Profile
Almudena Arpón de Mendívil Aldama
IBA President Almudena Arpón de Mendívil Aldama
M
eeting women who are breaking moulds is always exciting and the exuberance and determination of Almudena did not disappoint. Her warm and inviting manner made it easy to discuss her career and recent success in being appointed President of the IBA.
were taken at that time. The firm was much smaller and there were no measured career stages and reviews, which can have its own advantages but decision-making was much less planned than is usual in a twenty-first century law firm.
Almudena has always worked for the same law firm; a pattern I was immediately struck by the enormous ‘griffiti’ painting more typical of women’s working lives than for men. She says hanging in her room: a blind-folded that “women don’t change if Lady Justice with Roman Law principles happy and perceive we are being ‘“you can be unique and replaceable” scrawled across it. It reflects some of recognised …. and have a good Almudena’s deeply held attachment to work environment.” She thinks basic tenets of Roman law. it is a priority for all law firms to change the perception that the effort Almudena originally studied law as something to do rather of partnership is too high and considers flexibility is the way than as a vocation, but she certainly developed a passion for forward. By this she means not only of where you work “but also it. Studying with the benefit of a scholarship at the renowned the timing of your career, you don’t have to become a partner College of Bruges was formative for her, opening an international after e.g. eight to ten years”. network with a mix of cultures and completely different educational methods. You may wish to delay becoming the partner as it is more conducive to your life. “Flexibility has to be understood as a very Almudena then joined the law firm wide concept”. There are “so many Gómez-Acebo & Pombo, first in things competing at that critical stage Brussels then moving to Madrid doing “we shouldn’t try and corral of life.” Life needs space not just for corporate M and A. She concentrated families but, post-pandemic, many of everything into a particular on telecommunications technology and us have a changed perception of life. structure” media, at the time a new area of law, Almudena recognises this particularly and rapidly became recognised in that in younger generations and says “we sector nationally and internationally. Seven years from joining shouldn’t try and corral everything into a particular structure”. the firm, Almudena was made a partner. She recognises that this was a rapid ascent but recalls how differently such decisions 20 | LegalWomen
