Empty link being created at the start of a dropdown list

Why is my template file creating an empty link at the start of each dropdown list?

blade template:

@if($parentCategories && $childCategories)
<div id="categories-navigation">
    <div class="categories-container">
        <ul class="cf">
            @foreach($parentCategories as $parent)
                <li class="dropdown-trigger">
                    <a href="#">
                        <ul class="dropdown-content">
                            @foreach($childCategories as $child)
                                @if($child->parent_id === $parent->id)
                                    <li>
                                        <a href="">
                                             <span>()</span>
                                        </a>
                                    </li>
                                @endif
                            @endforeach
                        </ul>
                    </a>
                </li>
            @endforeach
        </ul>
    </div>
</div>
@endif

the empty link comes from this line <a href="#">, but it doesn't make any sense since it is being added under <ul class="dropdown-content">

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