Cuatrecasas > Santiago, Chile > Firm Profile

Cuatrecasas > The Legal 500 Rankings

Chile > Corporate and M&A Tier 2

Cuatrecasas‘ 18-strong corporate practice advises on a range of high-end transactions, such as M&A (including distressed matters), joint ventures, commercial agreements, licensing, corporate restructuring, and asset and business transfers. The group’s coverage encompasses due diligence procedures, as well as contract drafting and negotiation. It additionally specialises in private equity and venture capital investments. Recent highlights for the Iberian firm’s Chilean office include deals in the energy, investment, automotive, banking, forestry and mining sectors. The corporate and M&A team is led by Roberto Guerrero V, who also coordinates the capital markets and banking and finance practices in Santiago, and whose track record includes tranactions in the commerce, energy, finance, fishing, infrastructure, mining, telecoms, and the food and beverage sectors. The practice further includes M&A specialist Michel Diban, a December 2023 recruit from Morales & Besa, where he was corporate and M&A co-head; national and international M&A expert Macarena Ravinet, whose practice has particular emphasis on the telecoms, food and retail industries; Tomás Kubick, an adviser on the purchase and sale of assets, joint ventures, shareholder agreements and legal structures; and Josefina Yávar, who focuses on domestic and international M&A, venture capital, corporate governance and private equity. The local practice group also works in conjunction with its Bogotá, Lima and Mexico City outposts on a frequent basis, along with the Madrid and New York offices; currently based at the latter, corporate/M&A specialist and Chilean national Alfonso Ugarte frequently works with Santiago-headquartered infrastructure investment fund manager, CMB-Prime. At associate level, principal Franco Dalmazzo also heads the office’s German desk and Pilar Illanes is an up-and-coming intermediate; former senior Fernanda Anguita moved in house in December 2023.

Chile > Dispute resolution: arbitration Tier 2

Cuatrecasas' ‘international presence in several countries and experience in arbitration stand out’. The firm’s 18-strong international arbitration practice in  Santiago specialises in international disputes concerning construction and engineering contracts, infrastructure, energy agreements, international investment protection, and international sales and supplies. The disputes department also acts in matters involving services contracts, M&A, joint ventures, agencies, commercial distribution, and conflicts between shareholders and companies. Beyond Chile, the firm is additionally notably active in the wider Latin American region. The department is co-led by international arbitration, litigation and alternative dispute resolution specialist Cristián Conejero, a former ICC Secretariat Counsel for Latin America who is sought out by company clients to act in both commercial and investment arbitrations; and international arbitration and alternative dispute resolution practitioner Juan Manuel Rey, who ‘has a lot of experience in arbitration’, and represents clients in disputes concerning construction and infrastructure contracts, M&A, concessions, share agreements, and power purchase contracts. The group further includes Gianfranco Lotito, a specialist in domestic and international arbitration; and in the firm’s senior associate pool, Valentina Alamo regularly assists with disputes involving public works concessions, power purchase agreements, and construction and infrastructure contracts. Alamo also acts as and administrative secretary in domestic and international arbitrations.

Chile > Banking and finance Tier 3

Cuatrecasas' sizeable banking and finance practice in Santiago advises a range of financiers on high-level finance transactions. The team is particularly active in restructuring, refinancing, project finance, and banking regulatory matters. The department is co-led by Roberto Guerrero V, whose impressive track record includes deals in the energy, finance, fishing, infrastructure, mining, telecoms, and the food-and-beverage sectors; and 'super competent' project finance and capital markets specialist, Macarena Ravinet. The group also includes structured and distressed finance expert Alfonso Ugarte, who is currently working in the firm’s New York office; and principal associate Federico Espinosa, who advises financial entities, sponsors, borrowers and developers on a broad range of banking and finance matters.

Chile > Bankruptcy, insolvency and restructuring Tier 3

Cuatrecasas' restructuring, insolvency and special situations practice has extensive experience in complex business crises, including cross-border insolvencies. ‘Very skilled in insolvency and restructuring issues’, the team also advises creditors, debtors, management teams and shareholders on deal restructurings and production unit sales. The multidisciplinary group is further able to leverage the firm’s expertise in litigation, finance and M&A. Practice leader Gianfranco Lotito regularly advises lenders and investors on distress-related scenarios involving company restructurings, liquidity injections and M&A. Tomás Kubick and Alfonso Ugarte (currently located in the firm's New York office) are additional partner-level contacts for insolvency work - particularly cross-border matters in the case of Ugarte); while principal associate Andrés Lafuente specializes in civil and commercial litigation and arbitration, particularly in relation to insolvency proceedings (bankruptcy reorganisation and liquidation).

Chile > Tax Tier 3

Cuatrecasas' Santiago office acts for national and international companies on cross-border transactions, structuring and tax optimisation matters. The ‘very solid’ five-strong tax practice is notably experienced in binding rulings, audit procedures and VAT issues, in addition to advising individuals and family offices on private wealth. It is also particularly focused on mining, natural resource and energy clients, as well as investment funds, financial institutions and start-ups. The group is led by former KPMG in Chile (KPMG) tax and legal group head, Rodrigo Stein, a highly-rated corporate and international taxation specialist. Providing key support, senior associate and former KPMG director José Miguel Gazitua advises on corporate taxation and tax planning.

Chile > Dispute resolution: litigation Tier 4

With ‘solid experience in litigation’, Cuatrecasas' broad coverage ranges from civil, commercial and administrative disputes, to reorganisations, insolvencies, business crises, and private enforcements of competition law. The 19-strong litigation and arbitration team in Santiago is led by Gianfranco Lotito, whose broad practice includes investigations and injunctions brought by national and foreign agencies in relation to securities and pension funds; restructuring and insolvency proceedings; and construction, infrastructure and share sale disputes. Providing notable support at associate level, principal Andrés Lafuente specialises in insolvency proceedings, while Alexandra Guerra acts in public law-related national litigation and commercial arbitration.

Energy and natural resources > Electricity and hydrocarbons Tier 4

Cuatrecasas' ‘dynamic, competent and solid group’ covers energy-related transactions, project development and regulatory issues. The six-strong team is increasingly active in relation to power generation and transmission matters, as well as green hydrogen projects. The practice is led by Josefina Yávar, who specialises in energy projects, M&A and joint development agreements. The department further includes Sebastián Leyton, whose energy sector expertise includes project development-related contractual matters, acquisitions and international project financings. Additional support is provided by semi-senior associate Francisca Bannura (an August 2023 arrival from Morales & Besa), who advises project developers and financial institutions on project financing, M&A, environmental project assessments, and administrative and court claims.

Chile > Venture capital Tier 4

The Santiago team at international law firm Cuatrecasas has extensive experience in advising both investors and startups. The four-member Chilean venture capital practice acts for investors on structuring funds and other investment vehicles, as well as related regulatory and tax requirements. The team also assists investors with negotiating the investment documents for venture capital financing rounds. The practice is led by the experienced Josefina Yávar, who advises venture capital investors, start-ups, corporate funds and incubators on the legal structuring of funds and investment vehicles, including corporate venture funds. Former associate Fernanda Anguita departed the firm in December 2023 for an in-house role at a unicorn food-tech company.

Chile > Labour and employment

Chile > Capital markets

Chile > Competition and antitrust

Latin America: International firms > International arbitration

Cuatrecasas has a sizeable Latin America-focused international arbitration team, somewhat uniquely spread across its Madrid, Santiago, Mexico City, Bogota and Lima offices. Much of the practice centres on energy and infrastructure, including disputes connected to construction and project implementation. The firm is noted for both investment and commercial arbitrations. Among a series of notable engagements, it has represented major clients in claims against Latin American states, including acting for the international consortium awarded the concession agreement for the Lima Metro Line 2 project in its claims against the Republic of Peru for delays in the construction work. Alfonso Iglesia leads the international arbitration group and has an impressive record in Latin America cases, particularly in relation to construction and infrastructure matters. Santiago partner Cristián Conejero is another experienced international arbitration specialist with extensive experience in investment and commercial arbitration. Alberto Fortún and Manuel Franco are also key members of the team, along with Juan Manuel Rey in Santiago, Mexico City-based René Irra and Bogota’s Alberto Zuleta. Named individuals are based in Madrid unless stated otherwise.

Latin America: International firms > Banking and finance

Cuatrecasas operates multiple offices in Latin America, notably Mexico, Colombia, Peru and Chile; all house considerable banking and finance expertise. This is coupled with Latin America-facing banking and finance expertise in Madrid, a rep office in New York and other international offices. It represents a range of corporate borrowers, financial institutions and funds in a variety of financings, notably in leveraged and acquisition finance, along with corporate finance, structured finance, derivatives, asset finance, projects and infrastructure finance, real estate finance, and export and trade finance. The firm also remains active in DIP financings and debt restructurings. In 2023, the firm advised on a series of headline acquisition financings, including advising a syndicate bank on the financing for SK Capital Partners’ acquisition of Apotex Pharmaceutical and its subsidiaries. Refinancing and debt restructuring have been important elements of the practice, along with project finance and real estate finance. Bogota partner Manuel Quinche is an experienced figure in structured finance and project finance. Roberto Guerrero is a key name in Santiago, along with León López in Mexico City and Aldo Reggiardo in Lima. Madrid’s Carlos Lasarte has extensive experience in representing international lenders in Latin American financings.

Latin America: International firms > Corporate and M&A

Cuatrecasas combines its long association with Latin America from Madrid and other international offices, with a rep office in New York and its physical presence in Latin America provided by offices in Bogota, Lima, Mexico City and Santiago. The Latin America team regularly handles significant cross-border transactions, including investments, acquisitions and disposals by private equity funds and other financial sponsors. One recent headline mandate saw the group advise Patria Investments on the sale of Odata, an operator of data centres in Latin America, to Aligned Data Centers. It also advises a range of multinationals and Latin American corporates on inbound and outbound transactions. Alfonso Ugarte relocated from Santiago to New York in 2022, where he remains focused on Latin America M&A matters, distressed debt and corporate restructuring. Antonio Baena is head of the international practice, and continues to work on transactions in Spain and Latin America, including acquisitions and disposals by financial sponsors. Diego Pérez-Yarza is another senior figure in the Latin America team, along with Madrid-based Alfonso Reina, who is primarily focused on the Colombia market having been previously located in the Bogota office. Lima partner Oscar Trelles heads the Latin America M&A team, which includes Santiago’s Roberto Guerrero, Juan Felipe Vera in Bogota, and Mexico City-based Santiago Ferrer. Named individuals are based in New York unless stated otherwise.