Garrigues Chile > Santiago, Chile > Firm Profile

Garrigues Chile > The Legal 500 Rankings

Chile > Banking and finance Tier 2

Garrigues Chile's 12-member banking and finance department routinely advises major Chilean and international banks as well as significant international and domestic corporate clients. Recent activity for the team focused on the acquisition of financial assets, project finance, restructurings, and corporate lending. The group is led by financing, capital markets and projects specialist Pedro García Morales, while the workload of fellow partner Jaime de Larraechea covers, project financing, structured finance, corporate lending, debt restructuring and regulatory issues. The second line of key advisers features debt restructuring and project finance expert Antonio Morales; and senior associate Ignacio Vargas, who is experienced in asset, acquisition and project finance, along with the restructuring of debt deals. At senior associate level the office saw the departures of Federico Espinosa and María Francisca Correa (for Cuatrecasas and energy company AES Andes, respectively) during the course of 2022.

Chile > Capital markets Tier 2

The sizeable capital markets team at international law firm Garrigues Chile is consistently sought out for major bond issuances in both Chile and internationally. Acting for both issuers and underwriters, recent work covered sovereign and domestic bonds, as well as MTN programmes. Leading the practice, Pedro García has longstanding experience in debt securities, equities, liability management, derivatives and regulatory issues. García is supported by funds head José Miguel Rioseco, whose practice incorporates advice to investment fund managers on regulatory matters; and Jaime de Larraechea, an expert in the issuance of securities. A key member of the firm’s securities market law and banking and finance departments, Daniel Hernández was promoted to principal associate in early 2023, while the practice of associate Macarena Fuentes also includes local and international bond issues.

Chile > Real estate Tier 2

With ‘great experience in the real estate sector’, the eight-member team at Garrigues Chile has broad expertise in residential, commercial, office and multi-use projects. The group advises clients at all stages of project development, from the financing, tax structuring and regulatory aspects, to the acquisition, development, construction, sale and lease of real estate projects. Heading up the department, José Miguel Rioseco has longstanding experience in real estate financings and development; while Luis Eduardo Correa acts for international and domestic real estate investment funds (institutional and retail), real estate developers, and service providers on both transactional and day-to-day matters. In the Santiago office’s associate pool, principal Eduardo Tirado is a late 2021 hire from Barros & Errázuriz who ‘strengthened its real estate practice considerably’; and seniors María Cecilia Morandé and Catalina Berrios Vergara (the latter recently promoted) are also key team members.

Chile > Corporate and M&A Tier 3

Garrigues Chile fields corporate law, M&A, governance and finance specialists who have substantial experience in energy, telecoms, real estate and private equity matters, with the 21-strong M&A department particularly active in domestic and cross-border M&A, corporate reorganisations, and joint ventures. With over 25 years’ experience in corporate and M&A, practice head Luis Felipe Merino routinely advises on cross-border deals; Rodrigo Fernández's recent caseload includes energy, telecoms, entertainment and construction sector mandates; Jaime de Larraechea is a corporate transactions specialist; and Cristóbal Fainé advises on energy and corporate law. Principals Hellen Brockway and Carlos Arias, along with senior Constanza Velásquez, are the associates to note.

Chile > Dispute resolution: arbitration Tier 3

Garrigues Chile's ‘fantastic team' focuses on a range of areas, including corporate disputes and major construction arbitrations, while clients notably benefit from the firm’s enviable international network. In recent work, the team acted in an international dispute involving a concessionaire, as well as a major claim concerning a mining company. The first Chilean female arbitrator to be appointed as president of an ICC arbitral panel, dispute resolution leader Mónica van der Schraft has a strong and lengthy track record in high-stakes arbitration proceedings. In January 2023, Cristóbal Sarralde (‘very committed to his work'), and José Joaquín Verdugo, who are both experienced in domestic and international arbitration proceedings, were promoted to counsel and principal associate, respectively.

Chile > Dispute resolution: litigation Tier 3

Fielding ‘a team that brings together talent and diversity at the highest level', Garrigues Chile's recent caseload includes significant corporate and commercial disputes as well as construction and real estate litigation. Other active areas range from consumer protection class actions, insurance claims and antitrust disputes, to tax conflicts and administrative law-related litigation. ‘An excellent litigator and strategic adviser', dispute resolution head Mónica van der Schraft is highly regarded and maintains a broad litigation practice. Notable growth in the practice group includes the January-2023 promotion of civil and commercial disputes specialist Cristóbal Sarralde to counsel; and the elevation of José Joaquín Verdugo -whose track record takes in mining, construction, energy and corporate law-related disputes- to principal associate.

Energy and natural resources > Electricity and hydrocarbons Tier 3

Garrigues Chile‘s 10-strong multidisciplinary energy department routinely advises on the financing, development and regulatory aspects of large energy projects. The practice also advises energy, oil-and-gas and natural resources companies and private funds on M&A deals. Team leader and corporate, M&A and regulatory expert, Luis Felipe Merino advises on electricity generation project developments; Cristobal Fainé is experienced in both energy and corporate work; Pedro García is an energy finance specialist; and Rodrigo Fernández's experience covers renewable energy asset-related deals. In a boost to the team, Diego Perales, who advises energy sector companies on day-to-day issues and disputes, joined as of counsel in November 2022 from the CNE (the Chilean Energy Regulatory Agency), where he served as legal department head for three years.

Chile > Projects and infrastructure Tier 3

Well known for energy and infrastructure projects, Garrigues Chile’s sizeable department fields specialists in developments, bids, financings, project contracts, and regulatory matters. The Santiago office is also able to leverage the firm’s impressive global network on behalf of Chilean clients, as well as international clients operating in Chile. Department head Pedro García specialises in the development and financing of infrastructure and energy projects; Antonio Morales is a renewable energy project finance expert; and the projects practice of public law head and of counsel Claudio Moraga covers construction contracts, regulatory issues, litigation and bidding processes. In the firm’s associate ranks, senior Ignacio Vargas and Santiago Mesía both advise lenders, borrowers and sponsors on energy and infrastructure, along with corporate work.

Chile > Tax Tier 3

Garrigues Chile’s tax planning specialists frequently leverage the labour, corporate, banking, finance and projects expertise of the firm’s international network during complex transactions. The team is also experienced in real estate taxation, private client work, and tax disputes. Group leader Oscar Ferrari assists with the tax planning side to transactions, as well as tax litigation; while at senior associate level, María Jesús Hidalgo Larraín advises on corporate and restructuring-related tax planning, and domestic and international taxation; and Magdalena Casenave Prat (who was promoted in January 2023) focuses on advisory matters and the implementation of corporate and equity restructurings, and M&A. Former counsel Sebastián Ferrer Del Valle and senior associate Juan Pablo Obaid left in April 2022 and May 2023, respectively, since when the firm has hired Ignacio Campino - formerly at PCM Abogados - as a partner (effective June 2023).

Chile > Labour and employment Tier 4

The five-strong labour and employment practice at Garrigues Chile is increasingly advising on the recently-enacted Chilean immigration law. The team also specialises in collective bargaining, its advice covering assistance with unions, federations and unfair practices, as well as providing a robust labour litigation offering and routinely assisting with transactional labour due diligence matters. In a significant boost, group head Bárbara Vera, a specialist in collective bargaining and union issues, was raised to partner in early 2023; and senior labour law associates Ricardo Eckardt and Juan Ignacio Chamorro were recruited during 2022 from Grupo Vial Abogados and the former Aylwin Mendoza Luksic & Valencia – AMLV, respectively. Former senior associate Tomás Larrain recently departed for Equitat Abogados Laborales.

Chile > Public law Tier 4

Garrigues Chile‘s four-member public law practice is particularly experienced in advising concessionaire companies on the management of concession contracts with the Ministry of Public Works. Other key areas include public tenders, and the implementation of public-private partnerships involving telecoms, toll roads, public transport and airports. The department also has a robust administrative litigation practice. The practice is led by of counsel Claudio Moraga, who has ‘vast administrative law experience‘. At associate level, principal Sebastián Hassi routinely acts for public works concessionaires, while junior Isabel Canales advises on public tenders. Former senior associate Francisco Irarrázaval left the firm in March 2022.

Chile > Competition and antitrust

Colombia > Competition and antitrust