About Zafo Law

Friend of Scandinavia

Zafo Law is a Spanish law firm oriented towards Scandinavian clients. A law firm of modern society, where language and national borders are seen as an option rather than a limitation. Our international approach enables us to address the needs of our clients and is thus our lifeblood.

We stand out especially in that we specialize in our clients and not in specific areas of law. This has happened as a consequence of the development of society, where the need for legal assistance across borders has never been greater and continues to grow.

Zafo Law specializes in those parts of Spanish law where the international element plays a significant role. Our experience and competencies create value for our clients and society in general, and we are not afraid to say that we are a Friend of Scandinavia.

Our ambitions

to be the law firm in Spain that is most oriented towards Denmark, Sweden, and Norway.

to be the preferred Spanish law firm for companies, individuals, lawyers, accountants and banks from Denmark, Sweden, and Norway.

to have skilled and satisfied employees who know Scandinavian values and culture and who carry out their work digitally, independently, and effectively.

to have satisfied and loyal clients who will recommend us to others.

Vision

Our vision is to become a market-leading legal partner for the Danish, Swedish and Norwegian interests in Spain.

Mission

Our mission is to help Scandinavian interests in Spain, thereby becoming a Friend of Scandinavia. We do this by helping Danish, Swedish, and Norwegian companies succeed in the Spanish market and by assisting private Danes, Swedes, and Norwegians in realizing their dream of Spain. We create value for Danish, Swedish and Norwegian lawyers as we help get through the Spanish legal system.

We have Scandinavian values

Trust

“The speed of trust”! Nothing creates results faster than confidence. The Scandinavian social models are based on trust, while the Spanish bureaucracy is the result of the opposite.
It is important to us that we can trust each other. We will always do our utmost to safeguard the interests of our clients, but we will not do unnecessary duplication of our work if we are distrusted. Without trust, it is better to break off the relationship.

Respect

In Spain, unfortunately, one often experiences large documentation requirements and a sometimes frustrating chain of expeditions that are required to be completed in order to reach an understanding from the very little co-operative person on the other side of the counter. It is often forgotten that the same person, probably himself, is in a situation without focus on job well-being, which can be illustrated by, among other things, the lack of knowledge of raising / lowering tables.

We respect our clients and employees. All employees at Zafo Law have raising / lowering tables, and when we ask clients for documentation, we try to do this in the best possible way.

Integrity

Unfortunately, corruption is a well-known problem at all levels of Spanish society, as is the payment of referral commissions for one thing or another. Unfortunately, there are also many unauthorized advisers who offer legal advice without being allowed to do so and therefore do not have coverage in a liability insurance.

Zafo Law is 100% independent and we do not accept commissions, gifts or the like from a third party to which we may refer, be it banks, real estate agents, other attorneys, etc. The owners of Zafo Law have Spanish legal degrees (abogado), and we are covered of a liability insurance. We behave properly.

Security

In the Scandinavian countries, citizens are secured by a social safety net. Unfortunately, the average Spanish citizen does not know the same security.

We advise our clients in a language they feel comfortable with. In our case management we focus in particular on conditions that are common in Spain, but which in the Scandinavian countries will be considered unusual. We want our clients to be as informed as possible before a decision is made, so that “unusual Spanish conditions” are included in the decision-making process.

Our Strengths

For more than 15 years, every single day we have been working on international issues in Spain, where Scandinavian interests have been involved.

This means that we have accumulated specialist knowledge in our field of law, which many other Spanish law firms have not had the same opportunity to do, since they probably only see the same issues for Scandinavian clients in Spain a few times a year.

We work in Spanish but provide our services in a language other than Spanish.

Our History

Zafo Law was founded in Barcelona in 2004 by the lawyers Vicente Sebastián Ruiz and Lars Hovmand Mikkelsen. Compared to many other law firms, we also chose to focus on working areas other than real estate. Among other Business Law and litigation, which has developed into some of our most important areas of work.
We have hereby built up specialist knowledge in international legal matters in Spain within a broad legal spectrum.

Zafo Law has in a short time developed into one of the leading Spanish law firms in solving legal issues and litigation in Spain involving Scandinavians, Scandinavian companies, or Scandinavian lawyers.

In 2006, we opened an office in Alicante and in 2013 in Marbella because of the demand for our legal services from the Scandinavian stakeholders in these areas.

Our History

Zafo Law was founded in Barcelona in 2004 by the lawyers Vicente Sebastián Ruiz and Lars Hovmand Mikkelsen. Compared to many other law firms, we also chose to focus on working areas other than real estate. Among other Business Law and litigation, which has developed into some of our most important areas of work.
We have hereby built up specialist knowledge in international legal matters in Spain within a broad legal spectrum.

Zafo Law has in a short time developed into one of the leading Spanish law firms in solving legal issues and litigation in Spain involving Scandinavians, Scandinavian companies, or Scandinavian lawyers.

In 2006, we opened an office in Alicante and in 2013 in Marbella because of the demand for our legal services from the Scandinavian stakeholders in these areas.

People

Vicente Sebastián Ruiz
Partner, abogado, LL.M.

Barcelona

A title

Image Box text

Vicente Sebastián Ruiz

Founding Partner, Abogado (Spanish lawyer), LL.M., Insolvency trustee
Barcelona

vsr@zafolaw.com
+34 932 389 300

Work areas: Corporate, Litigation, Transport & Maritime law

Profile

Vicente Sebastián is Managing Partner of ZAFO LAW. He has extensive experience in litigation and corporate matters assisting Scandinavian entities in Spain. He also regularly advises banks, financial entities, corporations, insurance companies, etc.

He specializes in restructurings, distressed investments and insolvency, and advises all the parties involved when companies are in financial difficulty (i.e. debtors, company directors, creditors, receivers, etc.).

Vicente Sebastián has been a lecturer on Maritime Law at Barcelona Bar Association.

He is tax representative and secretary to the board of various Scandinavian subsidiary companies.

An interview with Vicente Sebastián can be read in this interview: http://lawyerpress.com/2019/05/14/vicente-sebastian-zafo-law-de-barcelona-escandinavia-tiene-un-gran-respeto-por-la-reputacion-de-las-empresas-espanolas-en-muchos-sectores/

Education

LLM, Universidad de Navarra.
Abogado (Spanish Attorney-at-law) bar member number 24655 Colegio de Abogados de Barcelona.
Spanish law degree, Universidad Central de Barcelona.

Experience

Founding partner in Zafo Law
Abogado, law firm in Barcelona.
Abogado, Dutch / German law firm in Barcelona.

Memberships

The Danish Business Circle in Barcelona
The Swedish Spanish Trade Chamber in Barcelona

Publications and lecturing

Autor of the article "Schizophrenic jurisprudence" published in The Maritime Advocate.
Lecture in Maritime Law at the Colegio de Abogado in Barcelona.

Maria Sarrate Teixidó
Abogada (Spanish lawyer)

Barcelona