Mr Jaime Munro > Baker McKenzie Chile > Santiago, Chile > Lawyer Profile

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.

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.

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.

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.