Baker McKenzie Chile > Santiago, Chile > Firm Profile

Baker McKenzie Chile > The Legal 500 Rankings

Energy and natural resources > Mining Tier 1

Baker McKenzie Chile houses a go-to mining team for mining companies’ transactional, regulatory and operational requirements. The group’s track record includes advising on several greenfield mining projects; and it is particularly well known for its representation of junior exploration companies. Clients with interests across Latin America also benefit notably from the firm’s extensive LatAm coverage. Recent highlights include assisting Battery Mineral Resources with the mining, environmental and corporate aspects of plans to resume mining and milling operations in the Altos de Punitaqui mine. Heading up the mining practice group for Santiago, Antonio Ortúzar Jr has longstanding experience in large-scale natural resources projects; and mining and foreign investment expert Mirco Hilgers routinely assists with the incorporation, maintenance and development of foreign mining industry companies (and their Chilean subsidiaries). At associate level, Santiago Vial is experienced in mining, infrastructure and corporate work.

Chile > Banking and finance Tier 2

Baker McKenzie Chile's nine-strong multi-disciplinary group is experienced in structuring, negotiating and documenting a broad range of banking, financing and capital markets deals. Its expertise ranges from project finance, corporate loans and refinancing, to acquisition finance, derivatives, securitisations and regulatory advice. The practice’s key figures are Sebastián Vivanco, whose track record includes project finance transactions, including syndicated loan agreements and local security packages; of counsel León Larrain, an expert in telecoms, securities and real estate projects; and corporate finance and securitisation specialist Jaime Munro. Within the firm’s associate ranks, senior Cristóbal Larrain regularly works with the firm’s New York team on corporate and project financings across the Lat Am region; and Jose Ignacio Berner acts for Chilean and international companies on banking and finance matters.

Chile > Competition and antitrust Tier 2

Baker McKenzie Chile's nine-strong Santiago antitrust practice is best known for multijurisdictional merger-control issues, global cartels, antitrust compliance, and competition litigation. Acting across the spectrum of antitrust work, the group also assists with compliance and internal investigations. Clients additionally benefit from the team’s leveraging of the firm’s global competition practice, which facilitates access to approximately 320 lawyers across 47 jurisdictions. The group is led by longstanding antitrust expert Rodrigo Díaz de Valdés, whose track record includes major victories before both the Competition Tribunal and the Supreme Court; with additional, key, partner-level support provided by fintech and TMT sector specialist Diego Ferrada and litigator Ignacio Naudon. Associate Juan Ignacio Donoso is a former FNE antitrust division deputy-head, whose practice covers merger-control proceedings, compliance, and abuse-of-dominance and cartel investigations.

Chile > Corporate and M&A Tier 2

Acting for both domestic and international clients, Baker McKenzie Chile has over 40 years’ experience in advising on cross-border deals involving Chile - including M&A, joint ventures, and other commercial transactions. During the course of the last year the sizeable practice group has been particularly active in both investment fund structuring and M&A transactions involving substantial industrial and residential real estate components. The teams’ recent track record also includes mandates involving the insurance and finance sectors, as well as ongoing advice to clients from the natural resources, telecoms, energy, technology and consumer products sectors. The practice is co-led by Jaime Munro and Fernando Castro, who ‘do a great job'; while Diego Ferrada is highly experienced in M&A, including stock and asset transactions, and Sebastian Vivanco's broad practice also includes M&A work. At of counsel level, Leon Larrain has over 30 years’ experience in transactional matters. Associates Verónica Barrios, Macarena Salazar, Cristobal Larrain and Martin Müller are all also active on corporate issues.

Chile > TMT Tier 2

Baker McKenzie Chile’s Santiago office fields a niche three-member TMT practice, yet is able to leverage the firm’s renowned international network, particularly in the technology sector where clients’ operations frequently necessitate globally-coordinated assistance. The practice acts for a wide-ranging portfolio of TMT clients, including major internet-based services and e-commerce businesses; and its representative experience includes projects involving digital tools, network infrastructure companies and media platforms. The team’s capabilities additionally comprise data security, international data flow and data centres, along with telecoms, big data, cloud-based services, and the IoT. The department is led by corporate law expert Diego Ferrada, who is admitted in both New York and Chile, and has longstanding experience in working with heavyweight telecoms and technology companies on regulatory issues and transactions. Corporate group associate Macarena Salazar also assists with the firm’s TMT work.

Chile > Consumer and advertising law Tier 3

The 10-strong consumer and advertising law practice at Baker McKenzie Chile provides both advisory and litigation services in relation to product liability, as well as handling compliance with advertising regulations and information obligations. Providing ‘solid advice', the team also assists with consumer legislation-related contract reviews, consumer claims before SERNAC, and class actions. The group is co-led by consumer class action litigators Rodrigo De Valdés and Ignacio Naudon, alongside Valentina Venturelli, who advises on advertising issues. The practice further comprises Diego Ferrada, a specialist in the consumer and advertising aspects of digital markets and platforms; and senior associate Juan Ignacio Donoso, who assists with consumer-related compliance work.

Chile > Dispute resolution: arbitration Tier 3

Acting for both domestic and international clients, Baker McKenzie Chile's specialised national and international arbitration practice is particularly active in disputes involving construction, infrastructure projects, securities and mining. The 13-strong group, which is additionally experienced in high-stakes investment arbitrations, is headed up by well-known arbitral practitioner Rodrigo Díaz de Valdés, who also leads the firm’s dispute resolution practice in Chile. Providing key partner-level support, Ignacio Naudon has broad expertise in both national and international arbitration concerning infrastructure projects, construction contracts and distribution agreements; and within the Santiago office’s associate group, both Antonio López and Arantxa Ereche Tuzzini participate in construction-related arbitrations.

Chile > Dispute resolution: litigation Tier 3

Specialising in complex litigation, Baker McKenzie Chile's 12-member group acts for both multinationals and major domestic companies in litigating class actions, as well as infrastructure, retail, securities, and mining-related disputes. Leading the dispute resolution practice in Chile, Rodrigo Díaz de Valdés ‘stands out' for his track record in representing the Chilean State, as well as major international and local companies, in cases involving long-term energy contracts, construction, projects and investment protection issues; while the wide-ranging disputes experience of Ignacio Naudon encompasses class actions, infrastructure projects, distribution agreements, and corporate and M&A-related litigation. Of note in the Santiago office’s associate group are dispute resolution and arbitration practitioner Antonio López, and public, civil and commercial law expert Felipe Soza.

Chile > Intellectual property Tier 3

The seven-member IP practice at Baker McKenzie Chile advises significant domestic and international brands from a range of sectors, including pharma, fashion, manufacturing, and media and entertainment. The team advises on trade mark, copyright and patent matters, as well as domain names; and its offering covers prosecution, enforcement, litigation, regulatory and innovation-related assistance. The group is additionally experienced in IP-related transactional work, such as  licensing and assignments. Heading the team, pharmaceutical and healthcare industry specialist Valentina Venturelli is consistently sought out for trade mark and patent prosecutions. At associate level, senior Sebastián Dorena is active in anti-counterfeiting matters, along with IP litigation, enforcements and prosecutions; and junior Carlos Lazcano also maintains an active IP practice.

Chile > Labour and employment Tier 3

The four-member labour and employment practice at Baker McKenzie Chile routinely taps into the wider firm’s global network of labour lawyers, particularly in relation to cross-border executive transfers and multinationals’ employment issues. The group’s expertise further encompasses employer-side litigation, including claims over unlawful dismissal, employee benefits, discrimination, and sexual harassment. Other key areas are collective bargaining, executive compensation, pensions, stock options, social security, workplace policies, and immigration. The department’s ‘specialised and experienced lawyers’ are led by Andrés Valdés, who acts for clients from the retail and mining sectors (among others); key associate support comes from senior José Ignacio Muñoz who handles labour, employment and employee benefit matters.

Chile > Life sciences Tier 3

The eight-member group at Baker McKenzie Chile acts for a raft of international clients from the healthcare and life sciences industries, while the Santiago office’s market presence notably benefitting from membership of Baker McKenzie’s extensive global network. The practice’s scope of expertise ranges from regulatory, consumer safety and competition, to IP, data protection, and commercial contractual matters. It is also active in life sciences-related tax, compliance, M&A and dispute resolution work. The practice is led by intellectual and industrial property expert Valentina Venturelli, whose practice includes the import, distribution and commercialisation of products, sanitary regulation, clinical trials, and scientific research. Fernando Castro provides further partner-level support, while associates Carlos Lazcano, Maria Elena Dörr and Martín Muller are also key team members.

Chile > Projects and infrastructure Tier 3

Baker McKenzie Chile’s five-member group is best known for its mining-sector credentials. The firm’s projects practice is also increasingly active in relation to renewable energy (solar, wind and geothermal), desalination plants, and port and road projects. The department is co-led by Antonio Ortúzar Jr, who has longstanding experience in natural resources and large-scale projects; and mining project specialist Mirco Hilgers. Experienced in energy, environmental and mining work, associate Santiago Vial re-joined the team in October 2022 (further to completing a Master’s Degree in London).

Chile > Real estate Tier 3

Baker McKenzie Chile’s practice acts across the entire real estate sector, its client list including buyers, sellers, developers and agribusinesses. The team is particularly noted for inbound investments in real estate, and the incorporation of real estate investment funds (and property acquisitions by such funds), but also has experience ranging from the establishment of medical cannabis facilities to advising religious organisation's on their real estate portfolios. It also routinely interacts with government agencies on zoning issues, and land usage and building requirements. The group is led by of counsel Andrés Wagner, an expert in property development and matters relating to the hospitality and tourism segments; he is flanked by experienced associates Francisco Nualart and Maria Elena Dörr who provide key support.

Chile > Capital markets Tier 4

Acting for financial institutions, issuers, managers and other capital markets-related providers, Baker McKenzie Chile's seven-member capital markets department is experienced in tender offer mandates, corporate debt placements and securitisations. It also regularly assists with the regulatory aspects of Chilean securities. The team is jointly led by securities law expert Fernando Castro and Jaime Munro, whose transactional workload encompasses capital markets matters. The practice of associate to note Cristóbal Larrain includes experience in tender offers.

Chile > Environment Tier 4

Baker McKenzie Chile's environmental law practice routinely leverages the firm’s well-known mining law prowess. The team’s coverage includes assessments regarding compliance with environmental regulations and administrative procedures to obtain permits. In cross-border environmental work, clients additionally benefit from the Santiago office’s membership of the firm’s global and Latin America environment practices. Heading up the group, Chilean mining law expert Mirco Hilgers also has extensive experience in natural resources, energy and infrastructure work. During 2022, senior associate Santiago Vial (mining projects) re-joined the firm (further to completing a Master’s Degree in London), while former associate Rosario Preuss departed for an in-house role at Innergex.

Chile > Public law Tier 4

Baker McKenzie Chile’’s five-strong team fields constitutional, administrative and human rights lawyers who advise clients from the healthcare, insurance, infrastructure, construction, mining, pharma, and defence and aerospace sectors. With ‘an edge over other law firms’, the group additionally works on defence-side Constitutional Court matters, while recent highlights further include working alongside industry guilds during discussions on Chile’s new Constitution. The practice is led by Rodrigo Díaz de Valdés (a professor of civil and constitutional law at the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile), who frequently advises legislative commissions on high-profile public issues. Associate Felipe Soza’s practice covers constitutional litigation and administrative law.

Chile > Tax Tier 4

Baker McKenzie Chile’s tax group is partcularly experienced in acting on behalf of technology, finance, pharma and mining companies; and the four-member team routinely leverages the firm’s regional and global network for cross-border tax matters. In addition to international taxation, the group assists with tax planning, industry-specific tax issues and tax disputes. The practice is led by international tax and tax planning expert Alberto Maturana; while at associate level, Cristián Bonacic ‘knows transfer pricing very well‘ and also assists with the tax aspects of banking, finance, mining, IT and manufacturing matters. Former senior Catalina Galleguillos moved to Lembeye in March 2023.

Latin America: International firms > Banking and finance

Baker McKenzie LLP’s prevalence across Latin America, with multiple offices, coupled with an established Latin America-focused team in the US, provides it with genuine credibility and a slew of impressive engagements. It has especially strong banking and finance teams in Brazil, Colombia, Chile and Peru, among other offices. It previously advised Banco Davivienda on the $906m refinancing of the Rumichaca-Pasto 4G toll road in Colombia. Buenos Aires partner Gabriel Gomez Giglio is chair of the Latin America banking and finance team, which includes Juan Carlos de los Heros Echecopar in Lima. Sebastian Vivanco, León Larrain and Jaime Munro are key figures in Santiago, notably for corporate lending and project finance; the firm recently advised the banks on the $146m credit facility to finance the Centella and Tap Mauro power transmission line projects in Chile. Bogota’s Ricardo Trejos Robledo is noted for project finance and acquisition finance. Former Bogota partner Carolina Duque left the firm in January 2023.

Latin America: International firms > Projects and energy

Baker McKenzie LLP has made bold moves to expand its Latin America practice in the US, building on its existing network of offices from Argentina up to Mexico. The arrival of Michael Fitzgerald and a senior team from Paul Hastings LLP brings real gravitas to the firm’s Latin America standing, particularly in financings and capital markets-driven fundraisings. They join a wider group of energy and infrastructure specialists in Latin America itself, that has a fine reputation for power and renewables projects, along with energy and infrastructure M&A. Sao Paulo partner José Roberto Martins has an extensive record in energy and natural resources projects and transactions in Brazil. Juan Carlos De Los Heros is a key name in Lima, along with mining sector specialist Antonio Ortúzar in Santiago.

Latin America: International firms > International arbitration

Baker McKenzie LLP’s international arbitration team is largely located in Latin America itself, primarily in Chile, Peru, Colombia and Argentina. The firm has are fine reputation in investment and commercial arbitration, notably in the energy, infrastructure and construction fields. Santiago partner Rodrigo Diaz de Valdes represents both state and private sector entities in cross border arbitrations, including those in the mining, energy and construction sectors. Lima’s Maria Del Carmen Tovar has represented the Peruvian state and state-entities in a series of investment arbitrations. Bogota partner Claudia Benavides Galvís is global chair of the firm’s dispute resolution group and an experienced figure in investment and commercial arbitrations, particularly for private companies. Luis Dates in Buenos Aires and Caracas-based Eugenio Hernández-Bretón are also key names.