There is no doubt that Chile has been enduring a sobering year. From the devastating wildfires that left thousands homeless, to increasing crime levels (an unwelcome novelty in the country) and the tragic death of former President Sebastian Pinera, the Republic has had to come to terms with difficulties on all fronts – social, economic and political. Nevertheless, there are hopes -and indeed, perhaps signs- that the country can leave behind what has been called “the lost decade” (2014-24). From necessity or otherwise, the Boric administration has proved somewhat more pragmatic than many of its regional counterparts, and with the launch of a lithium strategy in 2023, investor-state relations have improved – at least in the critical mining sector. The agribusiness sector too, has performed strongly and as politics largely takes a backseat (with the exception of municipal elections in October) there is cautious optimism as regards levels of M&A activity. Ongoing foreign investment by those more attuned to long-term stability issues (particularly from Europe), has also helped buoy confidence, driving the demand for legal services on various fronts – particularly as regards projects and their associated financing and environmental aspects.

In this tentatively optimistic scenario, we are delighted to announce the second edition of The Legal 500’s Chile Awards, recognising the leading legal players from both private practice and the in-house sector; particularly those whose work has ensured the continued vibrance of Chile’s highly competitive legal market.

These awards are based on The Legal 500’s market-leading independent research for our annual directory. Winners are selected by a judging team spearheaded by The Legal 500 Latin America editor Tim Girven and head of in-house research Joe Boswell, along with over 20 in-house and freelance researchers who have in-depth knowledge of their practice areas; this is the same team that is responsible for the annual production of the authoritative The Legal 500 Latin America guide, and employing the same evidence base. Some practice areas have stand-alone awards and others are thematic groupings of directory practice areas.