Rodrigo, Elías & Medrano Abogados offers clients ‘excellent industry knowledge and contacts’ and ‘always delivers a high-quality product on time’. It is the pre-eminent practice for corporate instructions in the mining industry, handling M&A, privatisations and financing work, along with administrative proceedings, construction and operational matters, and environmental issues. Practice head Luis Carlos Rodrigo Prado is one of the best-known lawyers in the mining industry; he sits on the board of various major mining companies and is recommended for corporate and financing work. Oscar Benavides advises on the structuring and negotiation of exploration, development and exploitation contracts, and delivers work that is ‘way above and beyond any expectations’. Francisco Barrios and Francisco Tong are also key practitioners, alongside Claudio Ferrero, who is a name to note for corporate, contractual and general mining matters. At associate level, Diego Pachas is recommended for regulatory issues, while Karen Flores joined as associate from an in-house role at the Peruvian environment agency Organismo de Evaluación y Fiscalización Ambiental (OEFA).

CMS Grau has a broad mining practice which encompasses expertise in M&A, project development, contentious issues and divestments, and is very much the "go-to" practice for property-rights issues in the mining sector. Moreover, as an international firm, it is well placed to handle domestic, regional and international mandates by virtue of its global network and unsuprisingly acts for a strong roster of high-profile local and global clients. Cecilia Gonzáles heads the team and has noteworthy corporate and regulatory expertise in the natural resources and the extractive industries; she also handles tax and project planning matters. Liliana Pautrat handles the exploration, exploitation, processing and transportation aspects of mining activities, and has previously held the position of president of the Mining Council of the Ministry of Energy and Mines. A second line of younger partners includes Marité Aragaki, who is the name to note for regulatory matters, and procurement and construction for the extractive industries; and Raúl Ferreyra, another key practitioner, who brings his experience as in-house counsel for a large international mining company to the team.

Hernández & Cía provides ‘excellent customer service, empathy and honesty’ to a high-profile domestic and international clientele that incudes the likes of Gold Fields, Rio Tinto, Mitsui Mining and Hudbay Perú. With a strong track record in mining industry-related M&A, the practice also handles financing, permitting, compliance, tax and litigation matters.  It is co-led by  an experienced trio of partners comprising Luis Rodríguez-Mariátegui, Luis Felipe Huertas del Pino and Miyanou Dufour. Rodríguez-Mariátegui has considerable experience in mining arbitration, and also handles environmental and corporate mandates; Huertas del Pino handles regulatory and development matters; and Dufour is the name to note for regulatory matters. Key support is provided by senior associate Juan Pablo Macassi , who focuses on administrative, mining and environmental law.

Miranda & Amado’s mining team is ‘attentive to details, has very good English language skills, and is practical and good at explaining complex legal issues’. Sitting within the firm’s wider projects practice, the team advises clients on land management issues, environmental matters, community relations, water rights and zoning issues, as well high-profile M&A and financing work. Head of practice Alberto Delgado has over 24 years’ experience in mining law and is well versed in corporate and commercial matters. Fellow partner Guillermo Bracamonte is a key practitioner who has considerable experience in high-profile mining transactions and environmental and regulatory proceedings. At associate level, Cynthia Rebaza handles investment advisory for both local and foreign companies regarding Peruvian mining projects. However, former associate David Baracco moved to Rebaza, Alcázar & De Las Casas in April 2022.

Rubio Leguía Normand is ‘very strong and diversified in the mining sector’ and offers ‘considerable experience in helping international exploration companies navigate the legal system’; indeed, the team handles the full life cycle of mining projects, from prospecting to development and operation, and has particular experience in permitting, environmental, financing and corporate matters. The group is led by a strong, senior team consisting of mining specialist Xennia Forno who brings over 40 years’ experience and a focus on planning and procurement to the practice; Diego Grisolle, who handles regulatory and commercial matters in relation to all the extractive industries, and Emil Ruppert, who is less active on current matters but equally experienced. Key younger practitioners include Miguel Angel Soto, who was promoted to partner in December 2021 and is recommended for acquisitions and divestments, and compliance and regulatory matters. Senior associate Nancy Ogata is also deeply experienced in international transactional matters in the sector.

Payet, Rey, Cauvi, Pérez Abogados frequently advises on financing for mining projects, counselling both the recipient mining companies and the lending financial institutions. Lead partner José Cúneo recently led the team advising the underwriters on Minsur’s issuance of notes worth $5oom and financing worth $300m; and also assisted multiple banks with guarantee letters for Compañía de Minas Buenaventura. Beyond financial matters, the practice handles all legal aspects relevant for mining activities, including titling and real estate, environmental and social aspects, regulatory compliance, project development and construction, and tax and labour issues. Other matters saw counsel Angel Chavez assist the team that undertook the purchase of the Lagunas Norte gold mine by Boroo Pte, involving a corporate reorganisation of the target company.

Philippi Prietocarrizosa Ferrero DU & Uria's mining practice gained two new Canadian clients in 2021, advising Tier One Silver on its acquisition of silver project Hurricane East and Sombrero Resources on its acquisition of copper and nickel project Hurricane West. Both acquisitions involved cross-border advice on tax efficiencies and were led by practice head Rafael Lengua, aided by associate Sergio Cueva. The firm also counts BHP Billiton World Exploration (Peru branch) as a longstanding client, acting for it on two project dispositions, as well as advising on land purchases and providing regulatory counsel. Additional areas of experience include contract negotiations - such as advising Compañía Minera Miski Mayo on its natural gas agreements; and the defence of rights - such as the team's successful action on behalf of Winshear del Peru, overturning an arbitrary decision by the registrar of Arequipa not to register an NSR royalty; senior associate Romina Stucchi and associate Mitzy Longa assisted on these cases, respectively. Former senior associate Roberto Velarde moved in house at Nexa Resources in January 2022. However, since research concluded, the natural resources practice as a whole has been substantially boosted with the hire of water law specialist Julián Li and his team (principal associate Luis Aliaga, senior associate Sandra Bravo, and junior Gabriela Puccio) from the former Li & Pazos Abogados, substantially broadening the practice group’s depth and scope (effective as of August 2022).

GSA  is adept at handling the negotiations for financing and acquisitions for mining companies as well as exploration and exploitation contracts, with recent matters including advice to longstanding clients Southern Peaks Mining on obtaining a multimillion-dollar loan and Compañía Minera Condestable on the ongoing discussions for a potential acquisition. The firm also gained San Juan Gold Mines as a new client, with which it is working on a lease agreement and a reorganisation procedure. Edgardo Portaro led on all recent work (frequently acting in conjunction with the firm’s corporate and tax teams), and leads the practice alongside Jose Miguel Morales. Senior associate María Soledad Gastañeta specialises in mining and energy contracts. The practice group also handles day-to-day advice on the commercial, contractual and regulatory aspects of mining activity, and undertakes advisory regarding issues related to indigenous and other communities.

At Muñiz, Olaya, Meléndez, Castro, Ono & Herrera Abogados, practice head Daniel Palomino leads advice to mining companies -such as Dynacor Gold Mines and Fresnillo- on obtaining permits, property rights and exploration authorisations, as well as defending these rights against illegal extractive activity. The team provides regulatory advice on environmental and health and safety legislation, and represents clients in disputes - such as a recent tax dispute for Dynacor and an administrative sanctioning procedure for Fresnillo. Another area of experience is due diligence on Peruvian mining projects for international clients, such as Chinese insurance client SINOSURE and UAE mining company Fura Gems. Key senior associate, Tony Bustamante - a former in-house lawyer at both Gold Fields La Cima and the Peruvian Environmental Protection Agency - has 'vast knowledge in mining issues'  and leads on matters related to environmental mining sanctioning procedures.