Ms Myriam Barahona > Morales & Besa > Santiago, Chile > Lawyer Profile

Routinely advising both domestic and international clients from the financial, energy, infrastructure, entertainment and retail sectors, Morales & Besa‘s 12-strong practice is best known for its lender-side credentials, while also being sought out by major borrower clients. ‘Among the top-five Chilean law firms for cross-border financings‘, the practice acts on a wide range of banking and finance deals in relation to restructurings, syndicated loans, derivatives, and structured and project finance. It also assists with transactions involving distressed debt, acquisitions and LBOs. On the non-transactional side, the team is also experienced in assisting companies with licensing, regulatory and compliance matters. The practice is jointly led by José Miguel Carvajal, who has enviable experience in domestic and foreign loans, project finance, bond offerings, and foreign investment and foreign exchange matters; and infrastructure and energy project finance specialist Myriam Barahona, ‘undoubtedly the soul of this practice‘. Former senior associate Rocio Vergara left to establish her own practice in September 2022.

The large projects team at full-service outfit Morales & Besa particularly stands out for its infrastructure credentials in relation to project development, acquisitions, financing, contracts, regulatory issues and related litigation. The multidisciplinary group’s recent track record includes mandates involving airports, solar power plants, PPP projects, toll roads, and renewables. The practice is also increasingly expanding its market share of engineering, procurement and construction matters. Heading the practice, Carlos Silva’s experience covers the gamut of project issues, from structuring to development, financing and M&A work; real estate and construction department leader Macarena Laso assists with corporate transactions, along with the structuring, acquisition and financing of public infrastructure projects; and Myriam Barahona and Eugenio Besa are both project finance experts. The next line of partners features recently-elevated Juan Carlos Valdivieso, who acts on energy and infrastructure-related transactional and regulatory aspects; and 2022-returnee and projects specialist Aldo Cardinali. Within the firm’s senior associate pool, Macarena López is noted for projects, construction and engineering matters, while Nicolás Corbeaux specialises in construction disputes. Former senior associate  Katannya Jablonski left for the General Directorate of Concessions in October 2022.

Further to Chile’s 2019 social crisis (as well as the pandemic), the recent track record of Morales & Besa‘s sizeable bankruptcy and restructuring practice focused on assisting domestic and international creditors and debtors with large companies’ reorganisation proceedings. The team’s expertise covers out-of-court debt restructurings, insolvency and restructuring-related litigation and arbitration (including claw-back actions), and cross-border insolvency matters; it priarily acts for a client base of businesses drawn from the healthcare, financial services, aviation, construction, entertainment and energy sectors. The practice is co-led by financing and restructuring specialist Myriam Barahona; and dispute resolution expert Gonzalo Cordero, whose practice includes insolvency and bankruptcy-related disputes. Former senior associate Rocio Vergara left the firm in September 2022.