Fontaine & Cía > Santiago, Chile > Firm Profile

Fontaine & Cía
AV. APOQUINDO 2827, PISO 11
755-0100 - LAS CONDES
SANTIAGO
Chile

Chile > Real estate Tier 1

A firm with extensive experience in the real estate market’, Fontaine & Cía’s large practice advises at every stage of real estate project developments, from the financing through to constructed buildings’ eventual delivery. Recent workloads comprised growth in rental sector-related multifamily development projects, as well as warehouses and storage centres for the e-commerce industry. The team has also been advising on  the delays to construction works further to site closures, slow responses from the administrative authorities, and lack of materials and workers. The principal figures are Montserrat Valverde, who specialises in the development of residential, office, industrial and commercial real estate projects; Juan Eduardo Troncoso, an adviser to institutional investors on real estate financings, rentals and developments; and Diego Marín, who is particularly active in the formation of consortiums for projects. The second line of key advisers features real estate project expert María José Álvarez (promoted to director during 2022); and associate and urban planning regulation specialist Ramón Reyes. Former associate Javiera Serani left for an in-house role at Bice Vida in September 2022.

Practice head(s):

Monserrat Valverde; Juan Eduardo Troncoso; Diego Marín

Testimonials

The skills of Fontaine’s team include its excellent ability to work with the internal teams of clients.

Fontaine has the ability to manage problems very well, seeking effective solutions in accordance with the latest legal changes in the country – and always from a point of view that is not only legal, but also understands business from a global point of view.

Responsiveness, efficiency and the excellent ability to work as a team.

A firm with extensive experience in the real estate market, and the willingness to delve into new issues and changes to the law.

Diego Marín and director María José Álvarez, are excellent professionals.

Key clients

Compañía de Seguros Confuturo

Metlife Chile Seguros de Vida

Principal Compañía de Seguros de Vida Chile

Inversiones Marchigüe

Chilena Consolidada Seguros de Vida

Parque Arauco

Hispano Chilena de Inversiones

Piedra Roja Desarrollos Inmobiliarios

Grupo HMAN

Inmobiliaria Bricsa

La Cruz Inmobiliaria y Constructora

Inmobiliaria Indumotora

Asesorías Civilia

Echeverría Izquierdo Inmobiliaria y Constructora

Nieves Andina

Grupo Trade Center

Work highlights

  • Advised Metlife Chile on the refinancing of Inmobiliaria Su Casa, a real estate company that sells large residential towers in the centre of Santiago.
  • Assisted Constructora e Inmobiliaria Presidente Riesco with challenging a resolution that rejected the modification of a permit from Municipalidad de Las Condes for the development of a complex comprising four buildings.
  • Advising Bricsa (through the MBI Real Estate Consortium), on the change of control of real estate management and execution of the Ciudad del Sol project.

Chile > Labour and employment Tier 3

The four-member team at Fontaine & Cía covers individual and collective employment contracts, social security benefits, collective bargaining processes, and union relations. The team is also experienced in claims involving accidents, work-related illnesses, violations of fundamental rights, anti-union practices, and dismissals, as well as remaining active in labour lawsuits brought by former workers of companies that terminated operations because of the pandemic. The group is led by Diego Marín, who assists with construction sector-related labour matters, while Georgo Peftlouloglou advises on work accident and occupational disease-related liability issues. At associate level, Rodrigo Palacios and Sebastián Rodillo both maintain active labour law practices, but Felipe Navarro moved in house at CMPC in September 2022.

Practice head(s):

Diego Marín

Key clients

Cruz Blanca

Metlife Chile

Abbot Laboratories de Chile

Abbie Productos Farmacéuticos

Ingeniería y Construcción Sigdo Koppers

Bricsa

Claro Vicuña Valenzuela

Lo Campino

Construcciones y Pavimentos

Almahue

Cineplex

California (Casio)

Maui & Sons

Schneider

Sercomed

Asoex

Molina Morel

3L Holding

Maquinarias y Construccón Río-Loa

Metarlugica Fat

Jorge Piddo y Cía

Molino Estampa

Constructora Precon

Comercial Redoffice

Reich de Comercio Exterior

Cobronce

Ingec

Macme

Pimasa

Houm

Fexpro

Staff Jurídico

Exportadora los Lirios

Corporación Cultural de Vitacura

Work highlights

  • Acts for Metlife Chile Seguros de Vida in labour lawsuits.
  • Represented Construcciones y Pavimentos in five lawsuits, in which former engineers of the company sued for alleged unpaid bonds and alleged breaches of labour contracts.
  • Onoing advice to Abbbott Laboratories on labour matters.

Chile > Banking and finance Tier 4

The five-member group at Fontaine & Cía is particularly active in real estate project financings, syndicated loans, and the restructuring of liabilities. It also advises on alternative means of raising capital. The finance and capital markets team is led by Juan Eduardo Troncoso, whose practice covers real estate and project finance work, while associate Sebastián Garrido also has an active finance practice.

Practice head(s):

Juan Eduardo Troncoso

Key clients

Metlife Chile Seguros de Vida

Penta Vida Compañía de Seguros de Vida

Chilena Consolidada Seguros de Vida

Excel Capital

Principal Compañía de Seguros de Vida

Compañía de Seguros Confuturo

BTG Pactual Compañía de Seguros de Vida

Activa Fondo de Inversión Inmobiliaria (LarrainVial)

Work highlights

  • Advised Principal Compañía de Seguros de Vida Chile on a financing operation structured through a leaseback.
  • Advised Metlife Chile Seguros de Vida on a financing deal that comprised an endorsable mortgage loan.
  • Advised Principal Compañía de Seguros de Vida Chile on a financing that was structured through a leaseback.

Chile > Tax Tier 4

Predominantly acting for real estate and construction clients, recent mandates for Fontaine & Cía's tax team include structuring investments into Canada, the US and Europe; and advising family offices on tax issues. The practice is also active in defence-side tax work, including in relation to property tax issues and income derived from the construction of public works. Founding partner and group head Hernán Fontaine is an expert in the planning and implementation of tax structures; while associate Javier Cortés specialises in foreign investment and HNW planning.

Practice head(s):

Hernán Fontaine

Key clients

Sociedad Concesionaria Tunel El Melon

Ciudad Empresarial – Hispano Chilena

Compañía de Seguros De Vida Chilena Consolidada

Las Condes Foundation

Almahue

Brotec

Piedra Roja

Confuturo

Conpax

Hotelera Alma Sattva

Reich

Mutual de seguridad de la Cámara Chilena de La Construcción

Consorcio Pacífico

Bricsa

Bupa

Cámara Chilena De La Construcción

Ralei Investment Group

Penta Vida

For more than 35 years, Fontaine Abogados. has provided comprehensive legal advice, focused on their clients’ business; mainly real estate, construction companies, insurance companies, investment funds, retail, heathcare, and industries, among others.

Fontaine & Cía. it was founded in 1987 by Arturo Fontaine Aldunate, following a tradition started by Don Arturo Fontaine Calvo, in 1904.

Today, Fontaine & Cía., provides comprehensive legal advice, with a team of 30 professionals trained to respond to the demands of businessmen and entrepreneurs who need quick and effective responses to the growing challenges that their activity entails.

We see ourselves as partners of our clients, we know their work in depth and we work committed with them to achieve the goals they have set for themselves. We are proud to build long-term relationships that allow us to contribute sustainably to the success of your management.

Fontaine Abogados is a member of the international network ‘Lawyers Associated Worldwide’ (LAW), with more than 98 associated firms in more than 128 countries.

Main Areas of Practice:

Real Estate:

A well-recognized competence in these matters permitted the firm to support individuals and enterprises in prime real estate projects within the country. The firm advises real estate development projects from their initial planning stage, its construction, financing and sale to the public. This includes the structuring of the project, corporate and tax aspects, processing of permits and approvals, regulation and environmental impact issues.

Corporate & Commercial:

The firm covers the legal requirements proper to corporate law, from day to day aspects to high complexity exceptional matters. The forging of joint ventures and advisory services to foreign clients in their investment processes are also an important part of the specialized practice of Fontaine Abogados.

Construction & Infrastructure:

Advisory on big engineering and construction projects from initial until final stage is another relevant area of expertise. Management of different contractual options related to the projects and the capacity to dedicate at-work solicitors are attributes highlighted by customers that have been advised in various infrastructure projects developed under the public work’s concessions. It has also participated on roadworks, dams, public parking and major works equipment projects. In those projects the firm brings legal service from the tender process, up to the development phase of exploitation.

Tax:

The firm provides excellent corporate and individual tax advisory services, for the purpose of contributing to the business management efficiency of the clients, specifically in the design and implementation of structures that are best suited to the clients’ businesses, and developing strategies and solutions that maximize resources, within the legal tax framework. The firm also represents companies and individuals in tax litigation.

Financial & Stock Market:

The lawyers from the firm have advise important project’s financing operations, especially in real estate and liability restructuring. It has also developed a valuable knowledge on legal aspects of the Stock Market that allows to provide advice to key players from the industry.

Labour:

The firm has lawyers in this area of increasing complexity, who its clients value for their proactivity and professional capabilities. Covering areas such as individual’s working contracts, social law benefits, collective negotiations and union related matters, the firm advises clients in different business in the market, and has successfully resolved disputes involving large numbers of workers.

Litigation & Arbitration:

Fontaine Abogados provides specialized advice on controversies of all kinds, representing its clients in courts and arbitration procedures. Commercial litigation, real estate and construction disputes, companies defense in labour proceedings and complex civil cases are among the most frequent matters the area handles.

Water Law Area:

The firm provides specialized advice on regulatory and judicial matters in these matters. A relevant part of our work in the matter is focused on personalized management before the General Directorate of Water and other sectoral entities, in order to formalize the constitution of new rights, their transfer, regularization, improvement, as well as the resolution of conflicts related to this matter, among others.

Healthcare:

Fontaine & Cia. has provided legal advice in this area for more than two decades. The deep knowledge of the regulations that regulate health in Chile, added to the great experience acquired in the field of contractual and non-contractual liability, allow the Firm to stand out in this area. His experience in the regulatory field linked to Isapres has given him a degree of specialization that sets him apart from his peers.

Insurance Area:

The insurance area of ​​Fontaine & Cía. provides specialized advice on policy and regulatory issues in the insurance sector. Product development, the application of regulations related to distribution channels and the drafting and review of policies constitute a central activity of the area. Likewise, a relevant part of his work is oriented to the determination of coverage and settlement of claims, relations with regulators, and the resolution of conflicts related to claims of all kinds.

Department Name Email Telephone
Tax Department Hernán Fontaine hfontaine@fontaineycia.cl
Corporate/M&A, and Compliance Francisco Fontaine ffontaine@fontaineycia.cl
Real Estate and Finance Juan Eduardo Troncoso jetroncoso@fontaineycia.cl
Real Estate / Labour & Employment Diego Marín dmarin@fontaineycia.cl
Real Estate Montserrat Valverde mvalverde@fontaineycia.cl
Litigation and Restructuring /Insolvency Georgo Peftougoglou gpg@fontaineycia.cl
Corporate and Health Law Alejandro Vicari avicari@fontaineycia.cl
Water Law Felipe Hargous fhargous@fontaineycia.cl
Insurance Roberto Ladrón de Guevara rladrondeguevara@fontaineycia.cl
Real Estate María José Álvarez malvarez@fontaineycia.cl
Tax Department Javier Cortés jcortes@fontaineycia.cl
Real Estate Ramón Reyes rreyes@fontaineycia.cl
Real Estate and Finance Ignacio Holmberg iholmberg@fontaineycia.cl
Labour & Employment Rodrigo Palacios rpalacios@fontaineycia.cl
Corporate and Finance Sebastián Garrido sgarrido@fontaineycial.cl
Photo Name Position Profile
María José Álvarez photo María José Álvarez Director – Real Estate Department
Javier Cortés photo Javier Cortés Director – Tax Department
Hernán Fontaine photo Hernán Fontaine Partner – Tax Department
Sebastián  Garrido photo Sebastián Garrido Lawyer – Corporate, Compliance and Finance
Diego Marín photo Diego Marín Partner Real Estate, Labour & Employment
Rodrigo Palacios photo Rodrigo Palacios Lawyer – Labor and Employment Department
Georgo Peftlouloglou photo Georgo Peftlouloglou Partner – Litigation, Restructuring & Insolvency, Labour & Employment
Ramón Reyes photo Ramón Reyes Lawyer – Real Estate Department
Juan Eduardo Troncoso photo Juan Eduardo Troncoso Partner – Real Estate, Finance/Capital Market/Alternative AssetsDepartment
Montserrat Valverde photo Montserrat Valverde Partner – Real Estate Department
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Lawyers Associated Worldwide (LAW)