LARIOS PENAL
CRIMINAL DEFENCE

Criminal Defence Lawyers in Málaga since 1980

Legal representation in criminal proceedings from the earliest stages of an investigation through trial, appeals and enforcement of sentence.

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MÁLAGA · MARBELLA · COSTA DEL SOL
★★★★★ 5.0 ON GOOGLE · CLIENT REVIEWS
46
YEARS
OF CRIMINAL LAW
PRACTICE
EXCLUSIVE PRACTICE
IN CRIMINAL LAW
DIRECT LEGAL REPRESENTATION
THROUGHOUT
THE PROCEEDINGS
LARIOS PENAL IN THE MEDIA

Criminal cases with public relevance.

Our work in criminal proceedings has been covered by national and regional media in cases involving organised crime, drug trafficking, financial crime and complex investigations.

01 2026
EL MUNDO
ORGANISED CRIME

Clan Lyons

Criminal proceedings involving an international organised crime group with links to the Costa del Sol.

02 2025
RTVE
DIGITAL ASSETS · FINANCIAL CRIME

Multi-million cryptocurrency theft

Investigation into the theft of cryptocurrency previously seized from a criminal organisation.

03 2025
la6exta
INTERNATIONAL DRUG TRAFFICKING

Ceuta–Morocco drug tunnel

International investigation involving a clandestine infrastructure used for the movement of narcotics between Morocco and Spain.

04 2026
CADENA SER
DRUG TRAFFICKING · ORGANISED CRIME

Balkan Cartel

Proceedings linked to criminal organisations associated with the so-called Balkan Cartel and international drug trafficking.

05 2022
Europa Sur
LARGE-SCALE TRIAL · DRUG TRAFFICKING

Clan Los Castaña

Large-scale criminal proceedings concerning drug trafficking in the Campo de Gibraltar.

06 2026
SUR
FINANCIAL CRIME

Operation Donova

Criminal investigation involving lawyers and the alleged misappropriation of a substantial foreign inheritance in Nerja.

AREAS OF PRACTICE

Criminal defence across key areas of criminal law.

Defence and legal representation in criminal proceedings in Málaga, Marbella and throughout the Costa del Sol.

Criminal offences against the person
01 CRIMES AGAINST THE PERSON

Offences Against the Person

Homicide, assault, threats, coercion, offences against personal liberty and sexual offences.

Drug trafficking and organised crime
02 DRUG TRAFFICKING

Drug Trafficking & Organised Crime

Drug trafficking investigations, organised crime, large-scale criminal cases and multi-defendant proceedings.

Financial and economic crime
03 ECONOMIC CRIME

Financial & Property Crime

Fraud, misappropriation, corporate offences, money laundering and criminal insolvency proceedings.

Domestic and gender-based violence proceedings
04 DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

Domestic & Gender-Based Violence

Criminal defence and private prosecution, protection orders, precautionary measures and alleged breaches of court orders.

PROCEDURAL STRATEGY

The defence does not begin at trial. It begins with the first procedural decision.

Statements, investigative measures and decisions taken during the investigation stage can shape the entire course of criminal proceedings.

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LARIOS PENAL

Two generations. One criminal law practice.

A criminal defence practice founded in Málaga in 1980 and continued today with the same focus on direct legal representation and criminal litigation.

Nuria de Madariaga
1980
FOUNDER

Nuria de Madariaga

1955 — 2024

Admitted to practice in 1980, she devoted more than four decades to Criminal Law, Criminal Procedure and Prison Law, developing the foundations of the practice in Málaga and southern Spain.

Eric Vanden Berghe
TODAY
DIRECTOR

Eric Vanden Berghe

LARIOS PENAL

He directs the firm and personally handles criminal proceedings in Málaga, Marbella, the Costa del Sol and other jurisdictions, with a practice focused on serious criminal cases, drug trafficking, organised crime, offences against the person and financial crime.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Criminal defence in Málaga and the Costa del Sol.

Early legal advice can be important in any criminal investigation, particularly before statements are made or procedural decisions affect the course of the case.

SPEAK DIRECTLY WITH THE FIRM
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+34 664 129 121
01 When should I contact a criminal lawyer in Spain?

Ideally, legal advice should be obtained as soon as you become aware of a criminal investigation, police summons, arrest, court notification or complaint. Early decisions can affect the strategy followed throughout the proceedings.

02 Can you represent foreign clients who do not live in Spain?

Yes. We regularly act for foreign clients involved in criminal proceedings in Málaga, Marbella and the Costa del Sol, including clients who are temporarily or permanently resident outside Spain.

03 Do you act from the investigation stage through to trial?

Yes. Representation can begin during the police or judicial investigation and continue through precautionary measures, the investigation stage, trial, appeals and enforcement of sentence.

04 Which courts and areas does Larios Penal cover?

The firm regularly acts in criminal proceedings in Málaga, Marbella, Torremolinos, Fuengirola, Mijas and Estepona, as well as before the Málaga Provincial Court and, where appropriate, courts with national jurisdiction.

05 Can I speak directly with the lawyer handling my case?

Yes. Larios Penal works on the basis of direct legal representation, with the lawyer responsible for the proceedings personally involved in the analysis, strategy and development of the defence.

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