Practices and Sectors

• Administrative Law
• Competition
• European Union Law
• Litigation

Profile

Sonsoles Centeno joined Pérez-Llorca in 2021 as a partner in the Administrative Law and European Union Law practice areas. She is a State Advocate on leave of absence. She advises clients on regulatory matters, and has particular experience in litigation before the courts of the European Union and before the Spanish contentious-administrative courts. She focuses on matters concerning sanctioning, energy and sustainability, trade and investment, digital markets, State aid and public procurement.

Studies:

• 2022 LLM in Competition Law- Brussels School of Competition.
• 2018 Public Leadership Programme, IESE Business School
• 2003 Admitted to the Spanish State Advocate’s Office
• 2001 Degree in Law, Universidad Pontificia Comillas de Madrid – ICADE

She speaks Spanish, English and French.

Experience

Sonsoles was responsible for the opening of the firm’s Brussels office, and has advised her clients on proceedings before the European Commission and before the EU Courts, particularly in relation to State aid and internal market matters, and especially public procurement.

Prior to joining the firm, she amassed more than 18 years of experience through various positions within the public administration, particularly in the field of the European Union. She has been Chief State Advocate before the Court of Justice of the European Union (Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation) and Agent of the Kingdom of Spain, State Advocate-Legal Adviser at the Permanent Representation of Spain to the European Union and State Advocate before the National High Court (Administrative Chamber).

Academic and publishing collaborations

Sonsoles has contributed to different publications and specialised journals, including:

• “Estudios jurídicos sobre sostenibilidad: cambio climático y criterios ESG en España y la Unión Europea”, Aranzadi, 2022.
• “On Achmea, the Autonomy of Union Law, Mutual Trust and What Lies Ahead”, European Papers, 2018 (co-author).
• “Tratado de Derecho de la Competencia”, Aranzadi, 2013 with the chapter “Procedimientos en materia de Defensa de la Competencia.”
• “La Administración reguladora y supervisora”, Dykinson. (2009) with the chapters “Intervención concurrente de los diferentes reguladores” and “El principio de transparencia en las entidades supervisoras: particularidades”.

She has also taken part in various seminars, training activities, etc., at the Escuela Diplomática, Centro de Estudios Jurídicos, Universidad Menéndez Pelayo, Universidad de Sevilla, among others.

Professional organisations

The Madrid Bar Association (ICAM).

Recognition

Sonsoles Centeno has received the following recognition:

• Officer’s Cross of the Order of Isabella the Catholic, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation (2022).
• Order of Civil Merit, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation. (2019).
• First Class Distinguished Cross of the Order of San Raimundo de Peñafort, Ministry of Justice. (2017).
• Best Lawyers®: Competition and Antitrust Law.