Lembeye > Santiago de Chile, Chile > Firm Profile

Lembeye > The Legal 500 Rankings

Chile > Corporate and M&A Tier 3

Home to ‘lawyers who demonstrate knowledge and experience in their areas’, Lembeye's corporate team acts for domestic and international companies on an array of corporate issues, ranging from M&A, corporate restructuring and incorporations, to corporate governance and everyday corporate work. The group is led by founding partner Jorge Lembeye, an expert in M&A, as well as capital markets and project financings and development. Providing notable support, Rony Zimerman is a dual-qualified (Chile and Canada) lawyer, who routinely advises Canadian companies (and their Chilean subsidiaries) on corporate mandates; and Nicolás Espina, who generates ‘corporate strategies that directly benefit clients’ business’. Director-level Francisco Palma U is an experienced corporate law practitioner; and Reginald Horn, who advises on cross-border M&A and joint ventures, is an August 2023 senior associate hire from Covington & Burling LLP's New York office.

Energy and natural resources > Mining Tier 3

The four-strong mining team at Lembeye covers exploration work, project development, acquisitions and financings. The group also assists with permits, environmental approvals, construction issues, operational matters and closures. Moreover, in addition to acting in litigation involving mining concessions, the practice is particularly experienced in cross-border mandates. Leading the team, veteran mining sector expert Rony Zimerman advises global companies (frequently Canadian), as well as their Chilean subsidiaries, on transactional and regulatory matters. The practice also includes Guillermo de la Jara, an adviser on mining regulatory issues, such as exploration permits, easements and environmental authorisations; while at senior associate level, Lukas Hudson assists with a range of mining-related work.

Chile > Public law Tier 3

‘Concentrating on the issues that are important to clients’, Lembeye’s public law team specialises in the regulatory aspects of the energy, mining, telecoms, media, transportation, gambling and health services sectors. Its expertise ranges from obtaining permits, authorisations and concessions, to defence-side administrative punitive proceedings, tenders and compliance measures. The group is led by Guillermo de la Jara, who acts in contentious administrative disputes before Chile’s higher courts of justice, and special courts and decision-making bodies, including the Constitutional Court. The associate to note, Lukas Hudson, acts in punitive administrative proceedings before state administrative agencies.

Chile > TMT Tier 3

The three-member team at Lembeye is experienced in advising public and private entities on rate-setting procedures, TMT-related antitrust issues and regulatory matters. The team, which is advising both Canal 13 and Televisión Nacional de Chile on telecoms-related regulatory matters, is led by public law, regulated markets and competition law specialist, Guillermo de la Jara, a former Bofill Mir Álvarez Jana partner. De la Jara is also a former Telecommunications Undersecretariat legal department head, who has extensive experience in advising operators from the telecommunications and broadcasting sectors; according to some clients, his ‘expertise in telecoms law in Chile is unparalleled’.

Chile > Dispute resolution: white-collar crime Tier 4

Lembeye routinely plays key roles in headline white-collar criminal cases on behalf of both individuals and companies. The firm’s criminal and dispute resolution practices are led by Daniel Praetorius, formerly the co-head of Bofill Escobar Silva Abogados' white-collar group. Praetorius has extensive experience in representing domestic and foreign clients in civil and criminal litigation, as well as administrative sanctioning proceedings; his expertise also extends to advising on compliance programmes and internal corporate investigations. Key support is provided by associate Lukas Hudson whose litigious practice takes in civil, white collar, regulatory, administrative and economic public law matters.

Chile > Projects and infrastructure Tier 4

Lembeye‘s 12-strong team routinely acts for developers, sponsors, capital investors, contractors and suppliers, as well as lenders, insurers and placement agents. Its expertise encompasses both developmental and financing stages, as well as the construction and operation of projects. It is particularly active in relation to renewable energy matters. The group is led by founding partner Jorge Lembeye, an expert in project financing and development, as well as M&A and capital markets; and Rony Zimerman, who has longstanding experience in the development, financing and sale of mining projects. Nicolás Espina's broad practice also includes project financing and development work.

Chile > Venture capital Tier 4

Acting for both founders and investment funds, Lembeye's four-member team advises start-ups throughout their life cycle, from the structuring and formation of corporations to corporate law, tax, labour and regulatory matters. The practice also assists with stock option plans, initial investment rounds, the internationalisation of companies, and shareholder and investment agreements. Founding partner Jorge Lembeye advises on the structuring and placement of  funds, in addition to leading the firm’s M&A, project restructuring, capital markets and banking and finance practices; and Nicolás Espina advises entrepreneurs and start-ups on both seed capital raising and internationalisation processes.

Chile > Dispute resolution: litigation Tier 6

Lembeye‘s ‘excellent work team’ acts in a range of disputes, particularly those involving construction contracts and energy projects. The criminal and dispute resolution group is led by Daniel Praetorius, who has significant experience in both civil and criminal litigation, along with administrative sanction proceedings. In the firm’s associate department, Lukas Hudson acts in disputes before Chile’s lower and higher courts, including the Supreme Court and the Constitutional Court; and Tomas Frenck, a September 2023 hire from Bulnes & Urrutia Abogados, focuses on commercial litigation. Since publication, the practice has been further strengthened with the hire of Jorge Sepúlveda -who focuses on civil and commercial litigation and arbitration- from Correa Squella (effective as of January 2025).

Chile > Tax