Baker & McKenzie has strengthened its White-Collar Crime team by hiring Spanish National Court Public Prosecutor Jesús Santos Alonso as a partner. The hire further strengthens Baker’s position in the area and forms part of its plans to expand the Spanish litigation and arbitration practice, led by partner José María Alonso.
Santos Alonso became a Public Prosecutor in 1985 and joined the National Court (Audiencia Nacional) in 1989. Highlights of his extensive career include his role in a number of trials related to terrorism (both national and international), organized and cross-border crime, and financial crime relating to companies as well as criminal organizations. He has also been prominent in investigations relating to Islamic terrorism, resulting in his appointment as coordinator of the specialist group of Public Prosecutors in Islamic Terrorism in May 2004.
He has an international profile thanks to roles as a consultant to the United Nations, the International Criminal Court for the former Yugoslavia and his appointment in 2004 as the liaison magistrate with the Republic of Italy, a position he held until the end of last year. He has also played an active role as representative of the Audiencia Nacional Public Prosecutors in the French-Spanish working group for judicial cooperation in anti-terrorism; the permanent working group for the U.S. Department of Justice in Islamic terrorism and the Great Britain anti-terrorism working group.
Santos Alonso is also a professor at a number of universities and schools, such as the Complutense University of Madrid, the University Centre Villanueva (where he is the head of the Criminology and Forensic Science Faculty), Institute of Stock Exchange Studies and the IE Law School. He has also published numerous articles and is a regular lecturer at courses and seminars on Criminal Law and Criminal Procedure Law.
“The decision to move to practising law is the result of my belief that I have both professionally and personally reached the end of an exciting phase of my career in the public sector,” Mr Alonso said. “Baker & McKenzie offers me an attractive and motivating opportunity. The Firm’s prestige and success in resolving the complex legal issues facing modern society, as well as its international dimension and magnificent team of professionals were the main reasons for my joining the Firm.”
The partner in charge of the Litigation and Arbitration Department, José María Alonso, said, “We are proud to have a professional of the standing of Jesus Santos join our team. It will enable us to strengthen our criminal law practice, a strategic area for a full-service firm such as Baker & McKenzie.”
Mr. Alonso added, “His addition to the Firm will ensure excellent client service and experienced advice in an increasingly important area, since the reform of the Criminal Code that establishes corporate criminal liability.”
