Sagardoy Abogados was founded in 1980, born from the vision of Juan Antonio Sagardoy—then Professor of Labor Law at the Complutense University of Madrid—to combine academic teaching with the practice of law.

In 1978, following the enactment of the Spanish Constitution, Juan Antonio Sagardoy was appointed by the Minister of Labor, Rafael Calvo Ortega, to draft a new law governing employment contracts and labor relations. The Constitution enshrined three essential rights for a free labor system: collective bargaining, the right to strike, and the right to unionize—rights that were already recognized in other European countries but not yet in Spain. Sagardoy’s work, which spanned two years, culminated in the Workers’ Statute, published in the Official State Gazette (BOE) on March 14, 1980.

The approval of this law led to a growing demand for legal professionals specialized in labor law, as numerous new regulations emerged that required expert interpretation. The context of frequent strikes and the rise of union movements intensified labor conflicts that demanded skilled legal resolution. In response to this need, Juan Antonio Sagardoy founded a law firm in 1980, located at Calle Rosales 20 in Madrid, with a focus on providing legal labor counsel to companies and a strong commitment to excellence in client service.

The firm experienced rapid growth due to the high demand for labor advisory services, stemming from the economic and social conditions of the time. By 1981, Sagardoy brought in new collaborators to handle an increasing number of complex cases, including Antonio Gómez de Enterría, José Manuel Martín, Bernabé Echevarría, and Martín Godino Reyes, now the firm’s Managing Partner. Thanks to its specialization and innovative vision, the firm quickly established itself as a benchmark in labor law.

In 1990, the establishment of a professional corporation marked a qualitative leap in Sagardoy’s trajectory. Until then, the firm—led by Juan Antonio Sagardoy—had operated as a sole practice, following the traditional model of legal practice in Spain. The incorporation of new professionals, such as Iñigo Sagardoy de Simón, the firm’s current President, signaled a significant shift in management, aligning the firm with the Anglo-Saxon model of legal practice.

This transformation led to the creation of the first Management Committee and the development of a career progression system for incoming lawyers. By then, the firm had already expanded beyond Madrid, opening an office in Barcelona, and it introduced a series of internal regulations for its new locations, including the appointment of regional managing partners. In addition, a system for fee distribution and guiding principles was implemented to shape the firm’s professional conduct.

This phase coincided with the relocation of the firm’s headquarters from Rosales to Calle Tutor 27, Madrid. The spacious facilities of the new building fostered greater collaboration and reinforced the image of excellence that the firm aimed to project to the market and its clients.

At the end of the year 2000, in response to the international expansion of our clients, Sagardoy began establishing relationships with other labor and employment law firms, initially in Europe, with the aim of creating a collaborative network of boutique firms recognized as leaders in their respective jurisdictions.

In 2010, a significant milestone was reached at the firm with the appointment of Iñigo Sagardoy de Simón as President of Sagardoy Abogados. At that time, managing partners Martín Godino and José Manuel Martín took on the leadership of the firm, which was now governed by a Board of Directors. This change marked a step towards greater professionalization and institutionalization of the firm.

With the consolidation of Sagardoy Abogados’ training expertise, the development of its School has become a strategic project for the firm. Thus, an innovative and technologically advanced space has been created, open to interdisciplinary approaches. Sagardoy School Business & Law is launched to address the training needs of professionals in developing key competencies such as leadership and innovation in areas including Human Resources, Labor Relations, Sustainability, and Corporate Governance.

In 2021, Sagardoy Abogados and EY launched the EY-Sagardoy Institute for Talent and Innovation, a pioneering initiative aimed at contributing to Spain’s economic and social development by promoting talent and innovation as drivers of competitive advantage in the face of challenges and opportunities in the Spanish labor market.

Another key milestone occurred in 2022 with the appointment of Martín Godino as the firm’s sole Managing Partner and Chief Executive Officer—a decision that has accelerated the firm’s growth, both in terms of geographic expansion and the creation of specialized teams in emerging areas of Labor Law.

Also in 2022, Sagardoy Abogados relocated its offices in Seville and Barcelona to more central and representative locations in both cities. The Madrid office was moved to a new location in the heart of the capital, with the inauguration of its new premises at Calle Velázquez 86d.