Called to the Bar: 2013
Javi is a Partner and forms part of the Financial Services team and the Shipping and Admiralty team.
He has advised on a wide variety of financial services matters which include establishing regulated entities (AIFMs, EIFs, MIFID firms, payment institutions, insurers, e-money institutions) and advising them on their applications to the GFSC. He also regularly advises licensed entities with regulatory issues and has advised a number of clients on the establishment of crypto funds in Gibraltar. Notably, Javi was actively involved in the establishment of the first Gibraltar crypto fund to list on a recognised ESMA stock exchange.
Javi has been instrumental in establishing the FinTech team as one of the most highly regarded teams in Gibraltar and since the enactment of the distributed ledger technology regulations, he has been advising numerous blockchain start-ups (to include DLT licences and ICOs) and traditional financial services firms using blockchain technology on their establishment and regulatory position in Gibraltar.
Javi was elected onto the executive of Gibraltar Association of New Technologies (GANT) and has formed part of the working group being consulted by HM Government of Gibraltar on regulations to govern token sales/initial coin offerings/token generation events.
Javi was also seconded to the Financial Services Commission where he assisted with the initial phases of the redrafting of Gibraltar’s financial services legislation.
As part of the Shipping and Admiralty Team, he has assisted with numerous ship arrests (acting on behalf of the mortgagee banks and crew) and consequential court sale whether by auction or private treaty, owner/crew disputes, private yacht and commercial vessel registrations.
Legal 500 recognises Javi’s involvement in the investment funds sector and Chambers and Partners describe him as having “a considerable practice and knowledge base relating to cryptocurrency, as well as in licensing, token sales and broader regulatory mandates”, “completely committed” and as having the ability to “sort out problems”.
