Cuatrecasas > Santiago, Chile > Firm Profile

Cuatrecasas > The Legal 500 Rankings

Chile > Corporate and M&A Tier 2

Establishing its corporate and M&A practice in Chile in 2021, Iberian firm Cuatrecasas‘ Santiago office houses a 20-strong group that has extensive experience in advising national and international clients on their corporate transactions both domestically and abroad; its representative work includes M&A, asset and business transfers, joint ventures, distressed deals, commercial agreements and corporate restructuring. The corporate and M&A, banking and finance and capital markets groups are coordinated by former head of Guerrero Olivos‘ corporate practice and well-known market figure, Roberto Guerrero, who focuses on M&A, corporate governance and corporate restructuring. He is flanked by fellow M&A specialists Macarena Ravinet (who also handles corporate restructuring, corporate governance, private equity and all types of financings) Josefina Yávar (who has a particular focus on venture capital and energy M&A transactions) and Tomás Kubick (joint ventures, private biddings and merger control proceedings); along with infrastructure-focused, M&A and corporate restructuring expert Alfonso Ugarte, formerly at the now defunct Baraona Fischer Spiess, who also arrived in January 2021. Additional growth includes the relocation of capital markets and M&A transactions partner, Gerard Correig, from the firm’s Barcelona office to Santiago, while a strong second tier is led by principal associates Fernanda Anguita Roll and Franco Dalmazzo (who also heads up the offices German desk); however, Manuel Francisco Guerrero moved to Becker Glynn as a foreign associate in July 2022, and Ugarte has relocated to the firm’s New York office, effective as of September 2022. Since publication, the office has further strengthened its offering with the hire of energy (particularly electricity) and infrastructure specialist Sebastian Leyton -formerly at the Superintendencia de Electricidad y Combustibles- as a partner, effective February 2023.

Chile > Banking and finance Tier 3

Having opened its Chilean office in 2020, international law firm Cuatrecasas launched a Santiago-based banking and finance practice in early 2021, recruiting project finance and capital markets specialist Macarena Ravinet and banking and finance expert Roberto Guerrero V from Guerrero Olivos. The deeply experienced Guerrero’s recent highlights include advising CAP on a $152m credit facility for its subsidiary Cleanairtech (Aguas CAP). The team is highly active in structuring the full range of financing operations, particularly restructurings, refinancing and project finance, as well as handling banking regulatory issues. The partner level bench was given additional depth with the hire of Alfonso Ugarte; previously at the former Baraona Fischer Spiess, he advises both creditors and debtors on structured financing transactions, bankruptcy restructuring and reorganisation, and on distressed financing. Since research concluded, Ugarte has relocated to the firm's New York office - effective as of September 2022.

Chile > Dispute resolution: arbitration Tier 3

Established in Chile since April 2020, Cuatrecasas' 'arbitration practice is top notch, with a tremendous team of market leaders'. The group specialises in international disputes involving building and engineering contracts, energy agreements, international investment protection, and international sales and supplies. Other areas of expertise include claims involving service contracts, M&A, joint ventures, commercial distribution, and shareholder and company disputes. The team is led by commercial and investment arbitration specialist Cristián Conejero, a former ICC Secretariat Counsel for Latin America, whose 'seniority when handling cases is clear'. He is flanked by Gianfranco Lotito, a domestic and international arbitration expert of increasing stature; and 'tremendous lawyer' Juan Manuel Rey (promoted to the partnership in April 2022), who routinely acts in disputes concerning construction and infrastructure contracts, concession agreements, share contracts, and power purchase agreements.

Chile > Dispute resolution: litigation Tier 3

Established in Chile since 2020, Iberian law firm Cuatrecasas‘ litigation and arbitration practice comprises former Philippi Prietocarrizosa Ferrero DU & Uría practitioners Cristián Conejero Roos, a litigation, international arbitration and ADR expert; and national and international court and arbitration proceedings specialist, Gianfranco Lotito. Arguably better known for their arbitral specialisation, the pair are nevertheless well-versed in litigious proceedings, their expertise encompassing contentious civil, commercial, constitutional and administrative issues. Recent work ranges from banking and finance litigation, securities, and regulatory investigations, to trade mark infringements, administrative proceedings, and insurance law and consumer law mediation proceedings for clients from across the  banking, finance and insurance sector, pension funds, transport entities, and infrastructure, energy and industrial companies. Primary support comes from principal associate Andrés Lafuente who frequently acts in contentious insolvency proceedings.

Chile > Venture capital Tier 4

International law firm Cuatrecasas launched its Santiago office in January 2021, recruiting Guerrero Olivos‘ former partner Josefina Yávar  to lead its venture capital practice. Yávar routinely acts for VC investors, start-ups, corporate funds and incubators on structuring funds and investment vehicles, including corporate venture funds. The wider group’s expertise includes acting for entrepreneurs on financing rounds, stock option plans, and internationalisation and exit processes. The practice is also experienced in matching regulatory and tax requirements with investment strategies. Fellow partner and M&A specialist Alfonso Ugarte , who advises both investors and entrepreneurs on public and private transactions, relocated to the firm’s New York office in September 2022.

Chile > Tax

Energy and natural resources > Electricity and hydrocarbon

Latin America: International firms > Banking and finance

Cuatrecasas has continued to develop its pipeline of banking and finance engagements through its increasingly strong offices in Mexico, Peru, Colombia and Chile. The combined team has solid connections to a range of financial institutions, funds and corporate borrowers. The group has landed a series of impressive refinancings and debt restructurings, along with acquisition, project and real estate finance mandates. It is also making an impression in the non-performing loans (NPLs) transactional space. Lima partner Aldo Reggiardo is co-head of the Latin America finance practice and a notable figure in project financings in the energy, infrastructure and mining sectors. Bogota’s Manuel Quinche is another senior name in structured finance and project finance. Previously based in Santiago, Alfonso Ugarte -who focuses on structured finance, bankruptcy restructuring and reorganisations, and distressed financings- relocated to the New York office in September 2022.

Latin America: International firms > Corporate and M&A

Cuatrecasas‘ longstanding commitment to Latin America – which includes offices in Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru – has enabled it to develop considerable deal experience and an impressive client list. The Spain-headquartered firm has continued to expand its ranks in Colombia, Chile and Peru with a number of hires at senior levels, most recently the July-2022 hire of corporate transactional, capital markets and private equity partner Diego Carrión   in the Lima office. The practice represents both multinationals and Latin American businesses, along with a number of private equity houses and other financial sponsors, in primarily large-scale and mid-market transactions. The team is particularly known for energy and infrastructure transactions, along with deals in the healthcare and retail sectors. Key partners include Chile’s Roberto Guerrero , Colombia’s Alfonso Reina  and Peru partner Óscar Trelles . The regional practice is anchored from the firm’s New York office by Antonio Baena , who has developed strong connections to multinationals and investors with interests in Latin America and Spain; corporate M&A specialist Diego Pérez-Yarza who arrived from Madrid back in 2019; and -since September 2022- by banking and corporate practitioner Alfonso Ugarte , hitherto in the firm’s Santiago de Chile office. Spanish associate Ignacio Inigo  has also relocated to New York to reinforce the team’s bankruptcy and restructuring capabilities.

Latin America: International firms > International arbitration

The Cuatrecasas Latin America international arbitration practice has benefitted from the Iberian firm’s investment in its Latin America network, with new office openings in Colombia and Chile in 2020 adding to the firm’s existing presence in Mexico and Peru. The practice handles commercial and investment arbitrations and has focused primarily on disputes in the infrastructure and energy sectors, which account for the bulk of the the portfolio. Peru has been a particularly busy jurisdiction, with the team advising on various Peruvian construction and transport disputes. Santiago-based Cristián Conejero, a specialist in international arbitration, litigation and alternative dispute resolution, co-leads the practice with Madrid-based Alfonso Iglesia, a 25-year veteran of both local and international arbitration. Fellow specialist Alberto Fortún (also in Madrid), and Mexican law expert René Irra in Mexico City are additional key names. Lima-based partner Domingo Rivarola, who specialises in commercial dispute resolution; and Madrid-based Manuel Franco, who was raised to the partnership in April 2021, round out the senior team, which was further strengthened with the hire of partner Alberto Zuleta from Holland & Knight in November 2021.