The Legal 500 > Latin America > Chile > Public law

The eight-member public law department at full-service firm Carey covers the spectrum of administrative law, constitutional law, regulated markets and contentious-administrative dispute resolution. The practice group is highly rated for its prowess in litigation, constitutional rights, public procurement and public concessions, sanctioning procedures and regulatory compliance. It also serves as a strong back-up to the firm's practices in energy, environmental law, telecoms, life sciences, construction and infrastructure, as well as antitrust, mining, IT and IP. Ignacio Gillmore has vast experience in administrative contracts, litigation and public tenders; Gonzalo Fernández heads the litigation group; and Juan Carlos Riesco who made partner back in 2018, belongs to both the litigation and public law groups. At associate level, Camilo Lledó assists with public contracts and concessions, litigation and regulatory issues. Former associate Constanza Hube left to become director of the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile's Foro Constitucional.

Fermandois & Cía has a longstanding reputation in the market for administrative and constitutional disputes before Chile's Supreme and Constitutional Courts, government agencies and special, administrative and arbitral courts. The practice also assists with ongoing advisory issues and fields highly regarded experts in regulatory matters. Founding partner and former Chilean Ambassador to the US, Arturo Fermandois, specialises in public law, regulated sectors and dispute resolution; and Domingo Poblete (a partner since 2013) is also a highly-rated public law expert. Growth in the practice included the 2018 recruitment of partner and public law specialist José Manuel Díaz de Valdés (previously an independent advisor and consultant in public law matters).

Advising clients from both the public and private sector, FerradaNehme's eight-strong department integrates the firm's expertise in administrative law, economic regulation and litigation (before public agencies, the General Comptroller Office and High Courts of Justice). The scope of the practice includes assistance with environmental matters, urban planning, financial markets and public policy issues, among other areas. The public law and government practice is co-led by Luis Cordero and Josefina Court. Cordero advises private entities on matters involving regulated industries as well as dealings with authorities; he also assists governmental agencies with preparing new laws and implementing government policies and institutions. Court's experience includes previously serving in the Legislative Office of the Presidency of Chile under different administrations. Key support is provided by practice director José Tomás Correa.

The seven-strong group at Barros & Errázuriz acts on a wide range of public matters, with a particular focus on constitutional and administrative law and economic regulation matters (public procurement and administrative contracts). It's partners also have expertise in administrative sanctioning procedures, marine concessions and government real estate. In addition, the firm has extensive experience in contentious work involving government agencies. The team is led by name partner and arbitration expert José Tomás Errázuriz, and includes David Cademártori, who is highly rated for matters involving the water and wastewater services, gas, energy and telecoms sectors. Litigation and arbitration specialist Andrea Batarce , who focuses on engineering and construction matters, provides support at senior associate level.

Bofill, Mir & Álvarez Jana's six-strong public law practice is well known for regulatory and constitutional matters across a range of sectors, including energy, telecoms, land development, public transport, water, environment, healthcare, gaming and advertising. In addition, the practice assists with judicial reviews, litigation before the constitutional courts, public procurement, and devising strategies to prevent legal infringements. Guillermo de la Jara co-heads the public law practice (as well as the TMT group), and his broad practice includes regulated markets, administrative litigation and public procurement. Strong support is provided by senior associates Cristián Franetovic, Jorge Barrera and Daniela Severín.

Guerrero Olivos fields nine practitioners who handle day-to-day public law matters, judicial reviews, advice involving public and regulatory bodies, regulatory compliance and public bids; the team is also noted for its assistance with permits, environmental issues, public law litigation, and public procurement. Areas of recent growth include assisting international technology and services platforms that seek advice on local public law regulation. Eduardo Cordero and José Gabriel Undurraga are the public law and regulated markets group's key partners, with support provided by experienced partner Martín Santa María (who specialises in environmental law, real estate and urban planning), and associate Roberto Burgos.

Philippi Prietocarrizosa Ferrero DU & Uría's public law department fields a group of 10 lawyers who are particularly experienced in the resolution of contentious administrative disputes. The practice has experienced growth in relation to public procurement, compliance programmes, contract revision with State Administration members, and real estate companies seeking advice on land use restrictions. With over 15 years of experience, José Luis Lara is an administrative law, public procurement and constitutional law specialist; while senior counsel Guillermo Zavala is focused on public procurement, municipal law, state contracts, customs and ports. Further support comes from associates Diego Miranda and Florencia Portales.

Prieto Abogados' eight-member team is experienced in public law-related dispute resolution, sanctioning proceedings, reviewing the regulatory aspects of transactions, and relations with authorities, among others. The team's key figures are litigation and arbitration head Fernando Samaniego, who also heads the real estate team, and experienced partner Benjamín Grebe. Further associate-level support is provided by litigator Juan Pablo Riesco and environmental team head Agustín Martorell.

Allende Bascuñán & Cía has significant sector expertise in administrative law matters, notably in relation to mining, agriculture and food production, electrical transmission, and water and sewerage, among other sectors. Representative work includes administrative law-related contracts, disputes and permits. Co-founder of the firm, Mauricio Viñuela heads the six-strong administrative and regulatory law department; while at associate level, contentious public law support is provided by José Alberto Allende. In addition, the hire of Pablo Tejada from the Environmental Superintendency in January 2019, strengthening both the public law and regulatory practices.

Cariola Díez Pérez-Cotapos' public law expertise traditionally focused on heavily regulated industries, such as gas distribution, energy generation, transmission and distribution, the water industry and telecoms. Of late, the practice has expanded to cover administrative procedure-related constitutional actions involving securities and food and beverage regulations, as well as education. The five-strong regulatory law department, which includes members of the environmental, energy, utilities and administrative law practices, is led by Gonzalo Jiménez. However, experienced counsel Carolina Helfmann  (constitutional, environmental and regulatory law), left the firm in December 2019.

The six-strong team at DLA Piper Chile has broad public law experience, including administrative procedures before different authorities and agencies, industry-related regulatory reports, bidding processes launched by public entities, applications for public concessions, and litigation. It also has notable sector expertise in relation to food and beverage, technology, public infrastructure, construction, pharmaceuticals and energy, among others. Regulated markets and administrative law expert Felipe Bahamondez heads the team, which includes litigation counsel Ricardo López and senior associate Paulina Farías.

Boutique law firm Fleischmann & León Abogados' public law practice is well known for its assistance with public contracts, particularly in relation to the construction of public works (penitentiaries, hospitals, airports and highways), as well as concessions. Experienced name partner Hernán Fleischmann Chadwick specialises in both non-contentious and contentious public law matters. Name partner Juan Ignacio León Lira and associate Cristián Repetti Aravena are also key members of the six-strong team.

Reymond & Cia.'s 10-strong team regularly participates in highly complex negotiations and disputes that involve differing entities of the Chilean State, including contract execution and litigation. Typical areas include public works concessions, construction, public and private infrastructure, energy, public health services, real estate, and project development and financing. Rodrigo Riquelme Yáñez specialises in litigation and arbitration in relation to infrastructure, construction and concessions.