Serrano Alberca & Conde was founded in 1981 by José Manuel Serrano Alberca, now its Chairman.

From its very beginnings, the firm has specialised in urban development, planing and compulsory purchase, while still excelling in civil law, tax law and civil litigation and judicial review.

In the 1990s the firm became a benchmark in Spain for compulsory purchase following its involvement in landmark public works and compulsory purchases in Madrid and the surrounding areas, an exemplar of which was the extension of Barajas Airport.

This was a compulsory purchase of more than 10 million square meters, and the firm represented more than 80% of the affected parties. The result was a consolidation of doctrine to create cities, with expropriated land being valued as developable, and which then extended to other compulsory purchases and, notably, the highways serving outskirts of the city.

Parallel to this, the firm has worked on urban development matters, managing the land of a great many private individuals and companies in the north of Madrid during the major urban development works in the area of the last 30 years.

In recent years, Serrano Alberca & Conde has grown its business to other areas of public, tax and civil law, particularly financial liability of public administrations, cultural heritage, foundations, succession of family businesses and estates, and real estate and construction law.