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Called:

2006 (England and Wales)

1999 (Spain)
Qualified to Accept Public Access Instructions

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Introduction

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León Fernando Del Canto is a dual-qualified English Barrister and Spanish Abogado, frequently instructed by solicitors and auditors around the globe. Accredited by the Bar Standards Board in England and Wales as a public access Barrister, he holds audience rights in England and Wales and across the EU. With extensive expertise in international commercial and tax law, governance, and auditing, Fernando now focuses his practice on ESG, environmental, Social and Governance issues.

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Fernando has represented private and public clients in major global jurisdictions, including Madrid, New York, London, Dublin, Delhi, Jersey, Guernsey, Gibraltar, Doha, Dubai, and Hong Kong. His clientele ranges from private individuals and families to multinational corporations. As the first Spanish national to qualify for both the Spanish Bar (1999) and the English Bar (2006), Fernando holds memberships in The Honourable Society of Lincoln’s Inn and The Honourable Society of Middle Temple. As a City of London Liveryman, he regularly advises the Lord Mayor on international tax issues.

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Notable Cases

 

  • Advised on the acquisition of the IP assets of a Spanish La Liga football club by an NYSE-listed SPAC.

  • Led due diligence for the acquisition of Spain's largest electric car company by a NYSE-listed SPAC.

  • Advised on an arbitration dispute between a GCC state and a commercial entity under ICC rules, based in London.

  • Counselled on estate matters for the Spanish Government and the Abogacía del Estado Española in England, involving International Public Law and Arbitration.

  • Guided the restructuring of Sunseeker Yachts and Taylor Woodrow in the EU.

  • Advised the Instituto Cervantes on some legal matters in the UK

  • Secured a significant investment from a GCC sovereign fund for Grupo PRISA, the largest Spanish-speaking media group.

  • Represented clients in strategic international litigation and arbitration across multiple jurisdictions.

  • Counselled on high-net-worth divorces in Spain for non-Spanish clients with substantial assets.

  • Advised foreign clients in legal claims against Spanish banks and institutions.

  • Assisted with the acquisition of prime property in Madrid through a SOCIMI structure.

  • Provided legal counsel on tax and legal matters for football clubs, including Tottenham Hotspur, Barcelona and Valencia.

  • Developed intellectual property tax strategies for Jani King in Europe.

  • Advised on the rebranding and licensing of Novo Cinema in the GCC.

  • Assisted HuffPost in launching its Arabic platform.

  • Advised international charities on tax, corporate, and governance issues across the UK and EU.

  • Represented several international organisations on civil, immigration, and employment matters, including cases involving diplomatic immunity.

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Education

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  • PhD in Law (in progress), Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, University of London (2024 – Present)

  • LLB in International Law (Honours), Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia (UNED), 1998

  • Monetising Intellectual Property Program, Harvard Business School, 2008

  • Diploma in Total Quality Management, University of Phoenix, 1995

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Memberships

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  • Called to the Spanish Bar (1999); member of Colegio de Abogados de Jerez de la Frontera, Madrid, and Palma de Mallorca

  • Called to the Bar by The Honourable Society of Lincoln's Inn (2006)

  • Ad Eundem member of The Honourable Society of the Middle Temple (2022)

  • Liveryman, City of London (2012)

  • Member of the Association of Taxation Technicians (since 2003)

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Publications and Films

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Fernando’s work is frequently featured in major media outlets such as The Times, El País, and Taxation. He authored Abogacía Crítica, a book on advocacy published by Thomson Reuters Spain in 2021, introduced by Juan Luis Cebrián (Honorary Chairman of El País) and former Judge Baltasar Garzón.

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He has produced two sociolegal documentaries. His latest film, Los Burgueses de Calais, la última frontera (2018), directed by Jesús Armesto, critiques media disinformation surrounding the refugee crisis at the "Jungle" camp in Calais. The film, featuring Baltasar Garzón, sheds light on one of the largest humanitarian crises of the 21st century. His first documentary, Las Llaves de la Memoria (2014), also directed by Armesto, explores Andalusia’s historical and cultural legacy, examining the coexistence of Islam, Judaism, and Christianity, with a critical perspective on Spanish nationality and colonialism.

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Expertise

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  • ESG

  • International Tax

  • Corporate law

  • Litigation

  • Arbitration

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