José María Michavila facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
José María Michavila
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Michavila in 2003
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| Minister of Justice | |
| In office 10 July 2002 – 18 April 2004 |
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| Preceded by | Ángel Acebes |
| Succeeded by | Juan Fernando López Aguilar |
| Member of the Congress of Deputies | |
| In office 2 April 2004 – 3 September 2009 |
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| Constituency | Valencia |
| In office 6 June 1993 – 5 April 2000 |
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| Constituency | Madrid |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 10 January 1954 Madrid |
| Nationality | Spanish |
José María Michavila Núñez was born in Madrid, Spain, on March 28, 1960. He is a Spanish lawyer, businessman, professor, and former politician. He was a member of the Spanish Parliament from 1993 to 2009. He also served in the Government of Spain for eight years (1996-2004) when José María Aznar was Prime Minister.
Michavila is a founding partner of "MA ABOGADOS," a law firm, and "MDF Family Partners," a company that advises families on their wealth. He has degrees in Contemporary History and a PhD in Law. He is a father of five children.
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Education and Early Life
Before becoming a public figure, José María Michavila studied at the Complutense University of Madrid. In 1984, he earned a Law degree with top honors (summa cum laude). The next year, in 1985, he also graduated with a degree in Contemporary History.
In 1987, he received his doctorate degree, again with top honors, in Administrative-Economic Law. His research focused on how the Bank of Spain oversees the financial system. In 1991, he became a full professor of Administrative Law at the Complutense University of Madrid.
Michavila received several special study grants, called fellowships. In 1989, he got one from the British Council and another from the Government of Japan. Later, in 1993, he received a fellowship from the Government of France, and in 1994, one from the United States. He also did advanced studies at Harvard University and the London School of Economics (LSE).
Professional Career Before Politics
José María Michavila was an early member of a political youth group called "Asociación Liberal 1812," which was connected to the UCD party.
In 1985, he started working as a professor of Administrative Law at Complutense University. From 1988, he also worked as a lawyer for the Council of State, which is a top legal advisory body for the Spanish government. He specialized in economy and tax matters.
As General Secretary, he helped create important educational programs. These included the Real Colegio Complutense at Harvard University and the Summer Programs at El Escorial. In 1992, he also helped start the Instituto Estudios Bursátiles (IEB), a school for finance studies, where he was its first secretary.
Political Journey
Michavila began his political career in 1993 when he was elected to the Spanish Parliament representing the Madrid region. From 1996 to 2000, he served as Secretary of State for Relations with the Cortes. This role involved connecting the government with the parliament.
For the 2000 election, he changed his constituency to the Valencia region, which he represented until 2009. From 2000 to 2002, he was Secretary of State for Justice. Then, in 2002, he became the Minister of Justice until 2004, serving in the government led by José María Aznar.
In 1993, Michavila was chosen by José María Aznar, the leader of the People's Party, to be the secretary of Studies and Programs. In this role, he helped create the plans and ideas for important elections. These included the first European elections won by the People's Party in 1994, local elections in 1995, and the parliamentary elections in 1996. He was a member of the party's main leadership committee until 2004.
Along with Ángel Acebes, Michavila helped develop new laws to fight terrorism and improve the justice system. One important law that came from these efforts was the Law of Political Parties. This law aimed to make sure that political parties support democracy and freedom, and do not support violence or terrorism.
In 2002, Michavila took legal action against a Basque party called Batasuna. He called this action "the claim of democracy against terrorism." As a result, Batasuna was banned because it was seen as connected to the terrorist group ETA.
While Michavila was Minister of Justice, Spain also worked to create the European Arrest Warrant. This system helps countries in the European Union quickly arrest and transfer people suspected of terrorism.
In March 2004, after the tragic 2004 Madrid train bombings, the People's Party lost the general election.
Returning to Professional Life
After 11 years in politics, José María Michavila went back to his earlier professional work. In 2006, he moved to London with his family.
In 2006, he became a Senior Advisor for RBC (Royal Bank of Canada). From 2010 to 2016, he was a Senior Advisor for JP Morgan IF. During these years, he also served on the global advisory board of Oliver Wyman.
In June 2008, he co-founded a company called MdF Family Partners with Daniel de Fernando, a former banker from JP Morgan. This company helps over 100 families from different countries manage their wealth. It has offices in cities like Madrid, Barcelona, Mexico City, New York, Miami, and London.
In November 2009, he started a new law firm called MA Abogados. This firm has offices in many Spanish cities, including Madrid, Seville, and Valencia. It provides high-level legal advice to large and medium-sized companies, especially those that work internationally.
Michavila also continues to teach. He is part of the Postgraduate Degree in Contemporary History at Francisco de Vitoria University in Madrid. He also gives a yearly lecture at Harvard University. In 2012, he was appointed a member of the Council of State, a position he still holds.
Helping Others: Philanthropic Work
José María Michavila is involved in several charitable activities. As a member of the Pablo Hortsman Foundation, he has volunteered in Kenya, helping with their projects.
In November 2018, he was recognized by the Premios Gredos for his work helping others. He is also a trustee for several foundations, including the Santa Teresa Foundation, the Euro-América Foundation, the Fundación Silos, and the Tierra Santa Foundation.
Images for kids
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Michavila in 2003
See also
In Spanish: José María Michavila para niños
