Rocío Belda de Mergelina
Main Focus
Commercial contracts, corporate and M&A law with a particular focus on the retail market: franchising, distribution and licensing. Transactional lawyer assisting in the launch and development of franchise business in Spain, advising on the compatibility of foreign franchise agreements with Spanish legal framework, regulatory issues, competition, intellectual property and consumer protection laws; incorporation process and corporate governance; acquisitions, sales and restructuring of franchise systems; joint ventures and commercial contracts; and assisting on franchise negotiations and disputes
Languages
Spanish, English, French
Education
University of Valencia, Degree in Law, 1985
Vrije Universiteit Brussel – PILC (Program on Legal Cooperation, now Institute for European Studies), LLM on International and Comparative Law, 1988
Leyden University – University of Columbia, Program in American Law, 1989
Professional Experience
European Commission Legal Service
Partner at GARRIGUES law firm for over 30 years
At present practicing at her own boutique firm devoted to corporate and commercial law, particularly in the field of franchising and distribution
Memberships
Member and current chair of EuroFranchise Lawyers
Member and former chair of the IBA International Franchising Committee
Member of the ABA Franchise Forum
Member of the Madrid Bar Association
Member and former officer of the Executive Committee of the Madrid chapter of ACG (Association for Corporate Growth)
Former member of the Legal Advisory Committee to the Spanish Franchisors Association
Publications
International Franchise Sales Laws, ABA, 2023
Fundamentals of Franchising Europe, ABA, 2017
International Franchising, Globe Law and Business, 2010
Getting the Deal Through Franchise 2010
and various contributions to the Franchise Law Journal and the International Journal of Franchising Law (Claerhout Publishing Ltd.)
Others
Regularly ranked in international and Spanish legal directories: Best Lawyers (nominated Lawyer of the Year in the 2023 Edition), Legal 500 and Who is Who Law
Lecturer of Commercial Law at University Carlos III, University Juan Carlos I, IE, and CEG (Madrid)
Frequent speaker at various professional and business organizations at national and international level
