¡Bienvenidos!
Mares Legal is Trusted Advisor for DACH investors with assets in Spain.
Boutique excellence meets international transaction expertise: Mares Legal («ML») acts as the central, on-the-ground legal counsel in Spain for institutional investors, Family Offices and discerning private clients—efficient, independent, and delivering the premium quality standards of international top-tier law firms.
From its headquarters in the Spanish capital of Madrid —the geographical, political, and economic heart of the Iberian Peninsula— ML advises international clients nationwide, including the Balearic Islands (Baleares) and the Canary Islands (Canarias), on transactions as well as on wealth management and asset structuring.
Local Expertise.
Full Service.
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Transaction architecture beyond the fine print. Mares Legal bridges the gap between commercial pragmatism and legal precision. From screening suitable agents, banks, alternative lenders, and debt funds to the masterful negotiation of term sheets: Working alongside your in-house decision-makers, we build the commercial and legal foundation that makes your transaction scalable, secure, and profitable.
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Clarity before investing. In-depth legal assessment of your target assets in Spain. From complex land registry situations to local zoning and environmental regulations, right through to corporate structures: Mares Legal delivers the legal facts that make your commercial decisions predictable and secure.
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Masterfully negotiated. Closed with absolute legal certainty. Mares Legal bridges the gap between DACH-region expectations and Spanish market practice. We bring a sharp eye for the legally sound mitigation of identified risks and red flags, paired with the local expertise required for seamless coordination with Spanish banks, notaries, registries, and public authorities.
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Signing & Beyond. Mares Legal manages the entire execution and closing process on your behalf. From coordinating the closing day and navigating complex banking requirements (KYC, release, and creation of new loan collateral) to seamless alignment with local notaries. And should the need arise: resolute dispute resolution in cooperation with top-tier Spanish litigators.
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Local bureaucracy, decoded. Direct and confident communication with Spanish authorities. Whether dealing with essential matters such as tax identification numbers (NIF/NIE, ROI-IVA), complex building permits in collaboration with architects and technical experts, or specific municipal operating licenses—Mares Legal guarantees efficient navigation through Spain’s complex bureaucracy, ensuring your transactions run smoothly in one of Southern Europe’s most modern jurisdictions.
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More than just transaction support. Mares Legal protects your investments and represents your interests in Spain, even when you are not physically present. Strategic asset protection, robust frameworks for cross-border succession planning, and precise answers to day-to-day legal questions regarding legal relations with the Kingdom of Spain—Mares Legal has your back.
About Mares.
The rich history and vibrant culture of the Kingdom of Spain (Reino de España) and its seas (mares) are inextricably linked. With a breathtaking coastline stretching nearly 8,000 kilometers —framed by the Mediterranean Sea (Mar Mediterráneo), the Balearic Sea (Mar Baleárico), the Alboran Sea (Mar de Alborán), the Cantabrian Sea (Mar Cantábrico), the Atlantic Ocean (Océano Atlántico), and the Bay of Biscay (Golfo de Vizcaya)— the Spanish territory of the Iberian Peninsula, together with the Balearic (Islas Baleares) and Canary Islands (Canarias), forms one of Europe’s most attractive investment destinations. It appeals equally to professional investors, asset managers, and family offices, as well as to families and private individuals seeking a maritime residence with high value retention.
Mares Legal serves as your Trusted Advisor for market entry and asset management in Spain:
On-site. Personal. Digital.
“Today, the Kingdom of Spain offers outstanding investment opportunities: the secure, highly developed legal system of a modern EU member state, and sustainable infrastructure and tourism concepts. This is paired with the maritime-Mediterranean way of life of one of the most hospitable countries in the world—a nation that has profoundly shaped the culture of Southern Europe for centuries and continues to do so today. Making this immense potential seamlessly accessible, particularly to German-speaking clients, is the mission and ambition
of my firm, Mares Legal.”
– Fabian Arhelger,
Rechtsanwalt* & Founder of ML
* RA F. Arhelger is admitted to the bar (1.) in the Federal Republic of Germany by the Frankfurt am Main Bar Association (Rechtsanwaltskammer Frankfurt am Main) («RAK-FFM») under registration number 151334, and (2.) in the Kingdom of Spain by the Madrid Bar Association (Ilustre Colegio de la Abogacía de Madrid) («ICAM») under registration number 141190 (RD 936/2001). He is fully authorized to practice law throughout the sovereign territories of both the Federal Republic of Germany and the Kingdom of Spain. Professional liability insurances are maintained in both Germany and Spain. Further information will be provided upon client onboarding.
Mares|Estate
Your video podcast on real estate, investments, and wealth in Spain.*
Discover everything you need to know about the legally secure acquisition, management, and sale of assets in Spain in the video podcast hosted by Rechtsanwalt Fabian Arhelger.
*) Only available in German.
Expertise
ML advises clients on all legal matters relating to investments in Spanish territory, with a particular focus on the following practice areas (for Sectors, see below):
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Yield-driven project developments: Legal counsel with a focus on hospitality & tourism, logistics, office buildings, and retail parks.
Real estate acquisitions and disposals: Comprehensive management of asset deals and share deals (commercial and residential).
Real Estate Joint Ventures: Legal project structuring and contract drafting (including structured finance support).
Construction law advisory: Navigating building permit procedures in close collaboration with local architects and technical experts.
Property Management & Franchise Agreements: Specialized expertise in complex brand licensing, operator agreements, and risk-sharing agreements, e.g., in the context of hotel and resort projects.
Day-to-day operations: Legal advice on municipal concessions (tourist licenses), IP licensing, and property management.
Sale-and-Lease-Back: Structuring and execution of SLB transactions in the real estate sector.
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Private Equity & Venture Capital: Advising on PE, growth equity, and VC investments, as well as the incorporation of financial holding / FinCo vehicles.
M&A Transactions: Legal management of corporate acquisitions and disposals, including acquisition finance and structured finance.
Real Estate Finance: Structuring of forward purchases and forward funding.
Specialized Financing: Asset-based lending (ABL) and sale-and-lease-back (SLB) financing.
Debt Finance: Advisory on banking, debt financing, mezzanine capital, and capital market products.
Restructuring: Legal support for financial restructuring, turnarounds, corporate reorganizations, and the management of mortgage loans (NPLs).
Corporate Communications: Strategic investor, stakeholder, and crisis communication within a legal context.
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Wealth Structuring, Asset Management & Asset Protection: Holistic strategies for the protection and administration of private wealth and investment portfolios managed by asset managers.
Holding Structures: Establishment and administration of Spanish holding companies and investment vehicles (e.g., in the form of a Sociedad de Responsabilidad Limitada (S.L.)).
Cross-Border Succession Planning: Robust family and inheritance law frameworks for transnational estates.
Private Real Estate Management: Acquisition, administration, refurbishment, and sale of high-end properties for private individuals (including Spanish tenancy law).
Immigration & Residency Law: Comprehensive advice on Spanish immigration law, obtaining work and residence permits, and support with corporate formations.
Art Law: Legal support for art transactions and patronage in the Spanish market.
Private Wealth, Real Estate
& Mares.
About RA Fabian Arhelger
Admissions: Rechtsanwalt in Germany (2013) and Spain (2024).
Professional Path: Several years of practice in international corporate law firms in the financial hub of Frankfurt am Main (areas: Private Equity, M&A, Finance, Real Estate). Operating his own boutique firm in Frankfurt a.M. starting in 2019. In 2024, opened the Madrid office, which serves as Mares Legal’s headquarters.
Academic Background: German law degree from Justus Liebig University Giessen (JLU), DAAD Scholar in South Korea, First and Second State Examinations in Law at the Higher Regional Court (OLG) of Frankfurt am Main. Undergraduate and postgraduate specialisations in Corporate Finance at the Institute for Law and Finance (ILF) and the Deutsches Aktieninstitut e.V. (DAI), Frankfurt a.M., as well as in Spanish Real Estate Law, Corporate Law, and Tax Law at the Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM) — Escuela de Práctica Jurídica (EPJ).
For deeper insightsinto my working methodology and legal case studies from my cross-border advisory practice in Spain, please visit «Mares Estate» (German only).
Sectors
ML handles mandates across the following sectors, among others (for Practice Areas, see above):
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Land purchase agreements (compraventa de suelo).
Call option agreements (contratos de opción de compra).
Land-for-construction swap agreements (contratos de permuta de suelo por edificación futura).
Project development agreements: Including aspects of project finance and collateralization (financiación de proyectos inmobiliarios, contratos de garantía inmobiliaria, otras garantías colaterales, fianzas de cumplimiento).
Transfer of development rights (cesiones de aprovechamiento urbanístico).
Establishment of compensation and reparcellation boards (juntas de compensación y reparcelaciones).
Urban planning permits (licencias urbanísticas).
Regulatory compliance regarding parking facilities and garages.
Other relevant aspects: Urban planning, contractual, and registry-related support.
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Hotel real estate transactions: Share deals and asset deals (compraventa de activos hoteleros).
Commercial and hotel lease agreements (alquiler industrial / arrendamiento de industria).
Hotel management agreements (contrato de gestión hotelera).
Investment agreements for hotel projects (contratos de inversión hotelera, carta de intenciones, heads of terms).
Hotel-specific legal due diligence (legal due diligence inmobiliaria hotelera).
Operating leases for hotels (arrendamiento de hoteles).
Franchise agreements with hotel operators and chains (contratos de franquicia hotelera).
Property Management & Facility Management Agreements.
Acquisition of residential and tourist properties (compraventa de inmuebles para uso de vivienda o uso turístico).
Option and earnest money contracts (contratos de arras penitenciales y confirmatorias).
Mortgage loans and real estate collateral (financiación hipotecaria y garantías reales).
Legal and land registry due diligence (due diligence jurídica y registral).
Construction and renovation contracts (contratos de reforma y rehabilitación).
Tourist rental licenses (licencias de uso turístico).
Lease agreements for holiday properties (contratos de alquiler turístico).
Urban development and zoning law (derecho urbanístico y planeamiento).
Timeshare agreements (aprovechamiento por turno).
Liability for breach of zoning conditions (responsabilidad por incumplimiento de condiciones urbanísticas).
Operating agreements for properties intended for tourist use (contratos de explotación de residencias turísticas).
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Commercial Real Estate: Share deals and asset deals for commercial properties (compraventa de activos inmobiliarios de uso comercial).
Commercial lease agreements (contratos de arrendamiento de local comercial).
Business transfer agreements (contratos de cesión de negocio).
Financial leasing agreements (contratos de leasing financiero).
Homeowners' associations: Establishment and administration in shopping centers (constitución y regulación de comunidades de propietarios en centros comerciales).
Opening and operating licenses (licencias de apertura y actividad).
Property Management & Facility Management Contracts.
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Lease agreements for logistics properties (arrendamiento de naves logísticas).
Turnkey construction contracts (EPC) (construcción llave en mano, contratos EPC).
Construction execution agreements (contratos de ejecución de obra).
Building and operating permits (licencias de obra y actividad).
Legal due diligence for industrial land (legal due diligence de suelo industrial).
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Environmental and urban planning legal due diligence (legal due diligence ambiental y urbanística) for wind farms (energía eólica), solar power / photovoltaics (energía solar), and hydroelectric plants (energía hidroeléctrica).
Project financing and project-typical real estate collateral (contratos de project finance y garantías inmobiliarias).
Energy projects & land: Acquisition of relevant land and investments in energy projects (especially turnkey projects / proyectos llave-en-mano).
Surface rights: Creation of surface rights as well as rights of way, underground routing, and other development rights (cesiones de superficie y derecho de vuelo).
Lease agreements for solar and wind farms (arrendamiento de terrenos para plantas solares y eólicas).
Building permits for energy installations (licencias de construcción de instalaciones energéticas).
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Immigration Law & Acquisitions: Real estate acquisitions in Spain by foreign nationals and non-residents (compraventa de inmuebles en España por extranjeros o no-residentes), including immigration aspects (extranjería).
Real estate financing agreements (contratos de financiación inmobiliaria).
Structuring of real estate holdings (estructura de holding inmobiliario, sociedades patrimoniales).
Asset Management: Wealth administration matters (e.g., Property Management Agreements / contratos de administración de fincas / inmuebles).
Condominium Law: Homeowners' associations (propiedad horizontal (PH) y comunidad de propietarios), including the drafting and review of bylaws (estatutos de la comunidad) and assistance at owners' meetings (junta de propietarios).
International Inheritance Law: Pertaining to real estate in Spain (derecho sucesorio internacional, herencias de bienes inmuebles en España).
Family Offices: Incorporation and advisory services (constitución y asesoramiento de Family Offices).
Tax structuring of wealth and real estate holdings (planificación fiscal patrimonial e inmobiliaria).
Mares|Properties
Legal supervision of your assets in Spain.*
Explore the exclusive service offering of Mares Legal, tailored for discerning German-speaking investors with investment properties in Spain.
*) Only available in German.
ML | Mares Legal
Rechtsanwalt Fabian Arhelger
Paseo de la Castellana, 210
ES-28046 Madrid
Kingdom of Spain
Tel.: +34 602 527 278
Email: fabian.arhelger@mares.legal
VAT-ID (ROI-IVA): ESZ2093402Q
beA SAFE-ID: DE.BRAK.7d62c5dd-0bd1-440c-9cc0-fda6b6a1b74f.09c1
RA Fabian Arhelger is a member of the German Bar Association of Frankfurt am Main («RAK FFM») with membership number 151334, as well as the Spanish Bar Association of Madrid (ICAM»), membership number 141190 (RD 936/2001).