Fernando Barros Tocornal (born 21 September 1957) is a Chilean lawyer and academic serving as the Minister of National Defense in the government of president José Antonio Kast since 2026.
Fernando Barros | |
|---|---|
.png) Official portrait, 2026 | |
| Minister of Defense of Chile | |
| Assumed office 11 March 2026 | |
| President | José Antonio Kast |
| Preceded by | Adriana Delpiano |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 21 September 1957 Santiago, Chile |
| University of Chile Harvard Law School London School of Economics | |
| Occupation | Lawyer, politician |
An independent without formal party affiliation, Barros has developed most of his professional career in the private sector, specializing in tax law, corporate law, and corporate governance.[1]
He is a co-founder of the law firm Barros & Errázuriz and is known for his role as a member of the legal defense team of former army commander-in-chief Augusto Pinochet during his detention in London.[2]
Biography
editBarros Tocornal was born in Santiago on 21 September 1957.[3] He earned his law degree from the University of Chile in 1982 with highest distinction, and later completed postgraduate studies at Harvard Law School and the London School of Economics.[2]
Professional career
editIn 1988, Barros co-founded the law firm Barros & Errázuriz, which specializes in tax law, corporate law, and governance matters. Over his career, he has worked principally in private practice, focusing on corporate and tax advisory roles.[2]
Barros has held positions on the boards of several Chilean companies, including as chairman of Oxiquim S.A., and as a director of Levaduras Collico S.A., Compañía Cervecera Kunstmann S.A., and Independencia S.A. He has also been a board member of the Sociedad de Fomento Fabril (Sofofa) and vice-president of the Chilean Institute of Business Administration (ICARE).[2]
He served as dean of the Faculty of Law at the Universidad Finis Terrae and has taught law courses at the Adolfo Ibáñez University.[2]
Public career
editFor many years Barros acted as a legal adviser to former president Sebastián Piñera on corporate and tax matters, participating in several high-profile business transactions during Piñera’s private-sector career.[1]
Barros first gained widespread public visibility in 1998 when he was part of the legal team representing former army commander-in-chief Augusto Pinochet during his detention in London, acting as a spokesperson for his defense.[2] He later took part in aspects of that legal defense in subsequent proceedings.[2]
Minister of Defense
editIn January 2026, president-elect José Antonio Kast appointed Barros as Minister of National Defense, a position he is set to assume on 11 March 2026. He was appointed as an independent, without formal party membership, and without prior experience in government office.[2]
Following the announcement, Barros stated that the incoming administration would require national unity and institutional cooperation as necessary conditions for development.[2]
References
edit- 1 2 "Fernando Barros y su rol en fideicomiso ciego de Kast". Ex-Ante. Retrieved 23 January 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Fernando Barros Tocornal: el abogado de Pinochet en Londres a Defensa". El Mostrador. Retrieved 23 January 2026.
- ↑ "Fernando Barros Tocornal será ministro de Defensa de Chile". Defensa.com. Retrieved 23 January 2026.