Q & A with Pol Rubio Beltran

Your name, current occupation and country of work
My name is Pol Rubio Beltran. I am currently a partner at Iuris Deal law firm and a lawyer at the Tax Management Agency of the Barcelona Provincial Council, working in Spain.

How do you use (or will you use) European law in your work?
Although EU competition law is not a core element of my daily work – given that I practice in a small firm – European law plays an increasingly important role in offering comprehensive legal advice, particularly for foreign clients and cross-border matters.
In recent years, I have noticed a growing need to understand and anticipate the impact of EU regulations, especially in areas such as digital markets, taxation, and business structuring. Gaining expertise in competition law helps me to identify potential risks and opportunities, even in seemingly local transactions, and allows me to better support my clients in navigating the broader European legal landscape.

How have you benefited (or will you benefit) from the scholarship and the knowledge you have gained?
The ERA scholarship has been an excellent opportunity to broaden my knowledge of European competition law beyond the purely academic level. The course provided practical insights into areas such as Article 101 and 102 TFEU, market definition, and enforcement procedures like dawn raids; topics that are not part of my routine practice but are highly valuable for advising clients with operations across EU borders.
This knowledge strengthens my ability to offer a more complete and informed service, especially as my practice grows and attracts clients with international connections or interests in regulated sectors such as digital services. It also allows me to anticipate legal developments that may soon become relevant, even for smaller firms.
I would like to express my sincere thanks to Dr Virginia Pavel and the entire ERA team for the excellent organisation and academic quality of the programme. The structure of the sessions, the high-level speakers, and the balance between theory and practical exercises created a truly enriching environment.
Moreover, I was fortunate to be part of a very dynamic and participative group of professionals from across Europe. The interaction with fellow participants – many of whom brought diverse legal backgrounds and experiences – greatly enhanced the learning experience. Sharing perspectives and discussing practical cases in such an engaged setting was both stimulating and enjoyable, and I look forward to maintaining those professional connections in the future.

What impressed you most about the event?
What impressed me the most was the quality and approachability of the speakers, many of whom hold senior positions at the European Commission, national authorities, and prestigious law firms. The session on digital markets and algorithmic collusion was particularly engaging, as it offered a forward-looking perspective on competition issues that are likely to affect even small or mid-sized firms in the near future.
The mix of theory and application, combined with networking opportunities, made the course especially rewarding.