Juan Luis is the senior partner of Balms Abogados and he has been working as a lawyer for 25 years. The successful lawyer talks about his life and work in an exclusive interview for i-Marbella.

1. How long have you lived in Marbella and where did you live before?

I have spent my vacations in Marbella in our family house since 1964. Later, I have lived and worked in Marbella with my own offices since 1988.

2. What do you like about Marbella the most?

Having been to more than 106 countries, I have no doubt in my mind that Marbella is the best place to live. From a working point of view, it is very difficult to find a community that is more cosmopolitan ands possesses a greater variety of nationalities, languages and races. I also believe the weather is impossible to beat compared to any other city in the world. Exactly the same applies to the quality of life in Marbella, but, above all, I think Marbella is the only city in the world that offers its residents a special status, wherever they may come from, namely the "Marbella Passport", which entails a very special way of living, enjoying and thinking.

3. Where were you educated? How long have you been a lawyer?

I was born in Madrid on 29th March 1962. I took a degree in law at the Complutense University of Madrid, in 1984. At the same time, I made a degree in Sociology and Politics at the same university. I have a Master's degree in Community law from the Complutense University of Madrid, in 1985, a Master's in Fiscal and Tax Law from IES, in 1986. I have a Master's in International Law from Berkeley University in California(USA), in 1987. I am specialised on Fiscal Law, Town-Planning Law, Environmental Law and other specialised fields. I work as a lawyer in Madrid, Malaga, Romania and Bulgaria. 

I have worked as a lawyer since 1984 in Madrid, Marbella, Cadiz, Luxembourg etc.

4. Did you always know that you want to be a lawyer?

I always though I wanted to study law and my teachers were always sure that I would become a lawyer. However, at one time it was unclear in my mind whether I wanted to be a lawyer or whether I would follow a career as a diplomat.

5. What is the best part of your job? Worst?

The best part of our job is to help our clients solve things that, in the beginning, look quite impossible to resolve, always in relation to legislation in our country. The worst aspect is the sense of impotence we sometimes feel regarding the administration of justice(not only in Spain), which is often slow, inefficient and, at the same time, not nearly independent enough.

6. What do you think is the secret to your success?

The first secret is to work, the second is to work, and the third is to work some more. But also, being  a lawyer, it is important to have a global and international outlook and to use common sense, which, unfortunately, is the least common of senses today.

7. How has Balms Abogados managed to have branch offices in so many countries?

Balms Abogados has been rowing these waters over the last 21 years in national terms and at an international level as well. At every stage of our expansion, it has been important to build a solid practice with our partners. I think it was Henry Ford, the American automobile producer, who said something like: "You can take everything I have, but if I keep my team, I will build a new empire in the near future".

8. What advice would you give to young law students who want to make it big?

To love your profession, to give your work and training everything you've got and to use your common sense.

9. What are your thoughts  about the economy crisis in Marbella. Are you optimistic about it?

Spain is suffering from a grave crisis due to the global international crisis and due to the terrible policies of our current politicians, who have changed their minds about the economy on a daily basis over the last 6 years. Marbella is located in Spain and has been affected by the previous Jesus Gil period and the current economic crisis, both in Spain and in the rest of the world. Now we have a fantastic Mayor in Marbella, which is working very hard and very well and Marbella will be one of the first cities to emerge with flying colours from the crisis, as always. 

In the next 6/8 months, Marbella will start  to recover the status it never should have lost in the first place. I am very optimistic in this respect. The economy in Marbella is totally independent of the economy of Spain, once the 70% of the residents, visitors, tourists and investors, are foreign.

10. What are your hobbies? How do you spend your free time?

I am a collector of collections and also a collector of hobbies. Among them, my most important hobbies are collecting old books, art, pictures, African art, Asian art,...I also love horses, sports and reading, writing, travelling..

11. What is your life motto?

To bring up my daughters personally and professionally as good as I can, and to be as happy as I can.