Chile > Energy and natural resources > Mining > Law firm and leading lawyer rankings

With ‘great technical quality and sense of clients’ business needs’, Baker McKenzie Chile has longstanding experience in advising mining companies on their transactional, regulatory and operational needs. Representative work includes assisting with greenfield mining projects; and the firm’s regional practice stands out for its Latin America coverage. Highlights included advising on an agreement to acquire a precious metals asset portfolio (made up of royalties, streams and precious metal off-takes); assessing mining-environmental issues in relation to an environmental preservation project; and assisting with legal mining easements. Antonio Ortúzar Jr is recommended for the development of major mining projects; and Mirco Hilgers advises on the formation, maintenance and development of foreign mining companies’ Chilean subsidiaries. Associate Francisco Nualart has mining projects experience, including contracts for the acquisition, sale and exploitation of mining assets.

Bofill, Mir & Álvarez Jana’s mining team can draw on the firm’s regulatory, environmental, corporate, tax, labour and dispute resolution groups regarding its clients’ projects in Chile and Latin America. In recent matters the team acted for Barrick Gold Corporation (as part of a joint venture agreement with Goldcorp), regarding the operation of a gold and copper deposit project in northern Chile; advised Nutrex, a US-based mining exploration company on its acquisition of mining concessions and project assets; and assisted Laguna Gold with the acquisition of Chile’s El Toqui underground mine. Other active practice clients include Exeter Resource Corporation, Allied Salt, Rio Explorations, Sociedad Contractual Minera Atacama Minerals Chile, and Codelco. Pablo Mir and Rony Zimerman are highly rated; senor associate Felipe Allende is ‘one to watch’.

Carey advises foreign and local mining companies, sponsors and lenders on significant mining projects. The practice group’s scope ranges across metallic and non-metallic mining sectors, and handles mining, water, and land use rights, as well as environmental, community and technical and regulatory issues. It recently advised Codelco on the development of its Radomiro Tomic copper project in northern Chile; and advised Kinross on the constitution of a group of mining concessions. Other highlights include advising Teck Quebrada Blanca on the expansion of its hypogene project; the assistance included mining legal easements litigation against the State to obtain the right to use surface land for additional project expansion and new facilities. Rafael Vergara and Alberto Cardemil are ‘truly fantastic’; and Francisco Corona is a key counsel.

Cariola Díez Pérez-Cotapos is particularly noted for the exploration, development, financing and operation of mining projects, as well as worksite closures and associated matters. It is also recommended for the acquisition and sale of mining companies and assets (including copper, gold, silver, nitrates, iron ore, coal and salt), and mining-related litigation. The team acted for Goldcorp in the acquisition of a 50% stake in Compañia Minera Casale from Barrick Gold and Kinross; was legal counsel to Compañía Minera Milpo in the negotiation, drafting and execution of the sale of its Chilean subsidiary Minera Rayrock to Minera Cielo Azul; and advised Hudbay Minerals on the negotiation, structuring and drafting of a mining-option purchase agreement between Hudbay Chile and D&G. Carlos Pérez-Cotapos and Gonzalo Grez are the principal contacts.

Renowned boutique Núñez Muñoz Abogados has a strong name in the market for its assistance with mining law. Representative work includes mining-related M&A transactions and financings, as well as projects and regulatory matters. The team also assists with mining concessions and easements, and the environmental law side to mining projects. Patricia Nuñez is a ‘leading name’, and Rodrigo Muñoz and Andrés Verdugo are also experienced practitioners.

Highly rated for mining-related contracts, finance and disputes, Philippi Prietocarrizosa Ferrero DU & Uría’s Juan Paulo Bambach heads the firm’s mining and natural resources group; he led advice to Minería Alxar during the due diligence for the acquisition of mining company Cerro Colorado via a tender process. The team also acted for Barrick Gold on a mining option agreement; and assisted Monarca Chile with two mining projects. Senior counsel Juan Irarrázabal and senior associates María Paz Pulgar and Cristina Olavarría are the other key advisers.

CMS Carey & Allende fields lawyers who advise on mining sector contracts and projects and who have experience in mining concessions, easements and related contentious proceedings. The team advised Compañía Minera Sierra Norte on the acquisition of the Diego de Almagro gold-copper project and assisted Solarpack Chile with several solar energy projects, which included advising on the constitution of mining concessions that aim to protect the project’s subsoil. The recommended advisers are Jorge Allende Z and senior associate Aldo Poblete.

Carcelén, Desmadryl, Guzmán & Tapia is well known in the market for mining sector-related transactional work, as well as associated litigation (including bankruptcy issues), arbitration, and regulatory issues. Representative work includes mining development projects, mining concessions and agreements. Jerónimo Carcelén is the highly rated name partner.

Claro & Cia.’s practice includes advising on acquisitions, sales and the financing of mining-asset development; licensing, permits and rights of way; assisting with governmental relations and minimising environmental liabilities. The team advised Chile’s third largest copper-producer, Anglo American Sur, on filings made before the Geology and Mining National Service to move tailings from one dam to another. Nicolás Eyzaguirre is highly rated.

Guerrero Olivos regularly assists with the development and operation of significant mining projects in Chile, as well as complex transactions and corporate restructuring. The practice recently advised Santiago Metals on the implementation of a copper project – the assistance including due diligence, and option purchase and exploration agreements, along with environmental authorisations, mining easements, and water rights. Pedro Lyon, recently promoted partner Marco Zavala and senior associate Benjamín Pérez are the names to note.

Established via an August 2018 merger, Jara Del Favero & Ried Fabres Abogados is highly regarded for its advice on the development, financing, construction and commercial operations of projects, as well as on mineral exploration, concessions and constituting mining easements. The team also assists with the protection of mining concessions, both before the courts and governmental agencies, as well as legal assistance in mining litigation before the civil courts. Ramón Jara, Gabriel Del Favero and Felipe Ovalle are all highly rated; senior associate Hipólito Zañartu provides key support. Clients include Antofagasta Minerals and Minera Centinela.

Urenda, Rencoret, Orrego y Dörr is noted for its assistance to significant mining companies with foreign investments, as well as financings and construction-related matters. The team acted for Next Minerals on several matters regarding its interest in a mining purchase option agreement; and advised BHP on the review of BHP Chile’s standard confidentiality agreement for exploration matters. Managing partner Sergio Orrego is highly regarded.

CorreaGubbins’ mining practice includes representing clients before government agencies and courts, negotiating and drafting joint ventures agreements, and advising on mining project finance. It also assists with mining-related liabilities, filing mining concessions, obtaining surface rights for the exploration and exploitation of mining projects; and mining closure regulations. The key practitioners are Martín Gubbins and senior associate Marcelo Mardones.

DLA Piper BAZ|NLD’ department head José Pablo Dulantois experienced in advising on copper and gold projects, as well as iodine, lithium and nitrate mining. The team advised Cominor on the amendment of an exploration and development agreement regarding gold and silver mines. Other notable clients include Cosayach, SCM Atacama Kozan and SIMCO.

Grasty Quintana Majlis & Cia.’s Hugo Prieto leads the firm’s mining practice, which advises on mining-title reviews, mining concession due diligence, option and royalty agreements, and financing. Other areas of strength include project development, land use and easements; environmental, permitting and regulatory matters; transactional matters, mining-related construction and dispute resolution issues. The team recently advised Tecnomin on the constitution of cobalt-related mining concessions.

Honorato Delaveau regularly advises clients on mining projects, including the granting of mining concessions, rights of way and water rights; administrative, regulatory and environmental permits; and engineering and procurement contracts. The team advised Turnbrook Mining on the negotiation of an investment and shareholder agreement with mining-sector focused Resources Capital Fund. Gonzalo Delaveau and Rodrigo Delaveau are the recommended practitioners.

Larrain y Asociados ‘provides very strategic, commercial advice’. The team assists with the survey, exploration, development, operation and construction of mining projects, as well as the acquisition and sale of mining companies and assets, and project financings. It acted for Sociedad Punta del Cobre on the development of a ‘fine copper’ mining project, which included assisting with the financing and construction of the plant, the constitution of mining easements, and relations with local communities. Jorge Granic and Cristóbal Morandé are noteworthy advisers.

Prieto recently advised Transmisora Eléctrica del Norte on several matters, including mining property issues, potential conflicts, and easements. Other active clients include Engie Energía Chile, VivoCorp, Americas Energy Fund II, and Prospecta. Juan Tagle, Alberto González E are highly rated; and Camila Kutz is a key associate.

Vergara y Cia’s practice is highly rated for its legal assistance with mining easements and concessions. Other areas of strength include mining-related public law issues, water law issues in relation to mining projects, and contracts. The names to note are Alejandro Vergara Blanco, Gonzalo Muñoz Escudero and Daniela Rivera Bravo.