Chile > Insurance > Law firm and leading lawyer rankings

Acting for high-profile global insurers, Lloyd’s syndicates and insurance brokers, boutique specialists Acuña, Hoetz & Cifuentes is particularly focused on high-value loss claims both during the adjustment and settlement stages, as well as in subsequent judicial proceedings, arbitrations and complex subrogation actions. The team acted for AIG Chile in an arbitration initiated by Gasandes concerning losses suffered by its 463km-long trans-Andean gas pipeline. It also advised two insurers on recovery actions against urban highway concessionaire Costanera Norte, its contractor Sacyr, and the Chilean Ministry of Public Works, regarding losses (affecting dozens of office and residential buildings in Santiago) caused by flooding following the diversion of the Mapocho River during construction works. Senior partner Alejandro Acuña has advised on the most significant losses to have occurred in Chile over the last 30 years; Felipe Hoetz and Luis Cifuentes are also highly rated; and Pia Parmar is a key associate.

Carey’s practice covers regulatory advice (including the incorporation and registration of insurance, reinsurance and broker companies), complex dispute resolution and loss adjustment procedures. In addition, the team assists regulated entities with their relations with the insurance regulator; advises on corporate governance and significant bet-the-company litigation; and acts for lenders and borrowers in the structuring of their project finance insurance and reinsurance packages. Recent highlights include advising Parque Arauco on the insurance programme review of its assets in Chile, Peru and Colombia; and assisting Scotiabank with the insurance aspects of its formal offer to acquire Spanish bank BBVA, along with its related local life insurance company and insurance brokerage entity. The team also advised Integro Insurance Brokers on the renewal of its professional indemnity policy; and assisted Starbucks Coffee Chile with the loss-adjustment process surrounding a major damages and business interruption claim caused by flooding in Santiago. Marcos Ríos, Pablo Iacobelli and Matías Vergara are the key advisers.

Estudio Carvallo is highly rated for its assistance with insurance policies and reinsurance contracts. Other areas of particular strength include policy coverage, bids and insurance products. The practice also assists insurers with claims brought by insured parties and advises on fraud-related matters and subrogation cases. Manuel Carvallo led advice to HDI Garantia y Credito on the handling of a warranty-policy loss matter involving the construction of a business centre in Santiago. The team also advised Sky Airline on contractual and travel insurance matters; acted for governmental body Agencia Chilena de Eficiencia Energética in relation to the validation of the use of insurance policies as collateral and securities for the purpose of bids; and provided a client with legal representation before Chilean Insurance regulator, SVS. Francisca Román is also a key contact. Other active clients include CGE, Liberty Insurance, HDI and Mapfre.

Acting for insurers and reinsurers, the team at DAC Beachcroft Chile ‘provides exemplary service levels’ and has a particular focus on complex and high-value claims. It acted as loss controller, on behalf of QBE European, in issues involving coverage, exposure to liability and quantum, further to a large fire that took place in central Chile. The practice also advised Hannover Re, one of the largest reinsurance groups in the world, on the insured’s exposure to a product liability-related incident that produced a walnut harvest failure; the work included taking control of the adjustment and conduct investigations. Regional head of the firm’s Latin American practice, Andrés Amunátegui, who ‘stands out for his attention to detail and ability to deal with complex claims’ has advised both the local and the international market on casualty and liability claims, loss adjustment issues, recovery actions and defences; Guillermo Amunátegui is experienced in advising clients on insurance-regulatory issues. The key associates are Diego Illanes and Nicolas Le Blanc, who is ‘very able, has in-depth knowledge of the London Market requirements and identifies clear pathways through tricky negotiations’. Javier Moya leads the litigation and arbitration team and the practice was further strengthened with the recent hire of former Mapfre Chile Seguros general counsel, Edmundo Agramunt.

Part of the wider Kennedys network which has truly established its Latin America-presence over the last five years, Kennedys Chile Abogados provides specialist advice to international and domestic insurers on all aspects of insurance law and litigation, including the defence of claims, policy wordings, coverage advice, and corporate insurance; the team is particularly noted for mining, energy and finance-sector insurance matters. Mario Diemoz is team head; Radoslav Depolo is also highly regarded; and Gian Carlo Lorenzini is an insurance litigator. Jaime Parra and Daniel Silva are notable associates.

Prieto’s client base includes insurance companies, reinsurance companies and insurance brokers. The practice advises on all aspects of the sector, from policy matters to the acquisition of significant insurance companies in Chile; and on the insurance-litigation side, the practice acts in claims and insurance recoveries involving various risks, such as fire, earthquake, business interruption and loans. The team acts for Assurant Chile Compañía de Seguros Generales on an ongoing basis, including drafting insurance policies and dealing with information filed with the regulator. Recent matters saw the practice advise Colmena Compañía de Seguros de Vida on compliance matters, insurance product distribution, the review and adjustment of its contracts, and claims. The team is led by the well regarded Jaime Ríos and senior figure Patricio Prieto L.

Highly regarded for its insurance and reinsurance advice, Ríos Tagle Alessandri & Romero acts for significant insurance companies, brokers and adjusters, established both in Chile and abroad. The practice’s scope of work includes regulatory issues, the registration of policies, transport insurance, civil liability and damages insurance, and life insurance. Key figures Roberto Ríos Ossa and Sebastián Alessandri Balbontín, along with Alonso García and Stefanie Ramdohr are all highly rated.

Barros & Errázuriz’s practice includes assisting with the incorporation of insurance companies in Chile; advising on the interests of shareholders of local insurance companies; and acting for foreign reinsurers before the local regulatory authority. The firm also has a robust insurance litigation practice. Recent matters saw the team advise MassMutual International, which (through its subsidiaries) provides insurance and other financial services to customers primarily in Asia, on the sale of its share participation in Chilean life insurance company Compañía de Seguros CorpVida. Carlos Ducci and Javier Díaz are the key practitioners.

Cariola Díez Pérez-Cotapos is well known for advising large industrial and commercial clients on its claims against insurance companies, regarding construction and mining project-related insurance policies. The team also assists with the review of insurance policies; negotiations with insurance companies; and the regulatory requirements applicable to insurance and reinsurance brokers. Standing mandates include ongoing assistance to Ripley Corp regarding insurance matters; Maersk Chile, Sandvik Chile and Guy Carpenter & Company Corredores de Reaseguros are also clients. Florencio Bernales and Raimundo Moreno are the principal advisers.

Grasty Quintana Majlis & Cia. assists with developing novel policies for individuals and companies; and the practice also advises companies on diverse regulatory matters before the SVS as well as the structuring of complex transactions. In addition, it acts for insurance companies in liability claims against insured and third parties. The team recently assisted Chilean insurance company Compañia de Seguros Orion with recovery actions originating from air, land and maritime transportation. Eduardo Marchi is an experienced insurance litigator and Jorge Meneses is also highly regarded.

Molina Ríos Abogados is highly regarded for insurance claims involving domestic and international credit risk, civil liability and warranty issues. The team also assists with construction-related insurance matters, and fire and earthquake risk. Carlos Molina is noted for complex insurance litigation.

Vergara, Fernández, Costa & Claro’s multidisciplinary team has expertise in the management of insurance claims and the provision of advice to policyholders. Recent highlights include acting for a large construction company on two major losses resulting from floods. Gloria Claro and Sergio Fernández are experienced practitioners.