Labor lawyers in Madrid: case study of Lista's law firm and Francisca Sauquillo

Abstract

. The purpose of this study is to analyze the role of labor lawyers in Madrid during the final years of Franco's regime, with a particular focus on the law firm located on Calle Lista and the lawyer Francisca Sauquillo. The research situates itself in the final phase of the Franco dictatorship, using Madrid as the geographical framework and employing a socio-historical perspective to explore the intersection of labor rights advocacy and the political context of the regime. The selection of the Lista law firm as a case study is informed by its historical significance as a focal point for the defense of labor and human rights during a period marked by political repression. By examining the legal defenses undertaken by the Lista firm, this study highlights the emergence of labor lawyers as pivotal agents of resistance, acting as intermediaries between workers’ demands and the Francoist regime. These lawyers played a crucial role in creating spaces for dialogue and negotiation, thereby fostering social transformations that, although initially confined to the labor sphere, ultimately had a far-reaching impact on Madrid’s broader societal landscape.