Interview with Sandra Casaponsa, Head of Client Relations at IUS+AEQUITAS Trial Lawyers  

LATIN COUNSEL talks with Sandra Casaponsa Martínez-Geijo, Head of the Client Department of IUS+AEQUITAS Trial Lawyers about her important work in the firm, the firm’s projections, and about the new B Corp Rating recently granted to the firm. 

LC: Can you tell us about the firm, the direction it is taking, and its origins? Which are its main lines of work?

Sandra Casaponsa Martínez-Geijo: IUS+AEQUITAS is a Madrid-based litigation firm founded in 2003 by Justo Trashorras and Eliseo Martínez. In its beginnings, it was a small firm, but today we can affirm that we have established ourselves as a firm with a clear international vocation. 
As for our lines of work, we deal with practically all areas of law in a comprehensive manner; we specialize in civil, commercial, criminal, contentious-administrative, ADR, labor, bankruptcy and restructuring matters. In addition, we have extensive experience in mediation, so that, despite being litigators, we try as far as possible to resolve the client’s conflict in the way that involves the least damage to the client.

LC: Can you tell us about your position as Head of the Client Department?

Sandra: My position as head of the client department is not a common position in law firms, but it perfectly exemplifies the clear client orientation we have. We take the client as the center and from there, based of course on our professional experience, we design the strategy that best suits the client’s needs.

LC: In October 2022 you obtained the prestigious B Corp certification. What is B Corp, and what does it mean to have the B Quality seal?

Sandra: A B Corp (or Benefit Corporation) is a form of business that seeks to combine business success with a positive impact on society and the environment. These companies are committed to the idea that business can be a force for good and can generate value beyond economic benefits.
When a company becomes a B Corp, it is legally committed to making decisions that benefit all of its stakeholders, including employees, customers, suppliers, the community and the environment, rather than focusing solely on maximizing shareholder profits.
B Corp companies represent the most advanced model of sustainable and regenerative business in the world. Unlike companies that only pursue economic ends, B Corps meet high standards of social and environmental performance, public transparency and legal accountability. They are legally required to take into account their employees, customers, suppliers, the community and the environment in their decision-making.

LC: Who grants this certification, and under which parameters?

Sandra: The B Corp certification is granted by an independent organization called B Lab, and to obtain this certification companies must complete a rigorous audit in which they measure the creation of social, environmental and economic value for all their stakeholders. For us, obtaining certification after 5 years of preparation is a reflection of our efforts to do things right and that we are leading change in our sector. 
B Lab is the non-profit organization at the service of this global movement aimed at transforming the economic system. To achieve this vision, it creates standards, policies, tools and programs for companies, and verifies those companies that, known as B Corp companies, are leading the transformation to a new economic paradigm.

LC: How many companies have achieved this certification in Spain, and what type of company is it usually awarded to?

Sandra: In Spain we already have more than 200 companies with the B Corp certification, and it is an honor to share certification with companies such as Camper, The Body Shop, Danone, Triodos Bank, Másmóvil, Nespresso, etc. We are companies that, with our little grain of sand, are trying to change the way of being a company, and from my point of view it is a trend that is here to stay.  In addition, B Corp companies are part of a global community of businesses that share the vision of using the power of business to address the most pressing social and environmental challenges. This network provides opportunities for collaboration, learning and joint growth, enabling B Corp companies to share best practices and collectively drive positive change.

LC: What does it mean to you to be a B Corp company?

Sandra: Being a B Corp means being part of a business movement that seeks to balance financial interests with social and environmental impact. These companies strive to be agents of positive change in society and are committed to sustainable development and the generation of shared value.