Manuel Somacarrera | People

Biography

Manuel Somacarrera is team leader of the Energy, Infrastructure and Public Law area of Baker McKenzie Madrid. Manuel joined the Firm in September 2015 and since then, he has focused on advising national and international clients on different matters. In the field of energy, in addition to advising on permitting, Manuel regularly leads the drafting and negotiation of power purchase agreements (PPAs). Moreover, in the infrastructure field, he manages the negotiation of EPC, O&M, BOP or MSA contracts, and he is used to work with the Fidic Contracts templates. Finally, as regards public law matters, he is focused on urban planning, social services, public procurement and regulated sectors, and has led the legal advice on administrative and judicial procedures.

From October 2023 to May 2024, Manuel was transferred on a temporary basis to our London office where he was involved in the negotiation of PPAs, EPCs and O&M agreements.

Manuel is a member of the Inclusion, Diversity and Equity Committee of the Madrid office where he co-leads the disability pillar as well as a member of EMEA LGTBI + steering committee.

He currently works as a Public Law seminar instructor for the Master in Lawyering at Universidad de Navarra, as well as instructor in the Master in Energy Law and Ecologic Transition at ISDE – Higher Institute of Law and Economics.

Manuel obtained his law degree and International Relations Diploma at Universidad Pontificia Comillas de Madrid – ICADE, and his European Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies at the College of Europe – Natolin Campus.

Practice Focus

Manuel advises national and international clients on complex transactional and regulatory matters across the energy, infrastructure, and public sectors. His practice includes negotiating PPAs, EPCs, O&M, and BOP contracts, with experience in both Spanish and UK markets. He also leads as legal counsel on urban planning, public procurement, and regulated sectors. Manuel serves clients in renewable energy, construction, and public services, combining legal precision with cross-border insight.

Representative Legal Matters

Advised Finerge on the negotiation and signing of a 10-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with the British oil company BP. Under this PPA, bp will buy circa 100 GWh/year of electricity, together with an equivalent volume of Guarantees of Origin, produced by “Parque Eólico Navarra” wind farm, owned by Finerge, whose installed capacity is 69.11 MW.
Advised Roca Group, a world leader in the design, production, and marketing of products for the bathroom space, on the negotiation and signing of a long-term renewable power purchase agreement (VPPA), with a 10-year term from 2025 to 2035, linked to the new Trévago I & II solar plants, located in the province of Soria (Region of Castilla y León, Spain).
Advised the Fashion Pact, the fashion industry's largest CEO-led initiative to advance sustainability, on the negotiation and signing of a collective VPPA with Lightsource bp’s. The CVPPA provides a long-term renewable energy commitment for 12 brands, including Bally, Capri Holdings, Ermenegildo Zegna Group, FARFETCH, Ferragamo, Kering, Prada Group, PVH Corp, Ralph Lauren, Tapestry, Under Armour and Zimmermann.
Advised Lonza Sales AG, a preferred partner to the pharma, biotech and nutrition industries, on the negotiation and signing ten-year Virtual Power Purchase Agreements (VPPA) with IGNIS linked to PV plants located in Andalucía and the Region of Valencia.
Advised Iberdrola on its alliance with Norway's sovereign wealth fund, managed by Norges Bank Investment Management, to invest in new renewable energy projects in Spain with an aggregate capacity of 1,265 MW. This advice included drafting of the template and negotiation of certain agreements, among others; PPA, O&M or AMA.
Advised CEI 9 UK Limited, a company owned by Capital Dynamics Ltd., on the EUR 136,261,075 acquisition from Q Energy Europe GmbH of three solar photovoltaic projects located in Spain, with a total aggregate capacity of 157.44 MWp, developed by three SPVs through the direct acquisition of a 100% interest in such entities. This legal advice included the drafting and negotiation of the relevant EPC and O&M agreements.
Advised the socimi Smart Living Properties (a vehicle created by Bestinver following its alliance with SmartRental Group) on the acquisition of the Santara Senior Living Resort complex, located in the area of Santa Pola, Alicante. This is a 30,000 square metre residential centre for the elderly with 200 residential units.

Professional Associations and Memberships

Madrid Bar Association

Admissions

Madrid~Spain (2007)

Education

College of Europe (Master in Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies of the EU) (2007)
Universidad Pontificia Comillas (ICADE) (Law Degree) (2005)

Languages

English
French
Italian
Spanish

Previous Offices

London