Gianfranco  Lotito > Cuatrecasas > Santiago, Chile > Lawyer Profile

The 10-strong restructuring, insolvency and special situations team at Cuatrecasas‘ Santiago office acts for creditors, debtors, management teams and shareholders on the restructuring of transactions, production unit sales, and general insolvency proceedings. Clients notably benefit from the group’s cross-border insolvency expertise, as well as the multidisciplinary team’s litigation, finance, and M&A credentials. The practice is led by cross-border insolvency proceeding specialist Gianfranco Lotito, who also co-heads the office’s litigation department; Tomás Kubick‘s broad practice includes insolvency; and Alfonso Ugarte works across the firm’s New York and Santiago offices. Andrés Lafuente is an active mid-level associate.

The ‘dynamic team‘ at the Santiago office of Iberia-headquartered law firm Cuatrecasas comprises specialists in civil, commercial and administrative disputes, as well as experts in reorganisations and insolvencies, particularly in relation to complex business crises. The 14-strong group is also experienced in the private enforcement of competition law. Litigation and arbitration practice head Gianfranco Lotito (‘proactive, personalised attention and critical thinking‘) is an expert in disputes concerning share sales, transferable securities and company law, as well as -more generally- construction, infrastructure, and agencies and distribution; while Cristián Conejero Roos is a widely-respected commercial and investment arbitration specialist. Key support is provided by principal associate Andrés Lafuente, who acts in insolvency matters, as well as administrative proceedings before public entities.

Providing ‘complete guidance on arbitration issues‘, Cuatrecasas‘ practice comprises experts in international disputes that arise from construction and engineering contracts, energy agreements, and international sales and supplies. The 13-strong team also acts in arbitrations involving international investment protection, services contracts, shareholder and company disputes, and M&A and joint ventures. Clients additionally appreciate the group’s specialist knowledge of other Latin American jurisdictions, particularly Colombia, Mexico and Peru , where the international firm has offices. The department is led by former ICC Secretariat Counsel for Latin America, Cristián Conejero, who routinely acts for major companies in high-stakes commercial and investment arbitrations. Further support at partner level is provided by Gianfranco Lotito, whose wide-ranging practice also covers domestic and international arbitration work; and recently-promoted partner Juan Manuel Rey, whose international arbitration caseload encompasses disputes concerning M&As, share agreements, and construction, infrastructure and concession contracts. Valentina Alamo, whose career includes a stint in Paris at the ICC, is the senior associate to note.

Cuatrecasas‘ Santiago office advises on a range of energy projects, including renewables, oil, gas, nuclear plants, and electric roads. The 12-strong team also assists with tenders for energy transmission infrastructure developments, along with power purchase agreements. It additionally acts in energy disputes, as well as before Expert Panels. The team is led by energy M&A and projects specialist, Josefina Yávar with support provided by her fellow former Guerrero Olivos colleagues Roberto Guerrero V (who has considerable experience in energy transactions) and M&A expert Macarena Ravinet, along with energy arbitration partners Cristián Conejero and Gianfranco Lotito. January 2023 saw the team further strengthened with the arrival of Sebastián Leyton (as partner) from the Superintendency of Electricity and Fuels.