Mrs Valeria Ruz > FerradaNehme > Santiago, Chile > Lawyer Profile

The environment and natural resources department at FerradaNehme is particularly focused on the development and permitting aspects of complex projects; and the eight-strong team routinely works alongside its clients’ government and community relations teams to develop preventive strategies to avoid environmental conflicts. It also assists with the development of compliance programmes for clients’ environmental obligations; and the group is increasingly active in sanctioning procedures, particularly before the Superintendency of the Environment. Also of note, the practice has developed strong credentials in relation to the newly-enacted recycling and extended producer liability legislation (EPR Law). Heading up the firm’s environment and natural resources department, Patricio Leyton specialises in the development of mining and energy projects, particularly permitting and the Environmental Impact Assessment System; Valeria Ruz is experienced in permits and project development, her expertise including community relations, administrative matters and litigation; and Carola Salamanca‘s current practice includes development issues, land-use planning, and EPR Law advice. The firm’s second line of key advisers features director Claudio Tapia, a former public sector Prosecutor of sanctioning administrative procedures at the Superintendence of the Environment; and senior associate María-Pilar Dominguez, who regularly acts in high-profile environmental law disputes.