Garrigues Chile > Santiago, Chile > Firm Profile

Garrigues Chile > The Legal 500 Rankings

Chile > Banking and finance Tier 2

With a strong roster of financial institution clients as well as concessionaires and project companies, Garrigues Chile's 12-strong practice handles a broad range of banking and finance work. Recent highlights include advising on the acquisition of receivables, syndicated project financing, lender-side restructuring, acquisition finance, and corporate lending. Heading up the group, Pedro García has some 20 years’ experience advising on financing, capital markets and projects. Also integral to the team, Jaime de Larraechea's practice encompasses corporate loans, project and structured finance, debt restructuring and regulatory matters. Raised to the partnership in January 2021, Antonio Morales focuses primarily on debt restructuring and project finance; while senior associate Federico Espinosa and associate María Francisca Correa are both on hand for matters involving corporate loans and project finance. Former senior associate Francisca Ferrer left for an in house role at Prime Energía in May 2021.

Chile > Capital markets Tier 2

Garrigues Chile's 12-strong finance law and capital markets practice (including three partners), is regularly involved in significant bond issuances in Chile and abroad. Heading up the group, Pedro García's expertise encompasses debt securities (international and domestic), along with equities, liability management, debt restructuring, derivatives and regulatory matters. He is flanked by fellow partners, José Miguel Rioseco, who heads up the investment funds sub-practice and has longstanding experience in capital markets; and financing, M&A and capital markets expert, Jaime de Larraechea. At senior associate level, Daniel Hernández's practice includes financial markets regulation and capital markets transactions. Maria Fernanda Jara left the firm in July 2021 to pursue her LLM.

Chile > Real estate Tier 2

With ‘vast knowledge of real estate law, both at technical and practical levels‘, Garrigues Chile‘s nine-strong practice houses specialists in office, residential, commercial and multi-use projects; and clients benefit from full-cycle support during the development of projects, including assistance with financing, tax structuring, regulatory analysis and compliance issues, as well as acquisition, development, construction, sale, and leasing aspects. The longstanding real estate expertise of practice leader José Miguel Rioseco  covers both finance and development work, with additional partner-level support is provided by Luis Eduardo Correa, who divides his time between real estate and corporate law matters. At associate level, principal Eduardo Tirado, who assists with the acquisition and sale of real estate companies and projects, was hired from Barros & Errázuriz in November 2021; while senior María Cecilia Morandé is a real estate regulatory expert.

Chile > Corporate and M&A Tier 3

Demonstrating particular experience in the energy, telecoms, real estate and private equity sectors, Garrigues Chile's corporate lawyers ‘go the extra mile for clients', and are experts in corporate law, domestic and cross-border M&A, governance and finance. The group is also highly active in corporate reorganisations and joint venture transactions. The department is led by Luis Felipe Merino, whose recent caseload includes deals in the energy and retail sectors; with additional partner level input involvement from Rodrigo Fernández (who has ‘solid legal knowledge and business world experience'); Jaime de Larraechea, a telecoms and infrastructure deal specialist; and energy and corporate law expert Cristóbal Fainé. The senior associate to note, Constanza Velásquez, focuses on M&A, commercial law, and real estate matters.

Chile > Dispute resolution: arbitration Tier 3

Garrigues Chile's arbitration caseload ranges from corporate disputes to large construction arbitrations; recent highlights include acting in a shareholder dispute concerning the development of solar power plants in Chile, claims concerning Covid-19 lockdown-related lease agreements, and a public works concession conflict. The dispute resolution practice is led by 'highly-experienced lawyer and arbitrator' Mónica van der Schraft, who has 30 years' disputes experience - a track record that includes being the first female Chilean arbitrator to be appointed president of an ICC arbitral panel. Support at associate level is provided by principal, Cristóbal Sarralde, who has substantial experience in domestic and international arbitration proceedings; and senior José Joaquín Verdugo, who is routinely involved in high-profile disputes.

Energy and natural resources > Electricity and hydrocarbon Tier 3

Garrigues Chile's energy team advises on the financing and development of major energy projects, including relevant regulatory aspects. Recent work includes both transmission line and solar power plant projects; the team’s espertise also covers PPAs, along with fuel supply, EPC, O&M, transmission, and gas transportation and supply agreements. Department head Luis Felipe Merino is an electricity generation project expert; Cristobal Fainé advises on energy and corporate law; Pedro García assists with energy finance; and Rodrigo Fernández is noted for deals involving renewable energy assets. Former senior associate Francisco Irarrázaval moved to CEPD in March 2022.

Chile > Projects and infrastructure Tier 3

Garrigues Chile‘s 10-strong practice ranges from development and bidding matters, to financing, major project contracts and regulatory issues. It also advises on the acquisition of infrastructure assets. Heading the team, Pedro García is an expert in project finance, regulatory matters and bidding processes, while of counsel and public law department leader, Claudio Moraga, is on hand to assist with construction contracts, regulatory issues, project-related litigation and bidding work. Also integral to the practice is renewable energy project finance specialist Antonio Morales, who was made partner in 2021. Former senior associates Federico Espinosa and Francisca Ferrer both recently left the firm to join Cuatrecasas and Prime Energía, respectively.

Chile > Tax Tier 3

Garrigues Chile‘s tax practice consistently works in conjunction with the labour, corporate, banking, finance and projects teams from the firm’s international network on deal-related tax structures. The group also assists with tax litigation and private client matters, and real estate issues involving VAT and income tax. The practice is led by tax planning and tax litigation specialist Oscar Ferrari , while counsel Sebastián Ferrer Del Valle  focuses on the tax planning of corporate structures and M&A deals, and tax litigation. Also on hand are senior associates María Jesús Hidalgo Larraín , who is experienced in corporate, local and international tax, and restructuring-related taxation; and tax litigator Juan Pablo Obaid .

Chile > Dispute resolution: litigation Tier 4

Recent disputes work for Garrigues Chile's 'committed litigation group' includes major corporate conflicts, consumer protection class actions, and construction and real estate litigation, along with environmental, antitrust, tax and administrative law disputes. The dispute resolution department is led by the 'always clear and measured' Mónica van der Schraft, a seasoned litigator whose practice ranges from corporate, construction and antitrust litigation to insurance, mining, environment and real estate disputes. Key associate-level support is provided by the 'very attentive and diligent' principal Cristóbal Sarralde, who handles civil and commercial disputes; and senior José Joaquín Verdugo, a civil lawsuit specialist.

Chile > Public law Tier 4

Led by of counsel and public law and administrative law specialist, Claudio Moraga, Garrigues Chile's practice routinely advises concessionaire companies on concession contracts with the Ministry of Public Works. It also assists clients with public tenders and the implementation of public-private partnerships in the toll roads, telecoms, public transport and airports sectors. The team additionally represents clients in administrative proceedings and litigation with public bodies. Key support is provided by principal associate Sebastián Hassi, who advises on public tenders, administrative sanctions and administrative procedures; and senior associate Francisco Irarrázaval, who assists with energy and natural resources-related administrative law matters.

Chile > Labour and employment

Chile > Competition and antitrust

Colombia > Competition and antitrust