Career growth · 4 min read
The bamboo that never breaks: Itxaso López on 20 years in real estate law
From a planned career as a judge to real estate partner: the biases nobody names, the bamboo philosophy, and why success ends up being the freedom to choose.
Updated
Watch on YouTube Listen on Spotify
Some careers are carefully planned, and some begin with a “why not?”. Itxaso López’s is the second kind. She grew up in Bilbao, studied at a German school, and planned to become a judge. She landed in real estate almost by accident, and 20 years later she is a partner at DLA Piper, with Gómez-Acebo y Pombo, Cuatrecasas and Dentons along the way.
In this episode of Legal Leaders by Nova, hosted by Beatriz Vara de Rey, Itxaso speaks candidly about bias, resilience, and how your idea of success shifts once you have chased it long enough.
Real estate found her by accident, and she stayed 20 years
Nobody steered her toward real estate. Someone suggested the move, she said yes without really knowing where it led, and she built an entire career there. It is a useful reminder: many of the best paths don’t come from a perfect plan, but from saying yes to the door that opens and then earning your place.
“They told me: why don’t you come to real estate, it’s something similar? At the time I didn’t really understand the similarities.”
Itxaso López
Being one of the few women partners: the biases nobody says out loud
Itxaso describes something many professionals recognize instantly: biases that are rarely named, but clearly felt. Like when the recognition drifts elsewhere and no one explains why. What helped her move forward were international environments, with less machismo, and the women who had already broken the glass ceiling. The takeaway isn’t a complaint, it’s practical: women’s support networks change careers.
The bamboo cane: bending without breaking
Her favorite metaphor for resilience is the bamboo cane. Firm roots to withstand the storm, and the flexibility to adapt without snapping. In a fast-changing sector, with AI entering the legal profession, that mix of strength and adaptation beats any closed plan.
“A bamboo cane needs a strong, solid base. It moves, but it doesn’t break.”
Itxaso López
Soft skills matter as much as the résumé
A big part of the conversation is about what you don’t study in law school: managing expectations, listening to your team, balancing strengths and weaknesses. For Itxaso, retaining talent isn’t about salary, it’s about people feeling heard and understood. Human leadership, especially with younger teams, is what keeps projects alive over time.
“Soft skills, which are anything but soft, are the hardest ones to master.”
Beatriz Vara de Rey, host of Legal Leaders by Nova
A different definition of success: sleeping soundly and being free to choose
The line that stays with you is her definition of success. Over the years, it stops being a title or a number. Peace of mind, balance, and control over your own path. It isn’t giving up ambition, it’s deciding for yourself where to point it.
“Success today is being able to sleep soundly. Being free to choose.”
Itxaso López
Watch the full episode
About the guest
Itxaso López is a real estate partner at DLA Piper, with 20 years of experience after Gómez-Acebo y Pombo, Cuatrecasas and Dentons. From Bilbao, and passionate about real estate, classical music and the sea. Connect with Itxaso on LinkedIn.
This episode is part of Legal Leaders by Nova, hosted by Beatriz Vara de Rey, who leads Nova’s legal vertical. Connect with Beatriz on LinkedIn.
Frequently asked questions
Who is Itxaso López?
She is a real estate lawyer and partner at DLA Piper, with 20 years of experience across firms like Gómez-Acebo y Pombo, Cuatrecasas and Dentons. She is the guest on this episode of Legal Leaders by Nova, hosted by Beatriz Vara de Rey.
How do you make partner at a real estate law firm?
Through a long, non-linear career: adapting to different environments, leaning on role models, and valuing soft skills and expectation management as much as technical knowledge.
What is the bamboo philosophy applied to a career?
The idea that a bamboo cane needs a strong, solid base: it moves and bends in the wind, but it doesn't break. In a career, it means firm roots plus the flexibility to adapt.
How does gender bias show up in law and real estate?
Itxaso talks about biases that are rarely named but clearly felt, and how international environments, women's support networks, and the role models who broke the glass ceiling help you move forward.