Pérez-Llorca has become the first law firm in Spain to obtain both ISO 37001 certification—the international standard for anti-bribery management systems—and UNE 19601 certification, the benchmark standard for criminal compliance management systems. Both certifications were awarded by Bureau Veritas, one of the world’s leading certification bodies.
This dual recognition strengthens the firm’s corporate governance model and positions it as a benchmark in business integrity and risk management—an increasingly critical factor for companies operating in highly regulated environments with significant reputational exposure.
A comprehensive framework for ethical and criminal compliance
ISO 37001 certifies the implementation of an anti-bribery management system aligned with international standards, providing a structured framework to prevent, detect and address bribery risks, while reinforcing a culture of integrity and transparency across the firm’s activities.
UNE 19601, meanwhile, certifies the existence of a criminal compliance system aligned with international best practices, capable of mitigating criminal risks and strengthening a culture of compliance in an increasingly regulated environment subject to close stakeholder scrutiny.
The joint adoption of both standards enables the firm to integrate its compliance governance systems coherently, respond proactively to risks related to bribery and corporate crime, and meet the highest ethical and regulatory standards. This, in turn, enhances trust among clients, employees and other stakeholders in its governance model.
“Obtaining ISO 37001 and UNE 19601 certifications is a milestone that reflects Pérez-Llorca’s ongoing commitment to integrity, professional excellence and transparency in all our processes. This recognition places us at the forefront of the legal sector in Spain and allows us to offer our clients the highest standards of ethical and legal compliance,” said Julio Lujambio, managing partner of Pérez-Llorca.
“Our commitment to a robust criminal compliance and anti-bribery framework reflects not only regulatory requirements, but also a differentiating value that provides legal and reputational assurance to both our clients and our organisation,” added José Luis Luna, Chief Legal Officer of Pérez-Llorca.
From a compliance perspective, María Cano, the firm’s compliance officer, noted that “this milestone forms part of a broader corporate strategy focused on strengthening internal control structures and raising the firm’s ethical standards”.
The firm expects to obtain ISO 37001 certification by the end of the year in Portugal, Mexico and Colombia—other jurisdictions in which it practises local law—thereby standardising its anti-bribery framework across all its operations and becoming the first firm in those countries to achieve this certification.
With this dual certification, Pérez-Llorca reinforces its position as one of the most advanced law firms in corporate governance, risk mitigation and regulatory compliance—key attributes for clients operating in highly regulated sectors who require legal advisers with the highest levels of rigour, transparency and professional integrity.
