Baker McKenzie Chile > Santiago, Chile > Firm Profile

Baker McKenzie Chile > The Legal 500 Rankings

Chile > Banking and finance Tier 2

The six-member banking and finance team at Baker McKenzie Chile is consistently sought out by commercial, merchant and investment banks, as well as corporate users of credit. With ‘absolute availability, quick responses, and in-depth knowledge of local legislation’, the practice has notable expertise in structuring major financial transactions, while clients additionally benefit from the group’s ability to leverage the wider office's experience in regulatory and tax matters, as well as the firm's enviable global network. The practice group’s ‘very available lawyers’ are also regularly involved in New York law-governed project and corporate financings. Recent mandates include acting for Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria, as administrative agent and lender, on the full amendment and restatement of a $238m loan to Financiera de Desarrollo Nacional. Specialised in banking regulatory work, derivatives and project financing, Sebastián Vivanco heads up the practice in conjunction with of counsel León Larrain and experienced partner Jaime Munro, both of whom handles banking and finance matters as part of broader practices. July 2023 saw the team further boosted at partner level with the promotion of banking and finance specialist Cristóbal Larrain, who is known for working with the firm’s New York team on corporate and project financings; at associate level, Jose Ignacio Berner handles acquisition finance, banking and finance, and loans and credit facilities, along with private M&A.

Chile > Corporate and M&A Tier 2

With ‘a clear understanding of both business and multinational companies’ requirements’, Baker McKenzie Chile's 10-strong team acts for local and international clients on regional and multinational cross-border deals concerning Chile; its sector expertise ranges from real estate, insurance and finance, to natural resources, telecoms, energy, technology and consumer products. The group’s coverage encompasses M&A and joint ventures, and its assistance including post-acquisition integration services, due diligence, antitrust clearance, and debt and equity financing. The practice additionally advises on corporate reorganisations, dissolutions and liquidations, privatisations, commercial contracts and corporate governance. The department is co-led by Jaime Munro, whose broad expertise includes private and public M&A, along with venture capital and private equity deals; corporate and company law practitioner Fernando Castro; M&A expert Diego Ferrada; and Sebastián Vivanco, who advises on M&A alongside his banking and finance practice. Also key to the team, Cristobal Larrain (promoted to partner in July 2023) assists with tender offers, auction processes, joint ventures, private equity investments and corporate restructuring; and of counsel Leon Larrain has longstanding transactional experience. At associate level, senior Martin Müller assists with corporate law mandates, particularly corporate compliance and governance; but Verónica Barrios and Macarena Salazar both left the firm during the course of 2023.

Energy and natural resources > Mining Tier 2

The Santiago office of Baker McKenzie Chile fields an eight-strong energy, mining and infrastructure team that has an enviable track record for assisting large, medium-sized and small mining companies with transactional, regulatory and operational matters (including high-profile mining projects). Clients looking to internationalise additionally appreciate the firm’s global network, while those with operations across the Latin America region seek out the practice for its significant regional coverage. Examples of the department’s recent mandates include its advice to global mining services company Orica on regulatory matters; and its assistance to Sierra Gorda SCM regarding compliance with mining regulations. The practice is led by Antonio Ortúzar Jr, a longstanding specialist in significant natural resources projects, whose experience includes international joint ventures, project finance, foreign investment, corporate and commercial arrangements, and major infrastructure projects. The practice also showcases Chilean mining law expert Mirco Hilgers, who advises on the incorporation and development of foreign mining businesses. In the firm’s associate group, infrastructure, environment, mining and corporate law-focused senior Santiago Vial advises on a broad range of mining matters, such as the acquisition of mining companies, including the implementation of mining property-related strategies. Vial also assists with mining-related environmental, regulatory and energy issues.

Chile > Life sciences Tier 2

Baker McKenzie Chile's eight-strong life sciences practice routinely leverages the Santiago office’s membership of the global Baker McKenzie LLP network, which facilitates access to healthcare law specialists worldwide. On the regulatory side, the team advises on the licenses required to manufacture, sell, distribute and advertise life sciences-related products. The department also handles complex product recall proceedings, product liability issues, and the antitrust and competition aspects of the pharmaceutical, cosmetics and medical device industries. The practice group additionally advises on IP, data protection, contractual matters, and compliance issues. Major clients include Colgate-Palmolive Chile, which the firm advises on corporate, labour, consumer protection, advertisement and regulatory issues, with recent mandates seeing the team assist Deutsche Pharma with the registration and defence of its trade marks in Chile. Heading up the department, Valentina Venturelli is an intellectual and industrial property specialist who has expertise in the pharmaceutical, cosmetics, medical device, foodstuff and veterinary sectors; and corporate and partnership law expert Fernando Castro likewise has pharmaceutical industry experience. At associate level, Maria Elena Dörr acts for medical device companies, and pharmaceutical and cosmetics laboratories; and Martín Muller advises on corporate compliance and governance matters. Former associate Carlos Lazcano departed the firm in June 2023.

Chile > Competition and antitrust Tier 3

Baker McKenzie Chile's nine-member antitrust team in Santiago has longstanding experience in antitrust issues, including private competition litigation, merger control, and cartel (and other conduct) investigations. It also assists with compliance work and internal investigations. The practice’s client base takes in the banking, healthcare, insurance, retail, infrastructure, aviation, telecoms, and mining sectors; and the local team is additionally able to leverage the firm’s enviable global competition practice across 47 jurisdictions. Heading the firm’s dispute resolution and antitrust practice groups, Rodrigo Díaz de Valdés ‘conveys peace of mind with his advice’; he is flanked by Diego Ferrada, a telecoms and technology specialist. The antitrust experience of associate Juan Ignacio Donoso covers cartels, mergers, abuse of dominance cases and compliance.

Chile > Consumer and advertising law Tier 3

Notably active in both advisory and litigation work, Baker McKenzie Chile's 10-member group covers product liability and recalls, as well as compliance with advertising regulations for the alcohol, tobacco, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and food and beverage industries. The team also assists with compliance with information obligations to consumers, consumer matters before SERNAC, and individual and class actions. Dispute resolution head Rodrigo De Valdés and Ignacio Naudon are class action specialists, while IP expert Valentina Venturelli also advises on consumer and advertising matters. Key senior associate Juan Ignacio Donoso focuses on consumer, competition and compliance work.

Chile > Dispute resolution: arbitration Tier 3

The 11-strong arbitration team at Baker McKenzie Chile specialises in complex national and international arbitrations, particularly infrastructure project, securities and mining-related disputes. The firm’s dispute resolution practice in Chile is led by Rodrigo Díaz de Valdés, whose track record covers disputes over energy contracts, construction, projects and investment protection. The practice further includes Ignacio Naudon, who maintains a broad disputes caseload. At associate level, Arantxa Ereche acts in domestic and international arbitrations, while Felipe Soza focuses on public, civil and commercial law-related litigation and arbitration. Senior associate and international commercial and investor-state arbitration expert, Juan Pablo Labbé, was hired in January 2024 from Jana & Gil Dispute Resolution, while Antonio López exited the firm in October 2023.

Chile > Dispute resolution: litigation Tier 3

Baker McKenzie Chile's ‘team demonstrates deep knowledge of Chilean legislation, jurisprudence and market practices’. The 10-strong litigation group has a notable track record for large-value litigation involving construction, infrastructure, large-scale energy projects and pension funds. It is also routinely mandated for high-profile class actions involving companies from the retail, consumer, pensions and healthcare sectors. The firm’s dispute resolution offering in Chile is led by Rodrigo Díaz de Valdés, whose experience includes acting for the Chilean State, international companies and domestic businesses in conflicts concerning long-term energy contracts, construction, projects and investment protection. Providing key support, Ignacio Naudon's wide-ranging disputes expertise covers class actions, infrastructure projects, construction contracts, distribution agreements, securities, corporate law and M&A. At associate level, Felipe Soza focuses on public, civil and commercial law-related litigation and arbitration; while international commercial and investor-state arbitration senior Juan Pablo Labbé is a January 2024 hire from Jana & Gil Dispute Resolution.

Chile > Intellectual property Tier 3

Baker McKenzie Chile's three-member team acts across the gamut of IP work. Its expertise covers trade marks, copyright, domain names and patent law, including prosecution, enforcement, litigation and regulatory work. The group’s experience also extends to innovation-related advice and IP-related transactional issues, such as licensing and assignments. The practice is led by Valentina Venturelli, who is particularly experienced in pharmaceutical and healthcare-related trade mark and patent prosecutions. Providing key support, senior associate Sebastián Dorena predominantly focuses on anti-counterfeiting work, IP litigation, and enforcements and prosecutions. Former associate Carlos Lazcano left the firm in June 2023.

Chile > Labour and employment Tier 3

Baker McKenzie Chile's four-strong labour and employment department specialises in high-stakes employer-side litigation involving unlawful dismissals, employee benefits, discrimination and sexual harassment. The firm is also home to collective bargaining experts; and clients benefit notably from the practice’s leveraging of its global network for cross-border, executive transfers and multinational company employment matters. The Santiago office’s labour and employment practice group is led by Andrés Valdés, an expert in employment contracts, litigation, immigration, social security, pension funds, international executive transfers, workforce reductions and union negotiations. At associate level, José Ignacio Muñoz, Paulina Vargas and Agustín del Río (an August 2023 hire from Urenda, Rencoret, Orrego y Dörr) all assist with labour litigation, hirings, terminations, collective bargaining and subcontracting.

Chile > Projects and infrastructure Tier 3

Demonstrating ‘willingness to resolve the challenges of projects’, Baker McKenzie Chile is a familiar presence in the area, where it is well known for its mining-sector credentials. The nine-strong team is also increasingly mandated on renewable energy (solar, wind and geothermal), desalinisation, port and road projects, with clients additionally benefitting from the group’s access to the firm’s enviable regional and international networks. The team’s key practitioners are Santiago mining practice leader Antonio Ortúzar Jr; Mirco Hilgers, an adviser to energy, mining and infrastructure companies; and Jaime Munro, whose broad expertise encompasses major infrastructure projects. In the firm’s associate group, Santiago Vial is experienced in energy, environmental and mining matters.

Chile > Real estate Tier 3

Baker McKenzie Chile’s ‘excellent lawyers’ in Santiago have notable expertise in agribusiness, medical cannabis facilities and religious organisations. The real estate group advises on buy-side due diligence in relation to ownership, environmental and tax issues, as well as regarding credit agreements. The team also assists with construction agreements, permits and authorisations, as well as preparing property for sale. The practice is led by of counsel Andrés Wagner, who focuses on property development, along with hotel, hospitality and tourism industry-related work. At associate level, Maria Elena Dörr advises on real estate development and agriculture projects; Javiera Velasco Tocornal is a 2023 recruit from Fernandez & Barros Abogados; and Francisco Nualart departed the firm in August 2023.

Chile > TMT Tier 3

Chile > Capital markets Tier 4

The five-strong capital markets team at Baker McKenzie Chile advises financial institutions, issuers and managers on tender offers, corporate debt placements and securitisations. Its expertise also extends to the regulatory aspects of Chilean securities and other capital-raising activities. The team further assists with public offerings, bond issuances, stock exchange listings, and multi-jurisdictional due diligence work. The team is co-led by capital markets specialist Fernando Castro and Jaime Munro, whose wide-ranging practice includes securitisation mandates. Promoted to partner in July 2023, Cristóbal Larrain regularly works with the firm’s New York team on project bonds across Latin America.

Chile > Environment Tier 4

Displaying ‘a willingness and determination to resolve challenges’, Baker McKenzie Chile's four-member team has wide-ranging experience in mining, energy and environmental matters. The full-service group’s advice ranges from compliance with environmental regulations, to obtaining project-related permits. The Santiago office also routinely liaises with the firm’s large global and Latin America environmental practices on cross-border mandates. The department is led by mining law specialist Mirco Hilgers, while senior associate Santiago Vial is experienced in mining, infrastructure and corporate law.

Chile > Public law Tier 4

Baker McKenzie Chile’s public law team primarily acts for clients from the healthcare, insurance, infrastructure, construction, mining, pharmaceutical, and defence and aerospace sectors. The group has amassed notable experience in state contract-related investment protection issues, as well as public procurement work. Focused on contentious matters, group head Rodrigo Díaz de Valdés is a longstanding constitutional, public and administrative law expert, who is also the firm’s Latin America dispute resolution group head. Litigation and arbitration associate Felipe Soza is experienced in public works concession agreements, constitutional actions, administrative sanctioning procedures, and public contracting and procurement.

Chile > Tax Tier 4

The ‘diligent and fast’ practice at Baker McKenzie Chile routinely leverages the firm’s regional and global network for cross-border tax mandates. The department also covers tax planning for M&A, finance and capital markets transactions; as well as tax controversies at both administrative and judicial stages (including litigation before Chile’s High Courts). The four-member tax group, which is notably experienced in advising technology, finance, pharmaceutical and mining companies, is led by tax and corporate law specialist Alberto Maturana. In the associate team, Cristián Bonacic and Tomas Ceppi both advise on the tax issues surrounding mining projects, IT and financing.