Full-service market leader Carey fields a seven-strong insolvency and restructuring practice that is highly regarded for its experience in bankruptcy proceedings; the team consistently assists both creditors and debtors with liquidations, reorganisation agreements and restructurings. The department comprises several practice heads, namely: Ricardo Reveco; a renowned insolvency, bankruptcy and restructuring specialist; Salvador Valdés, who is highly rated for complex bankruptcy matters; Francisco Ugarte, whose track record includes representing both debtors and creditors in insolvency procedures; Cristián Figueroa, a specialist in transactions involving financial distressed companies; and Alejandra Daroch, who was promoted to partner in November 2021 and whose broad practice covers distressed M&A and debt restructuring. Roberto Villaseca is the associate to note, his dispute resolution practice encompassing bankruptcy and insolvency issues.

A core part of Barros & Errázuriz‘s judicial group, the bankruptcy and restructuring practice’s track record includes numerous insolvency and restructuring-related litigation and arbitration cases, including several insolvency class actions. Other areas of strength are reorganisation and liquidation proceedings, as well as expertise in assisting clients acquire the assets of companies that are subject to such procedures. Heading up the group, Javier San Martín‘s vast dispute resolution experience takes in contractual law, as well as disputes involving bankruptcy, construction and commercial issues; while José Luis Corvalán (who was raised to the partnership in April 2021), advises both debtors and creditors on liquidation and reorganisation procedures. Within the associate pool, the dispute resolution practice of Milton Gutcovsky also includes insolvency procedures; however, former senior Cristián Pérez moved in house as legal manager at Grupo Pasmar in February 2022.

The 10-strong bankruptcy and restructuring practice at market-mainstay Claro & Cia. is particularly focused on complex restructuring work at both local and cross-border levels. The department is led by civil and commercial litigation and arbitration expert Nicolás Luco, with close support from a number of senior colleagues. Head of the firm’s M&A practice, José María Eyzaguirre B has a strong track record on the restructuring side, and recently played a key role in LATAM Airlines’ worldwide restructuring strategy. Head of the firm's dispute resolution department, Cristóbal Eyzaguirre is also integral to the practice; in addition to contentious aspects he also had considerable experience of reorganisations in general. Additional key assistance is provided by cross-border transactional expert Felipe Larraín; and José Miguel Huerta, whose specialisms include bankruptcy work. At the junior partner level, Santiago Bravo is regularly involved in major restructuring cases.

Housing a 13-strong restructuring and insolvency practice, Morales & Besa consistently acts for creditors and debtors in high-profile reorganisation proceedings. Representative matters include out-of-court debt restructurings, insolvency and restructuring-related litigation and arbitrations (including clawback actions), and cross-border insolvencies. In addition to her general banking and finance and project finance practice, Myriam Barahona    is increasingly active in restructuring and insolvency work, while Gonzalo Cordero    focuses on the associated contentious aspects – litigious or arbitral. Also key to the group are commercial, finance and corporate law expert José Miguel Carvajal   , and recently promoted litigation director Juan Ignacio Eymin   . Experienced in insolvency, bankruptcy and restructuring matters, Rocio Vergara   was recruited as senior associate in April 2021 from the Superintendency of Insolvency, while former fellow senior Orlando Palominos joined Lembeye Abogados in January 2022.

A longstanding market presence, Nelson Contador & Compañía Abogados is routinely sought out by both individuals and companies for its expertise in financial and corporate distress. The firm is particularly noted for its experience in financial restructurings, reorganisations, liquidation proceedings and pre-bankruptcy agreements. The practice group also houses experts in cross-border insolvencies and arbitration work. Founding partner Nelson Contador has over 40 years’ experience in bankruptcy procedures, while bankruptcy specialists María José Contador and María Ignacia Contador provide additional partner-level support.

The eight-member team at full-service firm Philippi Prietocarrizosa Ferrero DU & Uría routinely leads bankruptcy law-related matters involving risk analysis, liquidation and reorganisation proceedings, cross-border insolvencies, and creditor defence work. In recent highlights, the group acted for creditors during LATAM Airlines’ reorganisation process; and advised AD Retail on its debt restructuring. The practice co-leads are Andrés Sanfuentes, who has longstanding experience in assisting both domestic and international companies with insolvency issues, in addition to M&A, financing and capital markets transactions; and Jorge Vial, whose track record includes major, cross-border insolvency matters, as well as reorganisations. Additional partner-level support is provided by Ignacio Larraín, an expert in litigation, arbitration, competition law and insolvency, while Guillermo Vial is the team’s senior associate to note.

Leveraging its expertise in complex financings, Prieto Abogados' ten-strong department garners respect for its expertise and capabilities in judicial debt procedures, ranging from collections to liquidations and reorganisations (including both national and international Chapter 11, multi-jurisdictional cases). Notable work includes advising Engie Energía Chile on the reorganisation procedure of Aceros Chile; and assisting Penta Vida Compañía de Seguros de Vida in relation to Lanz y Cía’s liquidation. The department is co-led by Benjamín Grebe, who in addition to spearheading the firm’s antitrust practice, is routinely involved in bankruptcy and insolvency work, liquidations and company reorganisations; and dispute resolution leader Alberto González V, whose experience includes bankruptcies and insolvency proceedings. An associate at the firm since 2018, Santiago Errázuriz is a also an integral member of the insolvency and restructuring team.

Following the dissolution of the former Bofill, Mir & Álvarez Jana (BMAJ) in early 2022, the practice at the recently launched firm Bofill Mir Abogados houses considerable experience in commercial restructurings, refinancings, and out-of-court agreements. The firm retains both founding partner Octavio Bofill and corporate specialist Rodrigo Saffirio, both of whom have established track records advising primarily on the creditor side in corporate reorganisation procedures. A case in point saw both involved in advising the Chilean creditors of Latam Airlines in US Chapter 11 proceedings. Other matters include advising Transoceánica as indirect owner of 50% of Central Hidroeléctrica Chanleufu which filed for bankruptcy in 2017. Senior associate Gonzalo Barceló also has bankruptcy and restructuring experience. Former partners and fellow BMAJ bankruptcy and insolvency practice co-heads, Alejandro Álvarez and Karen Werner are now at other recently established firms.

The seven-member team at Cariola Díez Pérez-Cotapos is regularly retained for complex liquidation and reorganisation proceedings; and clients benefit from the practice’s ability to combine its expertise in bankruptcy proceedings and financial restructuring, with the wider firm’s capabilities in tax, litigation, and white-collar crime. The insolvency department is co-led by Fernando Urrutia, whose litigation workload includes reorganisations and bankruptcy cases, and Raimundo Moreno, who frequently handles reorganisation and liquidation proceedings. Litigation and arbitration associate José Pedro Villablanca is also a key team member.

Guerrero Olivos‘ full-service team advises on the full gamut of bankruptcy, insolvency and reorganisation plans, including assisting corporate debtors and secured and unsecured creditors with both contentious and non-contentious bankruptcy-related matters. Jointly heading the department: Sergio Yávar has substantial experience in insolvency proceedings and restructurings; and Benjamín Ferrada focuses on disputes surrounding bankruptcy proceedings, and assisting creditors with reorganisations. At associate level, Juan Luis Vial is also experienced in reorganisation and insolvency work, while Pablo Rioseco focuses on judicial procedures.

Boutique firm Jana & Gil Dispute Resolution spun out of Bofill Mir & Álvarez Jana Abogados (BMAJ) in May 2022, retaining former bankruptcy and insolvency practice co-head Karen Werner, along with experienced senior associate Tomás Bown. The pair have an established track record working together on insolvency mandates with recent matters including advising Bureau Veritas on the bankruptcy process of Sadeven Ingeniería; Alexim and Bureau Veritas on the bankruptcy process of Compañía Minera Dayton; and Bice Vida subsidiary Desarollos Inmobiliarios y Constructora Valle Grande (IVG) in the liquidation process of Nova Terra. More generally, Werner’s experience includes acting for clients from the mining, infrastructure and energy industries (both as debtors and creditors) in bankruptcy and insolvency-related judicial proceedings. Former co-leaders of BMAJ’s bankruptcy and insolvency practice, Octavio Bofill and Alejandro Álvarez, have now both set up their own firms.