Notable Cases

Throughout his career, Fernando del Canto has advised private clients, corporations, sovereign funds, and public institutions in complex, cross-border legal matters. His work spans tax, corporate, arbitration, and public international law — combining technical precision with strategic coordination across jurisdictions. Below are selected examples of representative cases from his international practice.

Case	Summary	Outcome / Key Point
Acquisition of IP Assets of a La Liga Football Club by a US-Listed SPAC	Advised a New York Stock Exchange-listed SPAC on the acquisition of the intellectual property and commercial assets of a major Spanish La Liga football club. Fernando led the international legal and tax due diligence, coordinating teams in Spain, the UK, and the US.	Transaction successfully completed with an optimised tax structure and full compliance with SEC regulatory standards.
Acquisition of Spain’s Largest Electric Vehicle Company by a US SPAC	Advised on the cross-border acquisition of Spain’s leading electric vehicle manufacturer by a US investment fund. The engagement included review of energy licences, environmental compliance, and pre-integration tax restructuring.	Successful completion and full integration of the target company under EU regulatory and fi scal frameworks.
Sovereign Investment from the Gulf in Grupo PRISA	Advised a Gulf sovereign fund on its strategic investment in Grupo PRISA, the largest Spanish-speaking media group. Fernando designed the transaction’s tax and governance structure, ensuring regulatory compatibility between Spain and the investing state.	Capital investment completed securely, fully compliant with Spanish and EU foreign investment regulations.
Representation of the Spanish Government and the Abogacía del Estado in England	Acted on behalf of Spanish public entities in inheritance and public law proceedings before UK courts. Coordinated the execution of Spanish judicial decisions in England, applying public international law principles and sovereign immunity.	Successful judicial recognition and enforcement of the Spanish State’s rights under international law.
ICC Arbitration Between a Gulf State and a European Commercial Entity	Served as lead counsel in a London-seated arbitration under the rules of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), involving contractual and public law issues between a Gulf State and a European company.	Favourable award secured, recognising contractual rights and granting fi nancial compensation to the represented party.
Corporate Restructuring of Sunseeker Yachts and Taylor Woodrow	Provided legal and tax advice during the restructuring of two major European industrial groups. The work involved coordination between several national frameworks and EU State aid regulations.	Reorganisation successfully completed, ensuring regulatory compliance and business continuity across multiple jurisdictions.
Legal Counsel to the Instituto Cervantes in the United Kingdom	Reviewed the legal, contractual, and fi scal framework of the Instituto Cervantes following the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union. Advised on institutional adaptation and operational compliance in the post-Brexit environment.	Implementation of a new legal and fi scal structure fully aligned with UK law, ensuring continuity of the institution’s cultural activity.
International Tax Strategies for European Football Clubs	Developed and implemented tax strategies for elite football clubs including Tottenham Hotspur, FC Barcelona, and Valencia CF, focused on the management of image rights and intellectual property income.	Successful implementation of compliant and effi cient tax structures validated by relevant fi scal authorities.
Acquisition of Prime Madrid Real Estate Through a SOCIMI Structure	Advised international investors on the acquisition of high-value Spanish real estate through publicly traded real estate investment companies (SOCIMIs). Fernando oversaw the incorporation, registration, and fi scal structuring of the investment vehicles.	Transactions completed with transparent, tax-effi cient structures in full compliance with Spanish investment regulations.
Rebranding and International Licensing of Novo Cinema	Advised a Gulf-based entertainment group on its brand expansion and repositioning strategy, including licensing and intellectual property agreements.	Successful brand consolidation and expansion across multiple Gulf jurisdictions through harmonised IP and media contracts.
Legal Support for the Launch of Huff Post Arabic	Advised on the creation of Huff Post’s Arabic edition, coordinating international content licensing and editorial partnership agreements.	Successful launch of the publication and establishment of a compliant international framework for content and IP rights management.