The Legal 500

The ‘very solid' Rafael Vergara heads the three-partner-strong environmental department at Carey, which not only assists on environmental issues in connection with energy projects but also has vast experience advising on international regulations, and environmental, health and sanitation law in relation to business operations generally. Vergara advised industrial waste disposal and treatment company Hidronor on environmental compliance and permit matters. A varied caseload saw Gonzalo Fernández successfully represent hydropower company ElectroAustral before the Supreme Court so as to obtain the approval necessary to develop its Centinela hydroelectric project. Juan Francisco Mackenna assisted HBS Energía with the qualification of its bio-gas electricity generation plant as a Clean Development Mechanism project as defined by the Kyoto Protocol. The team also regularly advises Pepsico.

Philippi, Yrarrázaval, Pulido & Brunner's long established environmental advisory practice focuses on energy projects in the mining, hydrocarbons and power generation sectors but also has a strong presence in litigation proceedings and supports the firm's prominent corporate department, particularly with transactional due diligence. The team continues to represent the Italian-Chilean consortium Geotérmica del Norte before the courts and the environmental authority following a 2009 well blow-out at its geothermal project El Tatio. It assisted Kinross Gold Corporation and Eolic Partners with their respective mining and wind farming projects, advised Methanex with the operation of its methanol plant in Punta Arenas, and acted for Hunt Energy on a potential joint venture with a company developing a hydroelectric project in southern Chile. The firm was also instructed by the European Southern Observatory for environmental legal assistance on ALMA, one of the largest ground-based astronomy projects of the next decade. Juan José Eyzaguirre heads the team of five.

Relatively young boutique firm Vergara Galindo Correa Abogados provides expertise across the board within the environmental sector, the team dedicating its time exclusively to the handling of environmental matters and related litigation. Javier Vergara, Mario Galindo and Eduardo Correa have all held positions at the Chilean National Environmental Commission and bring an advantageous combination of public sector and private practice experience to the team. The group has handled the largest projects in the mining, energy generation, sanitation, forestry and industrial sectors; its clients' list features international and local companies seeking environmental assessment for their projects, corporate transactions and internal norms and compliance processes. The firm has competence in the full range of national and international regulations, from sanitation to legislation concerning indigenous peoples. José Luis Fuenzalida specialises in electricity and water law and the very visible Galindo is reported to be one of the best litigators in environmental matters in the country.

Cariola Diez Perez-Cotapos y Cia's compact environmental practice sits well with the firm's renowned expertise in energy and natural resources matters, led by Carlos Pérez-Cotapos, and displays a particular expertise in the issues facing electricity generation companies. Its comprehensive service extends beyond energy matters however, attending predominantly international clients in sectors such as real estate and pharmaceuticals. Gonzalo Jiménez is the partner in charge; he is representing Southern Cross Group before the Supreme Court in a case against a third party challenge to its environmental license to build and operate a coal-fired power plant. He also assisted the client with the environmental assessment process of its Central Termoeléctrica RC Generación power plant.

At Claro y Cia, Nicolás Eyzaguirre leads a team that frequently undertakes acquisition activity, such as its recent advice on the purchase of a mining option, and this extensive transactional experience has given it considerable expertise in environmental due diligence matters. Eyzaguirre was instructed by EBX Group subsidiaries MPX Energía and OMX on the environmental assessment of their thermoelectric power plant and port projects (valued at $4.7bn). With approval obtained, he continues to assist them on environmental and public law-related matters. Compañía Contractual Minera Candelaria recently called upon the group for environmental advice in relation to its desalinisation plant project, as well as assistance with the acquisition of the necessary maritime concessions. The team also represents companies before the relevant authorities in all proceedings relating to the authorisations and permitting required to legally develop their projects. The team's other clients include Cristalerías de Chile, Suez Energy Andino and Embotelladora Andina.

The new venture Cubillos, Campos y Molina Abogados emerged from the highly respected Barros & Errázuriz and founding partners Gonzalo Cubillos, Fernando Molina and Claudio Campos all bring vast experience, formidable reputations and a long list of contacts to the practice. Cubillos is a recognised leader in the environmental and town-planning fields and provides the newly created outfit with high-profile clients such as HidroAysén, Colbún, Socovesa, Enea and Chamisero. Molina previously served as legal director at Chile's National Environmental Commission.

Patricio Leyton heads the six-strong department at Ferrada Nehme, which focuses on environment, natural resources, project development, regulatory matters, marine concessions and permits in a wide range of sectors including mining, energy and waste management. The flourishing group is part of the firm's highly regarded regulatory, public and administrative law division. Highlights included assisting Enel with an environmental due diligence process in relation to a $200m wind farm project. The team also handles litigation proceedings for its clients before the Chilean authorities.

Guerrero, Olivos, Novoa y Errazuriz provides sophisticated environmental advice on transactions, acquisitions, project financing and energy-related litigation. It has experience across the alternative energy sub-sector (hydroelectric, solar, wind, thermoelectric and geothermal) and handles issues throughout the energy project cycle, from initial exploration to financing and sale transactions. The team comes under the umbrella of the broader energy, natural resources and environment group headed by Clemente Pérez, who previously served as director at the National Environmental Agency and also as deputy secretary of public works. Pérez and Cristián Fabres advised Hacienda Talinay on the sale of its 92% stake in wind farm Parque Talinay Oriente, which resulted in the first filing of a request for the partial transfer of environmental permits at the Chilean Environmental Agency. The firm also assisted NSL power with the environmental due diligence process of the largest wind farm project in Latin America, and acted for Nova Venture Mine on the environment impact assessment and permits for its $84m copper-iron project in the Tarapacá region.

At mining and energy specialist firm Urrutia & Cia, the seasoned José Antonio Urrutia leads one of the oldest and largest environmental practices in the country. With three practitioners working full time on cutting-edge water law issues and nine others adept at advising on the full range of natural resources and environmental matters, the calibre of the firms services ensure that it secures mandates on the most significant agro-industrial, energy and mining projects, particularly the latter. Highlights included assisting Barrick Chile Generación with approvals for a $70m wind-farm project; and acting for Compañía Minera Nevada on the complex environmental issues related to its $5bn Pascua Lama Gold Mine project, requiring the securing of some 800 permits for diverse matters such as water-intake facilities, road access, ecological flow and water management.

Ignacio Arteaga heads the environmental and regulatory practice at corporate and litigation outfit Arteaga Gorziglia & Cia Abogados. The firm, comprised of 11 professionals, advises on environmental due diligence processes and handles the environmental side of investment projects. The team's environmental and regulatory litigation capabilities are also noteworthy.

Barros & Errázuriz will miss the expertise of Gonzalo Cubillos, a leading practitioner in the field who left in December 2011 to establish Cubillos, Campos y Molina Abogados. Nevertheless, the firm has retained environmental capability and continues to attract key instructions and provide a comprehensive advisory service on impact assessment and compliance with environmental rules in connection with projects in a variety of sectors, including the electricity, ports, forestry, real estate, chemicals and infrastructure. The team also assists companies with the analysis of environmental assets and liabilities in acquisition and due diligence processes. Senior associate Sebastián Donoso is now the key contact.

Martín Gubbins and associate Claudia Ferreiro co-head the very capable environment and natural resources team at CorreaGubbins. The department works closely with the firm's litigation practice and regularly represents its clients before the courts and administrative bodies. It recently assisted a company with the drafting of new regulations on paper and cardboard recycling in the manufacturing industries and obtaining their approval by the environmental and health authorities. The team also handled the environmental assessment of the modification of an electricity transmission line affecting a historic monument and took the case before the Environmental and National Monuments Authority.

Julio Lavín is the key contact at Jara, Del Favero y Cía Ltda. He combines his environmental practice with expertise in natural resources and maritime concessions as well as administrative, constitutional and sanitation law. As part of a multidisciplinary team, he led on the environmental aspects of instructions received from Minera Lumina Copper Chile concerning its Caserones copper and molybdenum project, and Algorta Norte on an iodine mining project.

Prieto y Cia's newly created environment team has earned profile from the calibre of mandates it has attracted since environmental specialist Alejandro Ruiz was appointed to its direction in April 2011. Ruiz has relevant experience in both the public and private sectors and the team benefits form the inter-departmental synergies available at one of the country's foremost energy firms. The team has advised SCL Energía Activa on the negotiation of an emissions reduction purchase agreement (ERPA) with carbon-broker Tricorona in relation to its biomass-residue-fired cogeneration plant, and assisted Aguas Andinas with the environmental issues of the $1bn sale of Corfo's shares in the company.

The well-regarded practice at Urenda, Rencoret, Orrego y Dörr delivers environmental assistance and evaluation in relation to projects in a wide range of industries including real estate, mining, electricity generation, aquaculture and agriculture. It recently advised Orizon on a cutting edge aquaculture project, and acted for Global Energy Services Siemsa on the environmental assessment for the development of a wind farm in northern Chile. Another highlight was acting on behalf of wine association Asociación de Empresarios Vitivinícolas del Valle de Casablanca in a case that reached the Supreme Court and established an environmental precedent. The team is led by Sergio Orrego and welcomed the arrival of Ignacio Urrutia in June 2012.