Jaime Cánovas

Jaime advises Spanish and international clients on a broad range of tax matters, with a particular focus on corporate taxation, tax planning for family business groups and private clients, international tax structuring and cross-border transactions. His experience includes advising on mergers and acquisitions, private equity operations and succession planning strategies.

Jaime also assists clients in navigating complex tax issues arising from reorganisations, investment structures and international mobility. His combined background in tax advisory, financial analysis and corporate transactions allows him to provide strategic, business-oriented tax solutions tailored to the needs of both companies and high net worth individuals.

• Advised a leading Spanish fund management entity on the formation of a new closed‑end investment vehicle in Spain, involving multidisciplinary regulatory, corporate and tax work. The engagement covered the conversion of a non‑regulated entity into a regulated alternative investment fund and the preparation of management agreements and fund documentation.


• Advised several venture capital management entities on structuring carried interest for their Spanish‑resident managers to ensure eligibility for the 50% tax reduction applicable to employment‑characterized carried interest under Spanish rules.


• Advised a passive‑income entity on securing a tax ruling confirming VAT criteria applicable to the personal use of assets, enabling more efficient VAT management, and subsequently obtaining multi‑year VAT refunds that generated significant tax savings. The criteria upheld in the ruling may benefit other passive‑income structures in Spain by improving the VAT treatment of similar arrangements.


• Advised multiple leading family offices on ongoing tax planning related to their investment and holding structures, inheritance tax matters, family governance, and transactions. This includes support on financial‑regulatory aspects of their corporate structures, assistance during personal and corporate tax audits, and regular advice on charitable initiatives and the acquisition of prime assets such as yachts, aircraft and real estate in Spain and abroad.


• Advised major private banking institutions on the launch and tax design of financial and insurance products, investment fund structures, voluntary disclosure programs, trust and asset‑protection arrangements, and wealth‑structure reorganizations. He also provided coordinated global and local support through a broad international wealth‑management network and a dedicated private‑banking legal platform.


• Advised on a major group reorganization, including the assessment of consolidated‑accounting obligations under Spanish GAAP and IFRS, and the potential exclusion of a significant equity stake from the consolidated perimeter. He also covered international and domestic tax considerations, as well as inheritance‑tax planning for the principal shareholder.


• Advised a leading private wealth management holding company on tax matters, including co‑investment structuring, the setup of a Spanish regulated private equity fund and carried‑interest arrangements, succession planning for the next generation, tax implications of investments in international private equity funds, and tax aspects of its participation in a major healthcare group.