Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has appointed Madrid tax partner Silvia Paternain as head of the firm’s global tax practice. Silvia succeeds Colin Hargreaves who will return to focusing on client work full time. The appointment is for a four year term and takes effect immediately.

Silvia specialises in complex corporate cross-border transactions and in the tax structuring of structured finance and tax leveraged products, including stock lending and derivatives. She continues to be actively involved in the restructuring of the Spanish financial sector, having advised on the acquisition of CCM (Caja Castilla La Mancha), the first Spanish bank to go into  public administration, in a deal that set the path, followed across the sector, for subsequent restructurings.

Commenting on the appointment, Will Lawes, senior partner at Freshfields said: "Silvia is an excellent candidate for this role. She has a fantastic track record of having advised on some of the market’s most complex international deals involving Spain and has a strong reputation across our network. She’s ideally placed to further the outstanding work done by Colin in the role and help to continue and enhance the high levels of performance that our tax practice is highly regarded for".

Commenting on her new role, Silvia added: "I am delighted and excited to have the privilege to lead the firm’s international tax group. Our international clients are increasingly facing complex regulatory changes by tax authorities the world over so our objective is to continue and enhance our offering of market leading tax services that can support them in navigating through these challenges".