The sizeable infrastructure, project development and project finance practice at market stalwart Carey has extensive experience in the development, financing and execution of energy infrastructure projects (thermoelectric, hydroelectric, oil and gas, wind, photovoltaic and biomass). The firm’s heavyweight projects expertise also covers mining, roads, hospitals, telecoms networks, ports, airport infrastructure, concessions, and housing and hospitality services. The ‘deeply capable‘ practice fields several leaders, namely: Rafael Vergara, who routinely advises on major mining transactions in Chile; Oscar Aitken, who co-heads the firm’s construction and engineering group alongside real estate group head Juan Pablo Stitchkin; Juan Francisco Mackenna and José Miguel Bustamante, who both advise on a broad range of energy and infrastructure projects; water rights expert Alberto Cardemil, the co-head of the natural resources and environmental group; project development and finance specialist Felipe Moro; and Fernando Noriega, who focuses on project financing, banking law, lending, capital markets and foreign investment. Within the senior associate pool, Juan Pablo Vukasovic has notable projects experience, but former fellow senior Sophia Bobadilla left in February 2022.

The sizeable 27-strong project finance and project development practice at market mainstay Claro & Cia. has a strong track record in the financing, development, construction, operation, acquisition, ownership and sale of energy and infrastructure projects. Representative specialisms include power plants, transmission lines and substations, and greenfield and brownfield projects undertaken on a non-recourse project finance basis. The team is also highly involved in the accords required for the development of projects, including engineering, procurement and construction (EPC), and operation and maintenance (O&M), agreements, along with transmission, interconnection, supply and power purchase contracts. The team’s recent experience also covers project bond financings and infrastructure-related public concessions. The practice is led by projects and infrastructure specialist Rodrigo Ochagavía; Jorge Martín, who advises on international infrastructure and transportation projects; and José Luis Ambrosy, who regularly acts on renewable energy and gas terminals. Also highly regarded are cross-border finance transactions expert Luisa Núñez; Ariel Mihovilovic, an energy and project finance specialist; and cross-border expert José María Eyzaguirre F. Former associate Gerardo Otero left the firm in August 2021.

Larrain y Asociados Abogados‘ 15-lawyer team has particular expertise in advising on the development, financing, construction and operation of infrastructure projects (mining, energy, ports, railways, hospitals and roads), and has seen particular recent growth in the desalinisation and seawater conveyance projects segment. The practice is co-led by renowned project development, infrastructure and energy and natural resources lawyer Jorge Granic; and Arturo Bulnes, who focuses on public service concessions, particularly toll roads, regulated services and tender offers during infrastructure projects. Also integral to the group, Carlos Aravena acts in construction contract-related litigation and arbitration; the track records of both Cristóbal Morandé and Juan Carlos Bulnes include major projects' mandates; and of counsel Ricardo Peña‘s experience covers water and port concessions. Juan de Dios Ferrada (M&A and construction matters) and Joaquín Larrain (infrastructure and energy projects) were promoted to the partnership in January 2022. At senior associate level, Javiera Méndez is experienced in regulatory and administrative law, while Francisco Cerda (tender processes and infrastructure project negotiations), returned in July 2021 from Herbert Smith Freehills‘ New York office, where he was a foreign associate.

Morales & Besa‘s team has longstanding infrastructure and energy sector experience, its practice scope ranging from project development, acquisition and financing matters, to contractual, regulatory and litigation issues. In addition to acting for major energy and construction industry players, the multidisciplinary group routinely assists clients from the public works and sewage water sectors with obtaining project-related authorisations and permits. The practice is led by infrastructure and energy projects specialist Carlos Silva, while Macarena Laso heads the firm’s real estate and construction team. Partner-level growth in 2022 includes the return of Aldo Cardinali (project developments) as partner from Infante Valenzuela Molina Abogados, and the elevation of energy expert Juan Carlos Valdivieso. At senior associate level, Macarena López was recruited from Molina Ríos Abogados in July 2021, and focuses on projects, construction and engineering matters; and Katannya Jablonski is an energy and natural resources, regulated markets and concessions specialist. Senior James Channing left for Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP in the US in August 2021.

The 13-strong projects group at Philippi Prietocarrizosa Ferrero DU & Uría is particularly active in the renewable energy and mining sectors. Representative expertise includes transportation infrastructure (such as toll roads, ports, airports and railways), along with social infrastructure projects involving hospitals, jails and schools. Other notable areas range from public utilities infrastructure (telecoms and water and sewerage systems) to real estate developments (hotels, buildings and urban renovation). The principal figures are natural resources and energy projects specialist Carlos Alberto Reyes; Marcelo Armas, whose practice focuses on banking, finance and capital markets; Andrés Sanfuentes, an expert in banking, finance and infrastructure projects; and Marcela Silva, whose experience includes advising on the financing of mining, infrastructure and energy projects (hydroelectric, solar and wind), as well as desalination plants. The senior associates to note are corporate, asset and project financing expert Daniel Parodi; Guillermo Vial, a former international associate in Corrs Chambers Westgarth's construction group in Sydney; and Mario Fava, who routinely negotiates project contracts. Since publication, Armas has left the firm with effect from January 2023.

Barros & Errázuriz's sizeable practice consistently acts for developers, sponsors, constructors, operators, suppliers and financiers on the development and financing of large infrastructure and energy projects in Chile. Representative specialisms include complex tendering processes and public and private works (highways, prisons, seaports and land terminals, airports, parking areas and logistics centres), along with energy and transmission energy projects. The group is also routinely involved in large desalination projects. The practice is co-led by infrastructure and financing expert Nicolás Balmaceda, and Francisco De la Barra, who has an active project development and finance practice. The second line of practitioners includes energy generation and transmission project experts Fernando Garrido and Cristóbal Pellegrini, who was promoted to the partnership in March 2022 alongside María Olga Rivera, who advises on ports sector matters and cross-border project financings for infrastructure and energy projects. Senior associate Diego Ovalle 's broad practice also takes in projects work.

The 20-strong team at Cariola Díez Pérez-Cotapos‘ has a strong track record in greenfield energy, telecoms and mining projects, as well as being active in infrastructure and real estate matters. Being full-service, the practice’s infrastructure expertise includes planning, development and construction issues, as well as M&A and financing. The group is jointly led by seven partners: mining expert Carlos Pérez-Cotapos; managing partner Juan Pablo Matus, who advises on corporate matters, M&A and real estate law; Cristián Herrera whose broad practice includes infrastructure projects; natural resources and mining co-leader Gonzalo Grez; regulatory law head Gonzalo Jiménez; Rodrigo Sepúlveda, who acts on the financing of electricity distribution and generation projects; and commercial, corporate and real estate specialist Tomás Vidal (a partner since 2020). Associates Verónica Cuadra, Daniela Fierro  and Cristóbal Herrera are also key team members.

Recent activity for the 16-strong practice at full-service firm Guerrero Olivos focuses on project finance, infrastructure projects, power plants, and LNG regasification terminals. Representative expertise covers due diligence processes, credit agreements and special purpose vehicle incorporations. The practice also houses specialists in collateral packages, along with energy supply matters, and EPC, O&M, and build-operate-transfer (BOT) agreements. The practice is co-headed by Clemente Pérez, a specialist in renewable energy and infrastructure projects, public works concessions and regulatory law; energy projects specialist Sebastián Abogabir; Miguel Coddou, who acts for international lenders; mining and venture capital partner Pedro Lyon; and Benjamín Pérez, who is active in mining-related activities. Among the firm’s associates, senior Benjamín Novoa‘s practice includes project finance, while Francisca Pellegrini acts for energy developers and lenders. Raised to partner in February 2022, Felipe Frühling assists with project finance, developments and acquisitions.

The 21-strong practice at Prieto Abogados consistently advisers developers and owners on the development, financing and acquisition of large projects within the infrastructure and energy markets. Its expertise covers projects for toll roads, ports, water desalination plants and hospitals, along with pipelines, power plants, wind power and energy storage. The practice is jointly led by Juan Tagle  , who advises clients from the projects, infrastructure, energy and natural resources sectors; Mario Gorziglia  , whose broad practice includes project finance; and projects and infrastructure specialist Nicolás Yuraszeck  . Also key to the group, counsel Isabel Monge  assists with project financings, while associate Emilio Del Real  acts on construction projects, tender processes and project finance. Notable recruitment includes hiring Federico Rodríguez  (power generation and mining matters) as counsel in March 2021 from Baraona Marshall & Cía, but former senior associate Camila Kutz moved to Cuatrecasas in August 2021. Former practice co-head Claudio Undurraga passed away in July 2022.

CMS Carey & Allende fields experts in both the financial and legal-regulatory aspects of development projects. The 11-strong department’s specialisms include the feasibility and pre-contract management aspects of construction, operational and transfer issues; and in addition to major project financings, the team assists with power transmission, renewable energy, land easements, EPC contracts and water rights. The practice is led by Luis Felipe Arze, who is particularly active in non-conventional renewable energy (NCRE) projects, while Jorge Allende Z regularly advises on energy and mining projects. Also key to the group, Fernando De Cárcer assists with public and private tendering processes for infrastructure works; and senior associate Sebastián Barros is experienced in transactions, financings and project development.

Routinely acting for infrastructure and energy companies, financial institutions, institutional investors, sponsors and contractors, DLA Piper Chile‘s ‘specialist advisers' act across a range of domestic and cross-border projects and infrastructure matters. The eight-member group has particular experience in the development of power plants and energy projects, but is also active in energy transmission and distribution, infrastructure and real estate matters. The practice is co-led by project development, energy and natural resources specialist, Felipe Bahamondez, and real estate and taxation expert Rodrigo Álvarez. Strengthening the firm’s practice further, energy project expert Diego Peña was made partner in January 2022, while at senior associate level, Paulina Farías is active in energy, natural resources and regulatory matters.

Fleischmann & León Abogados is now known as Fleischmann & Román Abogados, following the recent departure of former founding partner Juan Ignacio León. The boutique law firm remains dedicated to construction, infrastructure, public works concessions, litigation, arbitration and dispute resolution; the team advises on both public and private law, and throughout all development stages, covering negotiations, bids, and final execution. The practice of name partner Hernán Fleischmann Chadwick predominantly focuses on both transactional and contentious infrastructure and construction work, in relation to mining, roads, airports, reservoirs, hospitals, energy, highways, tunnels, and real estate. Since publication, the team has been further strengthened with the hire of Orlando Palominos from Lembeye Abogados, as a partner – effective December 2022.

Garrigues Chile‘s 10-strong practice ranges from development and bidding matters, to financing, major project contracts and regulatory issues. It also advises on the acquisition of infrastructure assets. Heading the team, Pedro García is an expert in project finance, regulatory matters and bidding processes, while of counsel and public law department leader, Claudio Moraga, is on hand to assist with construction contracts, regulatory issues, project-related litigation and bidding work. Also integral to the practice is renewable energy project finance specialist Antonio Morales, who was made partner in 2021. Former senior associates Federico Espinosa and Francisca Ferrer both recently left the firm to join Cuatrecasas and Prime Energía, respectively.

Riquelme, Silva & Fuentes was launched in April 2021 by three former Reymond & Cía partners, Rodrigo Riquelme, Camilo Silva and Diego Fuentes. It has experience in public contracts, particularly projects involving the construction of public works and public work concessions. It is also highly focused on advising clients on their relations with the State of Chile, and has a robust disputes practice. Heading the ‘highly specialised' team, Riquelme specialises in infrastructure and construction, and private and public concessions; he also frequently acts in complex disputes involving infrastructure and large-scale construction and engineering projects. Riquelme is supported by fellow founding partners Silva (engineering, construction and service contracts), and construction law and disputes specialist Fuentes.

Emerging from the dissolution of Bofill, Mir & Álvarez Jana (BMAJ) in March 2022, Bofill Mir Abogados fields a projects team that features name partners Octavio Bofill (infrastructure project financing and contractual aspects) and Pablo Mir (international projects covering Latin America’ Southern Cone, Canada, Australia, China and South Korea). Rodrigo Saffirio advises lenders on transport infrastructure, energy and mining-related financings; and Ana María Yuri assists both real estate investment groups and energy sector debtors.

Ontier Chile (the Santiago branch of the London-headquartered international firm) houses an infrastructure and projects department that is led by Juan Ignacio León Lira , a former founding partner of Fleischmann & León Abogados, who has vast experience in infrastructure matters in the private and public sectors. León’s advice covers bidding processes, negotiations, financings, audits and related claims, while his track record includes advising on public concessions such as airports, highways, penitentiary infrastructure, desalination plants, and projects involving the mining and energy sectors. Recent highlights include advising Aguas de Antofagasta on the construction of a desalination plant.

Urenda, Rencoret, Orrego y Dörr's projects group advises both foreign and domestic clients on developing and financing projects involving power generation (particularly NCRE), mining, infrastructure and real estate. Its advice extends to bidding processes, corporate structures, tax regimes and labour issues, along with environmental impact matters, financing, disputes and obtaining permits. The practice is co-led by industrial, infrastructure, mining and energy project specialist Sergio Orrego; and Gonzalo Errázuriz, who is also an experienced projects partner. Also key to the team are environmental law expert Ignacio Urrutia, and Felipe Rencoret, who acts on both infrastructure and projects matters.

The former Urzúa Matute is now known as Urzúa Abogados, following the exit of former name partner Claudio Matute in January 2022 for IMAD Abogados. The remaining eight-strong practice is closely focused on projects and construction-and-engineering law, including related claims, ADR, arbitration and litigation (and in particular construction disputes). It is particularly active in projects involving aquaculture, energy transmission and generation (including water, solar and wind), aquaculture and mining. It’s involvement in the latter segment looks set to increase with the August-2022 hire of former BHP legal manager, Daniel Weinstein, to further develop the firm’s mining-sector engagement. Name partner Cristian Urzua, a projects, engineering, and construction expert, handles construction disputes, litigation and arbitration, throughout the development, construction and operational phases of projects’ lifecycles.