retaining young talent is a challenge for all firms and does not usually depend on one person but on the culture of the organization.” Her formula is “to offer challenging and attractive projects that enable learning and development in a collaborative, motivating, transparent, meritocratic, fair, and flexible environment.”
“Talent in general, and young people in particular, need to feel that they are growing and evolving in the right environment.”
In the words of Cristina Camarero, comprehensive training in AI and sustainability—naturally integrated into everyday life—aligns professional careers with the firm’s strategic objectives, ensuring long-term development and retention.
“We work on comprehensive programs that aim to provide tools to advance professional careers in alignment with the firm’s objectives. Sustainability is one of them and is a very natural part of our daily work.”
Profile of the lawyer for 2026: Cristina Camarero’s vision
Beyond technical skills, a good lawyer needs, as Cristina explains, essential human qualities. “Effective communication, critical and analytical thinking, adaptability and resilience, research skills, and a clear focus on the client and their business.” She adds that they must “have an in-depth understanding of their client’s sector and business, know how to work in a team, and be comfortable with technology.”
This collaborative spirit is magnified in leadership, where Ontier’s managing partner identifies the key traits: consistency, transparency, listening skills, integrity, empathy, and effective delegation.
“I believe that leadership has a lot to do with consistency, transparency, and the ability to listen. With integrity, empathy, and, of course, effective delegation. I continue to learn every day from all the people I am lucky enough to work with.”
