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Rafael Fontana appointed Cuatrecasas honorary chair in recognition of over 40 years at the firm
November 27, 2025
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SubscribeThe partners at Cuatrecasas have appointed Rafael Fontana honorary chair, recognizing his career at the firm spanning over 40 years, 22 of which he has spent at the helm of its management team. The announcement was made during the Partners Meeting, where the partners thanked Fontana, acknowledging his work and enormous contribution to the firm’s development. Fontana joins Emilio Cuatrecasas, who has held the title of honorary chair since 2016.
Last April, the firm appointed Javier Fontcuberta managing partner and CEO, and is now continuing with the succession processes for its governing bodies announced at that time. On December 31, Fontana will conclude his time as Cuatrecasas’s senior partner and, in the new year, Luis Pérez de Ayala (partner and current vice chair) will take over the role and duties that Fontana has been performing until now.
Fontana thanked the partners for their trust and support throughout his career: “Thank you so much for your support. It is a great honor to be named a Cuatrecasas honorary chair. I never imagined I would reach this far in my professional career. This is undoubtedly the recognition that means the most to me and a position I will always hold with great pride”.
Fontana joined the firm in 1983 and has been a key figure and one of the main drivers behind Cuatrecasas’s strategic transformation. He led its organizational and technological modernization; promoted its international expansion, managing the opening of offices in Mexico (2016), Peru (2019), Chile (2020) and Colombia (2021); and forged alliances with leading firms in Germany (Gleiss Lutz), Italy (Chiomenti) and France (Gide Loyrette Nouel).
He has also stood out for his drive for legal innovation with initiatives like Cuatrecasas Acelera and for his social commitment linked to projects promoting access to justice and youth development. As vice chair of the Cuatrecasas Foundation, he is actively involved in Spanish business and social circles, as a member of boards of directors, associations and institutions, and of the boards of trustees of various foundations.
His outstanding career has been recognized with (i) the Grand Cross of the Order of San Raimundo de Peñafort, awarded by the Spanish government; (ii) the Aptíssimi Award for business law in the professional career category; and (iii) the Inkietos Award for transformative leadership.
November 27, 2025
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