Juan Antonio Sagardoy is the Honorary President of Sagardoy Abogados, a firm he founded in 1980. He is also a Professor of Labour Law and Social Security.
In 1978, he became the first Director-General of the Institute of Social Studies, where he led the development of the Workers’ Statute, which continues to serve as the legal framework for regulating labor relations in Spain.
With his extensive legal knowledge, Juan Antonio has taken on a wide range of professional roles, both in Spain and internationally. He is a member of several prestigious organizations, including the International Industrial Relations Association, the Executive Committee of the International Society for Labour Law and Social Security, the Ibero-American Academy of Labour Law and Social Security, and the Free College of Emeritus. He has also been a full member of the Royal Academy of Jurisprudence and Legislation since 2004.
Throughout his career, he has held key advisory positions in various institutions, such as the National Institute of Hydrocarbons, Renfe, the Advisory Council for Privatizations, Telefónica, Banesto, and Nacional de Reaseguros, to name just a few. Additionally, he served as President of the Club Financiero Génova and Euroforum Escorial.
His extensive professional career has earned him several prestigious awards, including the “Best International Labour Lawyer” award from the International Association of Experts in Labour Law and Social Security in 2004, “Best Labour Lawyer 2009” from the National Association of Labour Lawyers (ASNALA), and the distinction as the best lawyer in the “Labour Employment” category by the renowned American publication Best Lawyer in 2012.
From official institutions, he has been honored with the Grand Cross of San Raimundo de Peñafort in 1996, the Gold Medal for Merit in Work in 2001, the Cross of Carlos III the Noble of Navarra awarded by the Government of Navarra in 2010, the Grand Cross of Military Merit in 2006, the Medal of Honor of the Illustrious Bar Association of Madrid (ICAM) in 2016, and the Forbes Honor Award for the Legal Profession in 2018. In January 2018, he was awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of Alcalá.
