Chile > Labour and employment > Law firm and leading lawyer rankings

Carey advises national and multinational companies on hirings, compensation packages, terminations, labour law-related auditing, and labour due diligence for M&A deals. Other areas of expertise include internal investigations, social security-related matters and employee taxation, and the practice is regularly involved in collective bargaining procedures, labour law litigation and immigration matters. The team recently advised M&A and private equity consulting firm Mesoamerica on the labour and employment due diligence procedures surrounding the acquisition of a majority stake in Unifood; and acted for Deloitte Auditores y Consultores in a complex collective bargaining procedure with a union representing some 640 employees. Department head Oscar Aitken and Francisca Corti, along with associate Francisco Arce, are the key names.

Specialist labour law boutique Munita & Olavarría assists with compensation benefits, pension plans and labour law auditing as well as compliance issues, workforce reductions and company restructuring. The practice group is also highly rated for work-related accidents, permits and visas, labour law litigation and collective bargaining. Highlight matters saw the team advise Coca-Cola Andina Chile on different collective bargaining procedures, and it also acted for Banco de Crédito e Inversiones in labour law litigation. Name partner Enrique Munita and Cristián Olavarría, together with Paola Casorzo, José Luis de Marchena and Marcela Salazar are all highly rated. At associate level, Gonzalo Urcelay, Paula García-Huidobro and María de los Angeles Izquierdo are all noted. In addition, the firm is the Chilean member of the Ius Laboris international law firm network which specialises in employment law, employee benefits and pensions.

Philippi Prietocarrizosa Ferrero DU & Uría is widely recognised for its experience in labour due diligence and internal employment audits, the hiring and termination of employees, unfair dismissal, human resource policies and restrictive covenants. Other areas of strength include subcontracting and outsourcing, labour-related taxes and compensation packages, collective bargaining procedures, union relations and labour law litigation. The team acts for GNL Mejillones in its employment matters, its advice including collective labour relations and compliance policies; it also assists Stryker Corporation Chile with day-to-day labour law advice. Paulina Miranda and director Jaime Salinas Toledo are the names to note.

In the employment sphere, Barros & Errázuriz is best known for collective bargaining procedures, labour disputes, the labour aspects of transactional operations, labour law audits and immigration matters. Recent matters include acting for Bayer Chile in its collective bargaining process with two unions representing over 180 employees. Juan Cristóbal Iturrate and senior associates María Fernanda Espinosa and Camila Herrera are the principal advisers.

CMS Carey & Allende’s ‘responses are timely, accurate and appropriate’. Enzo Canales, who is ‘an excellent lawyer and a very good team player’, focuses on advising domestic and international clients on labour law matters, including arrangements for foreign workers, international social security agreements, collective bargaining and labour law litigation. The team successfully defended Accenture against a former employee’s claim for alleged breach of constitutional rights and alleged sexual discrimination. Julio Frías is a highly regarded associate.

Cariola Díez Pérez-Cotapos ‘has excellent industry knowledge and provides superior analyses’. The team is highly regarded for its expertise in collective bargaining, immigration, and the labour law aspects of company restructuring. Other areas of strength include compensation packages, stock options plans and the tax issues surrounding labour benefits; the practice also has sector expertise in retail, mining, IT, consumer-product manufacturing and technology. The practice recently assisted IBM de Chile with a collective bargaining process and provides ongoing assistance to Coca Cola de Chile regarding labour law matters. Ricardo Tisi and senior associate Bárbara Zlatar are the key practitioners.

Grasty Quintana Majlis & Cia.’s Christian Alvarado focuses on the implementation, development and maintenance of workable labour relations between employees, employers and unions; and he regularly assists with collective bargaining and labour disputes. The team advises Parque Arauco on labour-related litigation and the viability of stock options for managers in Chile, among other issues; and it recently acted for Comercial y Servicios Anachemia Science in collective bargaining procedures.

Uribe, Hubner & Cia. is highly rated for its assistance with employer-employee relations; the practice also has a robust labour litigation group. Enrique Uribe and corporate employment law and collective bargaining expert Marcelo Soto are the key contacts. Former name partner Alfonso Canales and Sebastián Parga left the firm to co-found CP Abogados.

Canales Parga Abogados Laborales was co-founded in 2018 by Alfonso Canales and Sebastián Parga, formerly of Uribe, Hubner & Canales. Canales is recommended for strategic human resources planning, collective bargaining and labour litigation; and Parga has extensive experience in individual and collective labour law, human resources’ issues, and discrimination and anti-union cases, along with work-place accidents. Acting for both national and international companies, the practice specialises in labour and employment law consultancy and labour law litigation. Senior associates Carlos Gutiérrez de Torres and Marily Coronel Vega are also highly regarded.

BAZ|DLA Piper recently merged with NLD Abogados to become DLA Piper BAZ|NLD, which in the labour sector signified the arrival of Ramón Domínguez. The practice is well known for advising on collective bargaining and also assists its clients with day-to-day labour law issues, complex employment litigation, the implementation of compensation schemes for employees, and corporate immigration advisory. In recent mandates it assisted FMC Chile with the transfer of employees in Chile. Luis Parada is also a key contact.

Luis Lizama Portal & Cía. Abogados has a strong name in the market for collective bargaining matters, compensation issues and the labour law aspects of corporate restructuring. The practice is also noted for labour law litigation and demonstrates specific industry experience in agriculture, energy, mining, construction and manufacturing. Luis Lizama is the recommended name partner.

Morales & Besa’s ‘quick and effective’ Fernando Arab specialises in workplace, social security and immigration issues, including labour disputes and contractual and corporate matters involving individual and collective labour law. The team successfully acted for Iron Mountain Chile in litigation regarding alleged anti-union practices. Rodrigo Sanhueza and Angelina Migliorelli R are notable senior associates.

Porzio Ríos García’s practice handles collective bargaining and union relations, contractual matters, litigation and compliance issues, as well as health and safety regulations, employee benefits and social security and pension law. Other areas of note are immigration and executive transfers. ‘Highly competent’ practitioner Ignacio García and senior associate Fernando Villalobos are the principal contacts.

Prieto is best known for labour litigation and the labour aspects of corporate law matters; moreover, the team is particularly noted for collective bargaining procedures as well as immigration. Recent mandates include advising Yamana Gold on four collective bargaining procedures; and assisting major Chilean retail group, SMU, with labour law litigation. Christian von Bergen and senior associate Cristóbal Raby are experienced advisers. Other active clients include Engie Energía Chile, Sodexo Chile, Plaza, Valle Nevado and Compañía Minera Doña Inés de Collahuasi.

Allende Bascuñán & Cía assists clients from the mining, agriculture, science, aviation and construction sectors, among others, with all aspects of labour and employment law. It recently advised Philips Chilena on the labour law aspects of its restructuring process. Andrés Garrido is highly regarded.

Aninat Schwencke & Cia's Rodrigo Ugarte heads the firm's labour and employment department, which is highly experienced in company labour law issues and individual and collective labour matters as well as contentious labour law matters. Constanza Ríos is a noteworthy senior associate.

Baker McKenzie Chile is best known for advising on complex cross-border executive transfers and multinational company employment matters; in addition, the team acts in high-value, complex litigation for employers. The practice is also noted for specialised mining-related employment matters, including complex collective bargaining procedures, compensation packages for international executives and global mobility issues. Andres Valdes is the key practitioner.

Bofill, Mir & Álvarez Jana has particular experience in collective bargaining matters and regularly acts before the labour courts. With clients drawn from the construction, retail, mining, services, education and healthcare sectors, among others, the team recently successfully defended Luniben Top Frío against allegations of anti-union practices. Pablo Gutiérrez is the key name.

Della Maggiora, Eyzaguirre, Ferrada Abogados is specialised in labour, social security and immigration matters, as well as labour law litigation and collective bargaining procedures. Francisco Della Maggiora is the highly-rated name partner.

Advising mostly in the mining, retail, financial services, telecoms and public sectors, Deloitte Legal Chile’s practice includes the design and implementation of labour compliance programs, the labour aspects of transactional matters, and collective bargaining negotiations, among others. Mónica Fernández and director Priscilla Serres are the main contacts.

At Fontaine & Cía, Diego Marín’s practice includes labour-related consultancy matters, collective bargaining, trade union issues, and the handling of labour lawsuits for companies in the construction, industrial, insurance and service sectors.

Guerrero Olivos’ practice covers migratory and expatriate matters, collective bargaining and union issues, day-to-day labour law consultancy and labour litigation – including dismissals, and unfair and anti-union practices. Senior counsel Rocío García de la Pastora Z heads the labour, employment and migration group. Former senior associate Santiago Doña left to found Doña Vial Abogados y Consultores.

Larrain y Asociados’ key clients are in the mining, education and service sectors. The department advises both national and international companies on labour litigation, recruitment, collective bargaining and the labour aspects of M&A deals, as well as general advice on employment and social security issues. Andrés Silva is an experienced adviser.

Ríos Tagle Alessandri & Romero is experienced in labour contracts, collective bargaining and labour litigation matters, including collective bargaining, unfair practices, and work accidents. Manuel Tagle Undurraga and Mario Romero Castro are highly regarded.

SCR Abogados’ Constanza Contreras previously led Carey’s labour litigation department. Recent matters saw the team represent the ex-general director of Alstom Chile (AC) in a labour law lawsuit against his former employers.

Sáez & Fernández fields a team with expertise in labour relations, conflict prevention, union negotiations, and complex litigation. In recent mandates it advised major copper mining company Minera Escondida regarding collective bargaining matters. Raúl Fernández and Felipe Sáez are the key contacts.

Urenda, Rencoret, Orrego y Dörr has been particularly active in labour law litigation and collective bargaining matters, recently. The team acted for wine-producers Alto de Casablanca and Empresas Vitivinícolas in their collective bargaining procedures, which involved a high proportion of their total workforce. Alberto Rencoret and senior associate Sebastián Merino V are the names to note.