Practices and Sectors

• Administrative Law
• Competition
• European Union Law
• Litigation

Profile

Sonsoles Centeno joined Pérez-Llorca in 2021 as a partner in the European Union and Competition Law practice area, and is the director of the Brussels Office. She is a State Advocate on leave of absence, and an expert in litigation and regulation. She is focused on energy and sustainability matters, digital markets, state aid and public procurement.

Studies:

• 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 has in-depth knowledge of the European institutions and has more than 18 years of experience in different positions working for the Government.

Prior to joining the firm, she was Deputy Director General for European Union and International Affairs (Ministry of Justice), 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.

Previously, she held the position of State Advocate-Legal Adviser at the Permanent Representation of Spain to the European Union in Brussels, she was legal secretary of the General Court of the European Union, and was State Advocate before the National High Court (Administrative Chamber), and before the Central Administrative Courts.

Academic and publishing collaborations

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

• “On Achmea, the Autonomy of Union Law, Mutual Trust and What Lies Ahead”, European Papers, 2018 (co-author).
• She contributed to the book “Tratado de Derecho de la Competencia”, Aranzadi, 2013 with the chapter “Procedimientos en materia de Defensa de la Competencia.”
• She also contributed to the book “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 taken part in various seminars, training activities, etc., at 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 been recognised with:

• 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.