Fernando Barros

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.

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.

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.

Biography Barros Tocornal was born in Santiago on 21 September 1957. 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.

Professional career In 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.

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).

He served as dean of the Faculty of Law at the Universidad Finis Terrae and has taught law courses at the Adolfo Ibáñez University.

Public career For 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.

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. He later took part in aspects of that legal defense in subsequent proceedings.

Minister of Defense In 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.

Following the announcement, Barros stated that the incoming administration would require national unity and institutional cooperation as necessary conditions for development.