Ethics and good governance

The inherent function of the practice of law dedicated to the defence of the rights and interests of citizens requires that it be carried out with respect for the fundamental ethical principles of integrity, loyalty, independence, dignity and respect and professional secrecy. All of these are values and qualities that define our profession and with respect to which the Firm expresses its deepest commitment to compliance and observance in the development of its own activities.

Aware of the responsibility that falls on all of us who, from our vocation, are entrusted with the task of defending the rights and freedoms, both individual and collective, recognised by our legal system, we have drawn up this Code of Conduct, which articulates the basic principles and rules that regulate the behaviour of all those of us who form part of this Firm.

Click here to read our Code of Conduct.

At Ramón y Cajal Abogados we are committed to the quality of our services and we value the importance of establishing solid business relationships based on trust, mutual benefit and respect for free competition. For this reason, we recognise our suppliers as key players in achieving our values and principles, and we consider their contribution as an essential component in the achievement of our ethical objectives.

This Suppliers' Code of Ethics describes the minimum standards of behaviour that we expect our suppliers to comply with in the context of their activity of providing goods or services to Ramón y Cajal Abogados.

Click here to read our Supplier Code of Ethics.

In compliance with Spanish Act 2/2023, of 20 February, regulating the protection of persons who report regulatory infringements and the fight against corruption (‘Spanish Act 2/2023’), the Firm has implemented an Internal Reporting System (‘IRS’) for use by the Firm's professionals (members of RYC), other related persons (former members of RYC, job applicants, interns) and external third parties (suppliers) which allows them to report any irregular conducts that may occur within the scope of our professional activity.

The IRS, which stands as an essential element of our Criminal Risk Prevention and Management Model, offers the appropriate guarantees to ensure that all communications are made respecting the rights of the parties, especially as regards the confidentiality of the whistleblower's identity and the protection against any kind of retaliation.

Whistleblowing Channel

RYC provides users of the IRS with an IT tool through which it is possible to report any conduct contrary to the law or our Code of Ethics of which they are aware and which has occurred in the work or professional context of the Firm.

You may access our Whistleblowing Channel by clicking here.

Internal Reporting System Regulatory Procedure

RYC has defined a procedure that delimits the conducts that may be reported through the IRS, which are basically: (i) criminal offences; (ii) serious or very serious administrative infringements; (iii) infringements of European Union law; and (iv) infringements or breaches of internal regulations.

Furthermore, it describes the general principles governing the functioning of the IRS, expressly establishes the rights and duties of whistleblowers and sets out the procedure for the management of the communications received.

You may access our Internal Reporting System Regulatory Procedure by clicking here.

Internal Reporting System Privacy Policy

In accordance with the aforementioned Spanish Act 2/2023, Regulation (EU) 2016/679, of the European Parliament and of the Council, of 27 April 2016, on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data, and repealing Directive 95/46/EC (‘GDPR’) and Spanish Organic Act 3/2018, of 5 December, on the Protection of Personal Data and guarantee of digital rights (‘LOPDGDD’), RYC has developed a specific privacy policy in order to inform data subjects about the processing of personal data derived from the management of the IRS and about their data protection rights.

You may access our Internal Reporting System Privacy Policy by clicking here.

Our Information Security Policy aims to guarantee the confidentiality, integrity, availability and privacy of information, as well as compliance with the different applicable standards and requirements in force at all times, maintaining a balance between risk levels and the efficient use of resources by means of proportionality criteria.

In May 2022, we obtained ISO 27001 certification, which accredits the implementation of our Information Security Management System (ISMS) in our offices for all business and support processes associated with legal advice to clients.