Fernando, recognized as one of the best corporate and finance lawyers by peers and professional publications, has practiced in the corporate and securities, banking and finance fields for more than 25 years. His clients include a broad range of publicly owned and privately held US and foreign companies and financial institutions.

Fernando has been involved in numerous significant mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures and other business transactions, including those involving cross-border complexities. He regularly represents foreign clients in connection with US acquisitions, as well as domestic companies in connection with their international expansion.

Fernando’s practice involves representation of both financial institutions and companies in connection with equity and debt financings. He has structured and directed numerous private equity deals. Fernando represents private investment funds in the US and abroad in connection with their structuring and joint ventures, as well as portfolio acquisitions and dispositions.

Fernando has been involved in the structuring of several public/private partnerships, privatizations and government contracts and concessions. He has represented sponsors in numerous significant infrastructure projects, both in their development and finance.

Before commencing his practice, he served as a judicial clerk for the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York.

Fernando is chairman of the firm’s Latin American and Iberian practice group.

Bar Admissions

Education
JD, Yale Law School

BA, History, Yale University, summa cum laude

• Member, Florida Bar, New York Bar and District of Columbia Bar
• Member of the Miami Dade Bar Association
• Member, International Bar Association
• Member, Council of the Americas
• Member, Board of Directors, Spain-US Chamber of Commerce
• Member, Spain-US Chamber of Commerce, Florida and New York
• Member, World Services Group

• Client Choice Award, M&A–Florida, International Law Office and Lexology USA & Canada, 2016
• Recognized as a Leader in Corporate/M&A and Banking & Finance, Latin America-wide, Chambers Global, 2009-2017
• Recognized as a Leader in Corporate/M&A and Banking & Finance, Chambers Latin America, 2010-2016
• Recognized as a Leader in Latin American Investment, Florida (2007, 2009-2016), Corporate/M&A (2006-2012, 2016), and Banking & Finance: Transactional, Florida (2010-2016), Chambers USA
• Named among the Top 50: Americas M&A Dealmakers, Global M&A Network, 2014
• Team selected for Excellence in Latin American Investment, Chambers USA, 2009
• Team selected for Award of Excellence for International Counsel, Chambers Latin America, 2014
• Team nominated for Award of Excellence for Florida-Based Corporate & Finance, Chambers Latin America, 2016
• Named among The Lawdragon 3000 Leading Lawyers in America, 2006
• Listed for Mergers & Acquisitions, Legal 500 United States, 2015-2016 Named among the Latin Lawyer 250, International, Latin Lawyer magazine, 2003-2011; 2014-2016
• Named among the LACCA-Approved Leading Corporate/M&A Business Lawyers, The Latin American Corporate Counsel Association. 2016
• Listed for International Banking & Finance; International Corporate/ M&A; and International Projects & Energy, Legal 500 United States, 2012-2015
• Named among Latin America’s Top 100 Lawyers for Corporate M&A, Latinvex, 2013-2017
• Finalist, International Attorney, International Business Leadership Awards, Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce, 2016
• Finalist, Corporate/Strategic Acquisition of the Year (Over $100mm – $1 Billion), M&A Advisor Awards, 2015
• Listed for Corporate and Business and for Securities Law, South Florida Legal Guide, 2013-2016. A description of the selection methodology can be found on South Florida Legal Guide’s webpage.
• Daily Business Review. Highlighted in the Corporate category for “Top Dealmaker of the Year”; Featured as a “Dealmaker,” 2010-2015
• Team named Law Firm of the Year for Corporate & Finance, International Counsel in Latin America, Chambers Latin America, 2014 
• Team shortlisted for Law Firm of the Year for Corporate & Finance, International Counsel in Latin America, Chambers Latin America, 2013, 2015
• Named a Named a Rising Legal Star, Latin Trade magazine (formerly Latin Business Chronicle), 2012
• Named among Who’s Who in Latin Business, Latin Trade magazine (formerly Latin Business Chronicle), 2012
• Named a Latin Legal Star, Latin Trade magazine (formerly Latin Business Chronicle), 2014
• Named a Rainmaker by Diversity & the Bar Magazine, a publication of the Minority Corporate Counsel, 2012
• Leadership Team, M&A Deal of the Year-Large Markets and Consumer Retail Services Deal of the Year, The M&A Atlas Awards, 2012
• AV® Preeminent Rated in Martindale-Hubbell and named among South Florida’s Legal Leaders (2008-2015), ALM based on Martindale-Hubbell. A description of the selection methodology can be found on Martindale-Hubbell’s webpage.
• Selected as a Super Lawyer for Securities and Corporate Finance and for Banking and Internation Law, Florida Super Lawyers magazine, 2007-2016. A description of the selection methodology can be found on Super Lawyers’ webpage.
• Selected as a Best Lawyer for Banking & Finance, Florida, Best Lawyers in America, 2006-2016. A description of the selection methodology can be found on Best Lawyers’ webpage.
• Named among Florida’s Legal Elite, Florida Trend magazine, 2005-2007. A description of the selection methodology can be found on Florida Trend’s webpage

• US and LatAm Investment Ties, Iberian Lawyer, Latin America Report
• Doing Business In and Through the US, Iberian Lawyer, USA Report
• Spanish Banks Offer Unique ‘Gap Financing’ Solution to US Market, Iberian Lawyer, Global Report
• US Clients Looking for Acquisitions in Latin America, Iberian Lawyer, USA Report
• Adapting to Local Realities, Iberian Lawyer, Latin America Report
• US Stimulus Plan Report 2010: Beyond the Stimulus, Iberian Lawyer, USA Report
• European and Latin American Investors Swarm into the US, Iberian Lawyer, Global Report
• New York: The ‘Go To’ State for M&A, Iberian Lawyer, USA Report
• US Open to Outside Projects Influence, Iberian Lawyer, USA Report
• Treasure Hunt, Iberian Lawyer, Global Report
• Agenda Latin America: Legal Strategies for New Investment, Iberian Lawyer, Latin America Report
• Reaching Into and Beyond the US, Iberian Lawyer, USA Report
• Miami: Connecting Latin America’s Business Flows, Iberian Lawyer, Global Report
• Public-private partnerships key to financing FDOT projects, Daily Business Review
• Going Global: What the Doctor Ordered, Iberian Lawyer, Global Report
• Rich in Renewables, Energy & Infrastructure Magazine
• One-way Traffic, Iberian Lawyer, USA Report
• Latin America: Connecting the Dots, Iberian Lawyer, Latin America Report