The Legal 500

'Preeminent in the litigation field', Bofill Mir & Alvarez Jana Abogados fields an unrivalled dispute resolution team that is over 30-strong. ‘Top practitioner', Jorge Bofill is widely renowned as the best white-collar criminal lawyer in the country, and his fellow name partner Andrés Jana is a go-to figure for international arbitration disputes. Jana is currently Chile's designated ICSID Panel member and recently served as arbitrator at the ICC tribunal in Paris in a case that opposed Italian company Enel and El Salvador over control of one of the country's largest alternative energy producers. Both also undertake civil and commercial litigation, as does younger partner Rodrigo Gil.

The ‘excellent, knowledgeable and experienced' team at Claro y Cia is ‘of the absolutely highest level,' and ‘greatly recommended for complex litigation with high exposure to risk´. Its impressive strength in depth, combined with its ‘creative thinking and effective and courageous advocacy', sees it at the cutting edge of the most significant disputes, with a particular expertise in financial dispute arbitration. Highlights included Nicolás Luco and Felipe Ossa advising Swiss company ABB regarding the supply of an allegedly defective motor mill to Collahuasi, one of Chile's largest copper producers, which involved a partial mediation in London. Working in conjunction with José Miguel Huerta, the ‘strong, talented and committed' Cristóbal Eyzaguirre successfully acted on behalf of Aguas Andinas in a claim concerning the unconstitutionality of water and sewage companies' right to disconnect water services to clients in arrears. The firm's senior partner, the ‘prestigious and eloquent' José María Eyzaguirre G, teamed up with Cristóbal to represent Anglo American against Codelco in various proceedings related to the latter's claim to retain an option to buy a 49% stake in Anglo American Sur. Other clients include BBVA, Xstrata and British American Tobacco.

Boutique-firm Gutiérrez, Waugh, Jimeno & Asenjo has an outstanding reputation. Its four partners are highly specialised in dispute resolution and are adept at acting on the most significant and complex cases – all had previously done so for many years at Chile's most prominent firms before teaming up in 2006. Headline work included acting for Chilean copper-giant Codelco in its lawsuit against Anglo American over their disputed option agreement. Pedro Pablo Gutiérrez is regarded as one of the best litigators in the country by his peers Alfredo Waugh, Cristóbal Jimeno and Juan Francisco Asenjo are also recommended.

An ‘outstanding litigator' and ‘incredibly bright', Gonzalo Fernández heads the litigation department at Carey, the ‘most prestigious and dominant firm in the market'. Fernández is 100% devoted to contentious work, and the ‘most respected lawyer in the country', senior partner Jorge Carey brings the practice his particular expertise in international litigation and investment arbitration. The 12-strong team's clients come primarily from the financial, construction and insurance sectors and it frequently receives instructions from large international companies. The team has been advising the Republic of Chile in the much-reported and long-running case brought by Clarín newspaper's owner Victor Pey and Fundación Salvador Allende over the expropriation of Clarín during the 1980's; Fernández has recently represented the Republic in the annulment proceeding in Paris before an ad-hoc committee. The team has also successfully advised clients in environmental proceedings, including representing hydroelectric power company Electroaustral before the Supreme Court in a complex case against the city of Linares concerning its Achibueno project. Fernández is acting for large salmon producer Congelados Pacífico in a multimillion-dollar arbitration proceeding against Chilena Consolidada and its reinsurers; and acting for Philip Morris against British American Tobacco over the alleged exclusionary conduct of the latter, currently before the Supreme Court.

Boutique firm Harasic & Lopez is a compact and highly focused practice specialised in civil, commercial and economic proceedings, white-collar crime, and administrative and constitutional actions. Davor Harasic and Julián López are both recommended.

Ortúzar, Aguila & Concha has an excellent long-standing reputation in the full range of disputes, with a particular expertise in procedural and administrative matters. The team recently assisted Codelco with its request to freeze 49% of Anglo American's dividends from its Sur mining unit in southern Chile. Álvaro Ortúzar is a key figure in the market, and Pedro Águila is highly recommended.

Pellegrini & Urrutia's focused and well-structured practice attracts large local and foreign clients and evidences notable expertise in construction litigation. The eight-lawyer specialist team recently acted for major Brazilian construction company Queiroz Galvão, in international arbitration proceedings against consortium Hidroeléctrica La Higuera in relation to the construction of a hydropower plant. It is also representing Spanish construction company Obrascón, Huarte & Lain in a dispute against the Republic of Chile in connection with the construction of Santiago's Military Hospital. Another key highlight involves advising Comsa Dragados on its arbitration dispute against ENAP over the construction of an oil dock. The firm is also active in white-collar crime litigation and is representing one of the former board members of retail company La Polar in an administrative lawsuit filed by the Securities and Insurance Commission against the company's directors and executives and its former auditor PwC. Enrique Urrutia, Julio Pellegrini and José Manuel Bustamante are all recommended.

Reymond & Fleischmann is the go-to firm for construction arbitration (domestic or international), an expertise peers praise as being top of the market. The team also has a deep knowledge of real estate, private and public infrastructure and public works concessions. Alfonso Reymond and Hernán Fleischmann are strongly recommended.

Rodríguez Vergara & Compania is often involved in litigation of national significance, and is able to successfully handle the most complex mandates with its cutting-edge knowledge of civil law. Founding partner Pablo Rodríguez is one of Chile's highly respected practitioners in the field. Pedro Pablo Vergara, Fernando Rabat and Hugo Rosende all have significant experience in civil litigation and are highly recommended.

Providing an ‘excellent and efficient' service, Barros & Errázuriz stands out for its ‘litigation capabilities as well as its industry knowledge, the latter being of significant value in its understanding of clients' issues and way of dealing with them'. The ‘proactive and experienced' Luis Eduardo Toro is praised for his ‘determination and clear strategic vision'; he is assisted by a talented team that is praised for its ‘availability and professionalism'. Recent work includes successfully acting for Colbún in a case opened by a landowners association over its client's right to build and operate an electric turbine. Toro represented Larraín Vial in a civil tort lawsuit filed by two individuals claiming damages as a result of the broker's alleged negligence in the sale of their stock. Other clients include natural gas company Metrogas, transnational telecom company Telmex and salmon producer Ewos Chile Alimentos.

Barros Letelier & González's team received a significant boost with the recent promotion of litigation-head Francisco González to name partner, thereby reaffirming the firm's commitment to one of its core practice areas. The team has well-known capabilities in the national and international arbitration area, with senior partner Enrique Barros a leading name who often sits as arbitrator in commercial and civil cases. He is currently chairing the tribunal in Highbury International & Ramstein Trading vs Venezuela, an ICSID investor-state claim concerning a mining concession. The firm also has a wealth of experience in ordinary proceedings in civil, administrative, environmental, securities and tax matters.

The team at Cariola Diez Perez-Cotapos y Cia is ‘extremely pleasant to work with' and highly esteemed by clients and peers alike for its ‘excellent litigation practice and attention to technical detail'. The practice has particular expertise in construction, insurance and tort litigation, and also receives a notable number of instructions from energy companies. The ‘mature and experienced litigator' Florencio Bernales heads the team; he recently advised Compañía General de Electricidad on a case against Central Patache and FPC Energía over the results of a bidding process for the power supply to three cities in northern Chile. Mónica van der Schraft represented Aguas Araucanía against Constructora Pérez Castro in an alleged breach of contract suit concerning the construction of three sewage water-treatment plants. Fernando Urrutia represented Orgnización Terpel (Chile) in ICC arbitration against Repsol YPF Chile and Repsol Butano Chile.

CorreaGubbins has excellent practitioners in team co-heads Juan Ignacio Correa and Guillermo Arthur, both experts in complex litigation matters before the antitrust tribunal and ordinary courts. In a demonstration of its competition sector capabilities, the team successfully represented Sociedad Comercial Antillanca against a local Coca-Cola subsidiary in a case concerning anti-competitive practices. It is currently representing: a shareholder of AFP Capital in the headline fraud case against La Polar; Sky Airlines in proceedings against a minority shareholder; and Movistar in six different lawsuits in relation to alleged illegal call re-routing.

Ferrada Nehme's practice was recently bolstered by the launch of a new arbitration and mediation department, headed up by one of Chile's human rights most prominent advocates José Zalaquett. This development adds strength and visibility to the firm's capability in the dispute resolution area, a practice group led by Paulo Montt, who is highly regarded for his expertise in commercial and economic litigation as well as constitutional and administrative actions. The team is able to draw on the firm's command of competition, public law and the regulated markets.

The ‘very good team' at Philippi, Yrarrázaval, Pulido & Brunner is particularly focused on work for energy companies. ‘Top lawyer' and practice group head Enrique Alcalde is praised for his good judgement and understanding of his clients' needs. He represented five former members of the board of directors at leading energy company Enersis in a $50m refund claim filed against the Chilean Treasury. Alcalde and Fernando Barros advised electricity-generation business Pehuenche's board of directors in a dispute with the company's minority shareholders. Another highlight included acting for a former member of the board of directors of La Polar in a series of judicial procedures filed by the Chilean securities and insurance superintendency (SVS), the state prosecutor and minority shareholders. Other key clients include Iberdrola Energía, Antofagasta Minerals and main electricity-distribution company Chilectra.

The five partners at Vergara, Labarca & Cía have created a highly regarded niche practice specialising in commercial legal disputes. The team is adept at representing local and international companies in arbitration, before the competition tribunal, and in ordinary, administrative and regulatory courts. The firm's strategic decision to concentrate exclusively on dispute resolution has allowed it to develop extraordinary courtroom expertise as well as permitting a focus on the case in hand rather than long-term client relationships, ensuring independence and the freedom to accept instructions from virtually any company. Co-founders Arturo Vergara and Raimundo Labarca are highly recommended.

The team at Albagli, Zaliasnik & Cia has strong litigation abilities and is particularly active in white-collar crime cases as well as in IP and competition litigation, for which it is able to draw on the firm's related practice areas. Representative clients include CFR Pharmaceuticals, Banco Santander and Telefónica Chile. Top crime litigator Gabriel Zaliasnik heads the department, while co-partner Francisco Velozo is also recommended.

Aninat Schwencke & Cia made a valuable investment in its litigation practice in July 2011 with the incorporation of Cristián Gandarillas. Previously chief counsel at the ministry of the interior, he brings vast experience of litigating in the electricity, natural resources, banking and competition sectors. The dynamic team led by Luis Aninat won a number of new and prestigious instructions, including the representation of stockbroker Larraín Vial in a bankruptcy case concerning the thermoelectric power station Central Campanario. Other clients include WPP Group, a group of investors and directors of several salmon trade companies, six different advertising agencies and the Bisquertt family. The team is also permanent external legal counsel to the interior ministry, which involves representing it in various litigation proceedings.

The ‘strong and capable' team at Baker & McKenzie delivers a service of ‘notable efficiency'. It is led by Rodrigo Díaz de Valdés, who has a great understanding of several practice areas and was recently appointed as an international partner by the firm. He was entrusted by the President of Chile to lead his defence before the Constitutional Court in a benchmark case filed by parliamentary members over the ratification of an international treaty entered with the US, the EU and Japan. Other highlights included obtaining the suspension of a court order for Autostrade per L'Italia before the Constitutional Court; collaborating in Zurich's defence in insurance arbitration proceedings against Colbún relating to damages for business interruption; and acting for the ministry of public works in a claim filed by Aguas de Antofagasta over the alleged unconstitutionality of water sanitation regulations, in application of which the company was heavily fined. Antonio Ortúzar Sr is an expert arbitrator.

Guerrero, Olivos, Novoa y Errazuriz covers all kind of contentious issues, from civil and commercial to administrative cases in addition to constitutional actions. The team's ‘high-quality service' attracts clients as much as the approachability of its practitioners, who are warmly praised for their ‘direct, honest and friendly approach'. It has been acting for the Chilean arm of British American Tobacco, Compañía Chilena de Tabacos, against CORFO in relation to the alleged profits gained from the 2007 Inverlink Brokerage fraud. The group also successfully represented Hidroenersur in the enforcement of a $48m land purchase agreement for the development of a hydroelectric project. Other clients include Manas Petroleum, IPR Chile, satellite TV provider TuVes and Compañía Minera Nova Ventura. Department head José Ignacio Jiménez stands out for his ‘solid procedural knowledge and experience'.