• Arbitration
• Sports Law
• Corporate Area
• Litigation
• IT, Media & Telecommunications

Law Degree, Universitat de Barcelona

Mr. Pintó is a partner and President of Pintó Ruiz & Del Valle, which he joined in 1975. He is an expert in both corporate and sports law. His expertise in said areas involves also litigation and arbitration. In addition to his extensive experience in connection with family companies, he has been appointed either as an arbitrator or as an attorney in more than 350 arbitration procedures, most of them of international nature, in several languages, such as Spanish, English, French and/or Italian. He is Secretary to the Board of Directors of several quoted and non-quoted companies. He is, and has been in the past, the Chairman of several companies, as well as of national and international associations. As an arbitrator at the Tribunal Arbitral du Sport (TAS), he has participated at the Ad Hoc Divisions of the Football European Championship held in Portugal in 2004, the Winter Olympic Games of Vancouver 2010, the South-Africa World Football Championship held in 2010 and the Olympic Games of Rio 2016. He is an independent member of the UEFA Compensation Committee and also of the UEFA Governance & Compliance Committee. He is member of the Editorial Board of Football Legal. He is Chairman of the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC) Ethics Commission (Lausanne).  

• The Chambers Europe Guide 2024 (Band 1):«José Juan Pintó Sala is a great lawyer with a high degree of experience and skill».
• Distinguished by Best Lawyers 2024 as one of the best corporate lawyers in the area of Sport Law and Litigation in Spain.
• Who's who Legal Sports & Gaming 2023, Thought Leaders Global Elite.
• The Chambers Europe Guide 2023 (Band 1):«José Juan Pintó Sala is an excellent arbitrator with unparalleled experience in sports law».
• Distinguished by Best Lawyers 2023 as one of the best corporate lawyers in the area of Sport Law and Litigation in Spain
• Who's who Legal Sports & Entertainment 2022, Thought Leaders Global Elite: "one of the ‘most experienced sports lawyers’ in the market and gains recognition for his expert handling of football-related disputes".
• Distinguished by Best Lawyers 2022 as one of the best corporate lawyers in the area of Sport Law in Spain.
• The Chambers Europe Guide 2022 (Band 1): «José Juan Pintó Sala receives praise from interviewees for his skills as arbitrator as well as for his experience handling disciplinary proceedings».
• Distinguished by Best Lawyers 2021 as one of the best corporate lawyers in the area of Sport Law in Spain.
• The Chambers Europe Guide 2021 (Band 1): «José Juan Pintó Sala receives praise from interviewees for his skills as arbitrator as well as for his experience handling disciplinary proceedings».
• Who's who Legal Sports & Entertainment 2021, Thought Leaders Global Elite: "one of the ‘most experienced sports lawyers’ in the market and gains recognition for his expert handling of football-related disputes".
• Recommended by Media Law International from 2014 to 2022 within Band 3: 'Their clients highlight department manager Yago Vázquez's and their President José Juan Pintó's task. They praise their “high capacity and talent to solve complex legal issues”. According to their judgement, “particularly in the area of media, both José Juan Pintó and Yago Vázquez have an excellent knowledge and experience that, combined with their accurate understanding of the sports business, allows for excellent legal advice.”'
• The Chambers Europe Guide 2020 (Band 1): «José Juan Pintó Sala receives praise from interviewees for his skills as arbitrator as well as for his experience handling disciplinary proceedings. He also represents clients in cases regarding non-payment of transfer fees, contractual issues and the imposition of sanctions».
• Distinguished by Best Lawyers 2020 as Lawyer of the Year in the area of Sport Law in Spain.
• Who's who Legal Sports & Entertainment 2020, Thought Leaders Global Elite: "'a legend in sports law’ and ‘an excellent sports lawyer and arbitrator’ whose work spans contentious and non-contentious matters."
• The Chambers Europe Guide 2019 (Band 1): «lauded by clients who describe him as "an incredible lawyer and without a doubt one of the best sports lawyers in the country. Sources go on to add: "He is very respected and is always active on the major sports cases in the country". He regularly acts as a CAS arbitrator. He has a particular focus on football cases, including contractual disputes».
• Who's who Legal Sports & Entertainment 2019, Thought Leaders Global Elite: «is a “top-notch” CAS arbitrator who stands out as “one of the most experienced and very best lawyers” in the market».
• Distinguished by Best Lawyers 2019 as one of the best corporate lawyers in the area of Sport Law in Spain.
• Who's who Legal Sports & Entertainment 2018, Thought Leaders Global Elite: «is a “top-notch” CAS arbitrator who stands out as “one of the most experienced and very best lawyers” in the market».
• The Chambers Europe Guide 2018 (Band 1, star individual): «widely regarded as a leading expert in sports law. He is frequently appointed as arbitrator in CAS proceedings and his activity spans disputes in the football and athletics spaces». In a client's own words, «He is not only a great person, but also an incredible professional – he is a walking encyclopedia of law».
• Distinguished by Best Lawyers 2018 as one of the best corporate lawyers in the area of Sport Law in Spain.
• José Juan Pintó Sala has been recognized by Who's who Legal Sports 2017 as one of the best sports lawyers in Spain and "thought leader". Nominees have been selected based upon comprehensive, independent survey work with both general counsel and private practice lawyers worldwide. Only specialists who have met independent international research criteria are listed.
• The Chambers Europe Guide 2017 (Band 1, star individual): José Juan Pintó is recognised by peers as "one of the classic lawyers who started sports law in Spain." A renowned arbitrator, he was appointed as a member of the CAS's Ad Hoc Division for the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games. According to a client, "he is a natural leader who has all the necessary contacts at the highest level. He is a relevant figure in the world of sports law and an excellent jurist."
• The Chambers Europe Guide 2016 (Band 1, star individual): José Juan Pintó «has a superb reputation among peers as a "superstar" in the field of sport in Spain and worldwide. He is widely recognised for his in major arbitrations. One source reports that "he was one of the first in the world of sport and really is a leader"».
• Recommended by Media Law International 2016 within Band 3: "Both José Juan Pintó and Yago Vázquez have an excellent knowledge and experience that, combined with their accurate understanding of the sports business, allows for excellent legal advice."
• Recommended by Media Law International 2015 within Band 3: "the technical expertise of the lawyers in this field is very high, in particular Yago Vázquez and José Juan Pintó Sala. We also appreciate their deep knowledge of our business area, sports".
• The Chambers Europe Guide, 2015 (Band 1, star individual): «José Juan Pintó Sala is known as an arbitrator with an 'enormous reputation in the football league and among clubs.' Peers note his experience».
• Member of the Royal Order of Sports Merit and awarded the Medal for Sports Merit by the President of the Spanish High Council for Sport (2014).
• The Chambers Europe Guide, 2014 (Band 1, star individual): «José Juan Pintó Sala earns wide recognition for his work as an arbitrator at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.»
• The Chambers Europe Guide, 2013 (Band 1): «José Juan Pintó Sala has a prolific arbitration and litigation practice and is an arbitrator at the Court of Arbitration for Sport. He wins strong recommendations: "He's very knowledgeable in litigation and is very impressive in court. He's an extraordinary lawyer." Another source adds that he is "an arbitrator par excellence – a very good negotiator. He's a delight, a real pleasure to work with."»
• The Chambers Europe Guide, 2012. Key Individual in Sports Law (Band 1): «Brilliant arbitrator and litigator».
• The Chambers Europe Guide, 2011. Key Individual in Sports Law (Band 1):«José Juan Pintó Sala is an acknowledged authority on Sports in Spain».
• The Chambers Europe Guide, 2010. Key Individual in Sports Law (Band 3): «José Juan Pintó Sala is recognised as ‘one of the most important Spanish-speaking arbitrator working today’ — although sources are quick to note that he also takes cases in English and French. His considerable sports workload includes advising the national football league. Peers describe him as ‘an authority on the Court of Arbitration for Sport’ and ‘number one in football work.’»

• "El amigo Miguel Ángel y el arte de deliberar" ("The friend Miguel Ángel and the art of deliberation"), in "Miguel Ángel Fernández-Ballesteros. Liber Amicorum". Coordinator: David Arias. Madrid: CEIA and La Ley, 2024. Volume II. p. 1.795-1.805.
• "Intervención y arbitrajes múltiples en el TAS" ("Involvement and Multiple Arbitration at TAS"), in "El arbitraje en el TAS. Funcionamiento, procedimiento y cuestiones prácticas más relevantes" ("Arbitration at TAS. Operating Procedures and Most Relevant Practical Matters"). Nicole A. Santiago Santiago (Col.). Coordinators: José Luis Pérez Triviño, Lucas Ferrer de Robles, Antonio García Alcaraz, Emilio García Silvero, Michele Bernasconi. Navarra: Aranzadi, 2021. p. 287-304.
• "Espaldarazo del Tribunal Constitucional al arbitraje en España" ("Boost of the Constitutional Court to arbitration in Spain"), in "El proceso arbitral en España a la luz de la doctrina del Tribunal Constitucional" ("The arbitration process in Spain in light of the doctrine of the Constitutional Court"). Madrid: Wolters Kluwer, 2021. 
• "Eligibility and Nationality in Football", in Football Legal, issue 13 (June 2020).
• "Derecho deportivo 2020" ("Sports Law 2020"). Directors: Enrique Ortega Burgos; Miguel María García Caba; coordinators: Ramón Terol Gómez, Alberto Palomar Olmeda, Lucas Ferrer [et al.]. Barcelona: Tirant lo Blanch, 2020.
• "Will the changes implemented in the FIFA Code of Ethics in 2018 improve the global governance of football?", in Football Legal (January 2019).
• "Spain", in The Chambers Global Sport Law 2018.
• "Los derechos audiovisuales en el deporte profesional: ¿una historia interminable de conflictos?" ("Audiovisual rights and professional sport: a never-ending story of dispute?"), in El deporte profesional. Barcelona: Bosch, 2009.
• "Maintaining contractual stability in the world of football. Special reference to the 'Webster' case", in Sports Law Research Center of Xi'an. University of Physical Education, P.R. of China, Shangai Sports Bureau (2008).

• "Arbitration at CAS" (Universidade Católica Portuguesa, September 2023)
• "Acting before the TAS" (Universidad Austral, Argentina, September 2023) 
• Seminar presentation "Sports Law at the Crossroads" (Madrid, May 2019)
• "Arbitration at CAS" (Universidade Católica Portuguesa, September 2022)
• "Arbitration at CAS" (Universidade Católica Portuguesa, September 2019)
• Seminar presentation: "Tackling Match Fixing" (London, 2018)
• "Arbitration at CAS"  (Universidade Católica Portuguesa, September 2018)
• "Minor Players Transfers", at the International Seminar Law and Football (Universidad Iberoamericana de México DF, June 2015)
• "Minor Players Transfers", at the 7th Sports Meeting (Spanish National Football League, February 2014)
• Speaker at the panel on violence in football stadiums held at the "Arbitration at the Tribunal Arbitral du Sport (TAS)" seminar (Universidad Iberoamericana de México DF, April 2014)
• "On the Jurisdiction of the TAS and the Federal Swiss Court's Sentence 246/2011, of November 7th", at the Aranzadi Sports Meeting (2012)
• Participant at the "Sports Justice at Present" (Universidad Internacional Menéndez Pelayo, 2012)
• "On the Financial Situation and Controls over Spanish Footballat the Workshop Office" (Rome, Italian National Olympic Committee, November 2012)
• Lecturer at the "Para-corporate Agreements: Scope and Efficiency" Seminar (Barcelona Bar Association, March 2011)
• "Recent Jurisprudence of the TAS", at the Aranzadi Sports Meeting (February 2011)
• Lecturer at the group of experts on Commercial Law of the Barcelona Bar Association (January 2011)
• "Regarding the Independence of members: One of the reasons that Integra must remain an 'association', not a 'network'" lecture (Milan, 2011)
• Lecturer at an International Sports Law Seminar (Mexico DC, 2010)
• Lecturer at the 3rd Congress of International Football Law (Royal Spanish Football Federation, March 2009)
• "The Matusalem Case", lecture at the Aranzadi Sports Meeting (Spanish National Football League, 2009)
• Annual Convention of Sports Law Seminar (Xi'an, China, China Law Society & The International Forum on Asian Sports Law, 2008)
• Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) and Football" (Royal Spanish Football Federation, November 2006)
• Lecture on Sports Arbitration at the Sports Law Seminar (Madrid, Spanish Arbitration Club)
• Lecture on Sports Arbitration (Mexico DC, Arbitration Committe of Mexico)

• Associazione Internazionale Giuristi di Lingua Italiana
• International Bar Association
• International Wine Law Association
• International Sport Lawyers Association (ISLA)
• Club Español del Arbitraje Deportivo
• Honorary President of Rex Sport
• Member of the Barcelona Bar Association
• Member of the Madrid Bar Association

• Español
• English
• Français
• Italiano