We are thrilled to announce a NEW DATE for our Women Who Inspire: Law event!
Join us on Wednesday 5th November for the IV edition of one of our most anticipated EDI events! This year, Women Who Inspire will be dedicated to the world of Law.
The Spanish Chamber of Commerce in the UK has a strong commitment to Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, and it is with this in mind that EDI is included in its Strategic Plan as one of its core objectives. This commitment is translated into a series of initiatives, including this event series.
Women Who Inspire is an event series launched in 2022 which aims to cast a spotlight on professionals from different sectors, to delve into their career backgrounds and the challenges and opportunities that they have encountered along the way, from a gender perspective.
This fourth edition will consist of a panel discussion of leading female voices from the legal sector, followed by a cocktail reception where attendees will have the opportunity to network over drinks and canapés, not only with representatives from the legal sector in the UK, but with other Members of the Spanish Chamber’s network.
If you’re a female professional in the legal world, this is an event not to be missed. But Women Who Inspire aims to inspire us all. It is open to Members and non-Members alike, both women and men, not only in the legal world but in any other sector. We strongly encourage everyone to attend and take an active part in this important conversation.
Date & Time: Wednesday 5th November, 18:00 (for a 18:30 start) – 20:30
Location: Spanish Ambassador’s Residence | 24 Belgrave Square | London SW1X 8QA
REGISTER HERE
MEET THE PANELLISTS
Mariemme Nassiri Florido
Legal Counsel, Real Estate — EQT Group (London)
Mariemme Nassiri Florido is Legal Counsel in the Real Estate team at EQT Group, based in the London office. She joined EQT in 2022 and advises on real estate transactions across EQT Real Estate’s European portfolio.
Before joining EQT, Mariemme practiced in the M&A department of J&A Garrigues, where she advised both Spanish and international clients on complex corporate and commercial transactions. During her time at Garrigues, she worked in both Spain and London, focusing on cross-border acquisitions, joint ventures, corporate restructurings, and commercial contracts across multiple sectors.
At EQT, Mariemme focuses on transactional and structural work relating to the acquisition, leasing, development and disposal of real estate assets and portfolios of varying scale, as well as ongoing portfolio management. Mariemme’s expertise includes advising on multidisciplinary and multi-jurisdictional transactions, often involving cross-functional teams and complex corporate structures.
She holds a Law degree from Universidad Cardenal Cisneros (affiliated with Universidad Complutense de Madrid), complemented by three years of study in Business and Economics. She also holds a Master’s in International Business Law from Centro de Estudios Garrigues, in academic collaboration with Universidad Nebrija (Madrid) and Fordham Law School (New York).
Mariemme is originally from Málaga, and works fluently in Spanish and English.
Selena Strudwick
General Counsel, Ferrovial Construction UK & Ireland
Selena qualified as a lawyer 15 years ago. For 10 years she worked at law firms in the City of London, advising clients in the infrastructure and major projects sector and with a particular focus on transport projects. She moved to an in-house role in 2018 and worked directly with the project teams delivering three of London’s flagship infrastructure projects – Thames Tideway, Northern Line Extension and Silvertown Tunnel. At the start of 2022 she became the General Counsel of Ferrovial Construction UK & Ireland. As General Counsel, she oversees the Ferrovial Construction UK&I legal department, and advises on projects from inception to final completion. Highlights of her experience include the award to Ferrovial Construction of design and build contracts for the track infrastructure for High Speed 2, and a new £230m tunnelling contract for National Grid.
Isabel Bandín
Board Member of the Spanish Chamber of Commerce in the United Kingdom and IP, IT & Digital business Senior Associate at Gómez-Acebo & Pombo
Isabel is a Senior Associate at Gómez-Acebo & Pombo, where she specializes in intellectual property, technology, and digital business. Isabel regularly advises both domestic and international clients, including major tech multinationals and leading companies in the entertainment and luxury sectors, among many others. She also has extensive experience in M&A transactions involving high-value intellectual property assets, such as software, AI systems, and digital platforms. Her practice includes representation before Spanish commercial and administrative courts, the EUIPO, the Spanish Patent and Trademark Office, and international bodies such as WIPO and the European Union trade mark courts.
In addition to her legal practice, Isabel serves as a Board Member of the Spanish Chamber of Commerce in the United Kingdom, where she actively contributes to strengthening bilateral business and cultural relations. She is also a published author of numerous articles in some of the most prestigious legal journals, and a frequent speaker at postgraduate programs and legal forums across Europe, where she regularly lectures on topics such as artificial intelligence, copyright, and software law.
Marta Sánchez Merino
Head Office, Quabbala Limited
Marta Sánchez Merino is a dual-qualified lawyer in Spain and in England & Wales. Her career has been defined by adaptability and resilience. After years of preparing for a judicial career in Spain, a significant legal opportunity in the UK reshaped her professional path, leading her to build an international legal career in London. Following several years of practice in cross-border commercial, corporate and insolvency law in the City, she embraced a new challenge: qualifying as a solicitor in England & Wales. She also holds two master’s degrees in Spanish law—one in Economic Criminal Law and the other in Legal Practice—both with dissertations focused on comparative law. Her expertise in comparative law has been sought in European Union initiatives on international cooperation.
Marta is a Council Member of The Law Society, representing solicitors across England and Wales in the Business and Commercial seat. She is also a passionate advocate for diversity and inclusion: she serves as Vice-Chair of the Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Committee at the Westminster & Holborn Law Society, is a member of its International Committee, and is the founder and host of the International Legal Evenings series, a quarterly programme of discussions on cross-border law and global practice.
Passionate about art and photography, Marta is also highly active on social media, applying creativity and attention to detail in new ways. She contributes to associations such as Women in the Law UK and frequently writes for publications including The Central London Lawyer and Legal Women. Through her work, she actively engages in conversations about the evolving nature of the legal profession, aiming to make a meaningful impact on its future.
Blanca Arlabán
Partner, Uría Menéndez
Blanca is a lawyer in the corporate and commercial group of Uría Menéndez, which she joined in 2007. Between March and September 2010, Blanca worked in the London office of Slaughter and May, where she was an international secondee in the Banking and Financing team. Blanca has worked in the London office since January 2014. Between January and July 2016, she was seconded to the legal department of Goldman Sachs in London. Blanca focuses her professional practice on financing, restructuring, mergers and acquisitions and general commercial law. She has a wide experience advising on domestic and international acquisitions and disposals of companies in various sectors.
Blanca has been involved in some of the largest and most innovative financing and restructuring transactions in Spain, including advising lenders and borrowers on corporate financings, project financings, asset finance, structured financings and refinancings. In recent years, she has also advised on non-performing loan portfolio acquisitions and other real estate transactions.
Blanca holds a Double degree in Law and Business Administration from the Universidad Pública de Navarra, 2007.
This event is held in collaboration with:
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Important notice:
We work with a photo and video team at our events, and we may publish their work on our website, social media accounts, and other communication channels. By registering for this event, you acknowledge and agree to this.
