It was founded in 1946 by Rodrigo Uría González, who was a Professor of Commercial Law, and Aurelio Menéndez. Today, the firm has nearly 600 lawyers distributed across its 12 offices located in the most important financial centers of Spain and Portugal (Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Bilbao, Seville, Lisbon, and Porto), complemented by international offices in Brussels, London, and New York.
The firm’s international structure allows it to provide legal advice on Spanish, Portuguese, and European Union law, both to Spanish and Portuguese clients in their international investments and to international clients in their investments in Spain or Portugal.
Uría Menéndez is part of the Ibero-American firm Philippi, Prietocarrizosa, Ferrero DU & Uría and has a network of best friends collaborating with leading firms in Germany (Hengeler Mueller); France (Bredin Prat); the Netherlands (De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek); Italy (BonelliErede); and the United Kingdom (Slaughter and May). Additionally, the firm is a member of several international associations.
Its legal practice combines the academic rigor inherited from its founders with a practical, business-oriented approach, enabling it to structure the most complex cross-border transactions and litigation in the region.
Uría Menéndez’ governance aligns digital transformation and social impact under ethical and sustainability criteria. On one hand, it optimizes efficiency through LegalTech tools, process automation, and rigorous cybersecurity protocols. On the other hand, it channels its social responsibility through the Profesor Uría Foundation, promoting corporate volunteering and a structured Pro Bono practice that provides free legal advice to charitable foundations and vulnerable groups.
