Maria Miguel | People | Baker McKenzie

Biography

María Miguel Romero is a team leader in the Corporate Crime, Compliance & Investigations practice at Baker McKenzie’s Madrid office, which she joined in 2017. She advises clients on the implementation and enhancement of compliance programs, corporate criminal liability, internal investigations and regulatory enforcement risks. Before joining Baker McKenzie, she gained solid experience in economic criminal law at a boutique firm. María has participated in key firm initiatives, including the firm’s Trade Days and EMEA Investigations Academy, and she has completed short-term assignments in London working closely with the White Collar Crime, Compliance & Investigations teams. In addition to her practice, she contributes to professional forums and industry events on compliance, sanctions, corporate criminal liability and whistleblowing.

Practice Focus

María advises companies across a wide range of industries on compliance systems, whistleblowing channels, internal investigations and risk assessments connected to corporate criminal liability. Her experience includes defending and representing corporate clients and executives in criminal proceedings involving corruption, tax offences, money laundering, fraud and crimes against workers’ rights, as well as participating in extradition proceedings. She regularly counsels clients on the design and implementation of internal controls, anti-fraud protocols, reporting mechanisms and governance structures aligned with evolving regulatory frameworks. María is also certified as an expert in compliance systems and provides guidance on best practices for navigating complex enforcement landscapes, including sanctions compliance and cross-border investigative matters.

Representative Legal Matters

Advised a major Spanish energy company on the review and enhancement of its compliance program, including an assessment of controls related to market integrity and consumer protection, as well as a group‑wide risk assessment review with strategic recommendations to strengthen preventive measures and align with best‑practice compliance standards.
Advised the Spanish subsidiaries of a global power‑technology group on the overhaul of their Compliance Matrix in Spain following a major international acquisition, conducting a comprehensive gap analysis, reviewing corporate compliance documentation, policies, procedures and risk maps across four business areas, and presenting final findings and recommendations to the Board of the parent company.
Advised a Spanish listed multinational in the oil & gas sector on an internal investigation triggered by an anonymous whistleblowing complaint involving a highly sensitive position, managing the full process from initial analysis to the final report in a strategically critical matter with potential reputational impact during ongoing funding rounds.
Advised a large Spanish‑headquartered multinational energy group on the review of its parent‑company compliance program and its integration across the group, developing a risk‑mitigation strategy and guiding the design of an effective global compliance framework amid heightened sensitivity due to legal proceedings affecting both the listed parent and its CEO.

Professional Associations and Memberships

Expert Witness in Compliance (Certification issued by Cumplen / IOC / WCA (2025)
Certified Compliance Expert Witness (2024), awarded by IOC, Cumplen and WWC
CESCOM Compliance Certificate (2023)
Madrid Bar Association (2015)

Admissions

Madrid~Spain (2015)

Education

(Specialized course in Civil Litigation Strategy and Civil Procedural Law) (2016)
Universidad Carlos III de Madrid and Universidad Pompeu Fabra (Postgraduate Program in Compliance (4th Edition), Dual Degree, in collaboration with KPMG) (2016)
Universidad Carlos III de Madrid (Master's Degree in Access to the Legal Profession) (2015)
University of Barcelona (Law Degree) (2013)

Languages

English
Spanish
Catalan