Mr Bernardo Simian > Barros & Errázuriz > Santiago, Chile > Lawyer Profile

‘Always thinking about the deal’s completion’, Barros & Errázuriz‘s 47-strong group has a significant market reputation for high-profile private acquisitions, listed companies’ cross-border takeovers, acquisitions of controlling and minority interests, divestitures and corporate restructuring programmes. The full-service corporate and M&A department, which regularly leverages the expertise of the firm’s tax, antitrust, banking & finance, competition, energy and real estate specialists, is co-led by highly-rated M&A experts Pablo Guerrero and Bernardo Simian. The practice also comprises Fernando Barros, who, in addition to leading the firm’s tax offering, advises on investment projects, corporate structures and business strategies; managing partner Cristián Barros and Luis Alberto Letelier (both advisers on M&A and capital markets); and Emilio Vásquez and Carlos Ducci, who are experienced in corporate law, foreign investment, M&A and joint ventures. The next line of key partners includes Sergio Eguiguren, whose workload encompasses M&A and general corporate advice; experienced corporate law practitioner Lucas Marinovic; and Vicente Cordero, who in addition to being ‘a strategic contributor to the completion of transactions’, has relocated to head-up the firm’s New York office, which is due to open its doors this month (October 2024). In the firm’s senior associate team, Jorge Covarrubias advises on M&A and general corporate matters; Mary Anne Homann‘s workload includes assisting local clients with everyday corporate issues; and Felipe Ríos is experienced in M&A and corporate law.

Barros & Errázuriz‘s sizeable banking and finance practice acts for both lenders and borrowers on high-stakes financing transactions. The group is particularly active in energy and infrastructure project finance deals; and is additionally able to leverage the firm’s strong real estate, energy, environmental and regulatory credentials. Clients further benefit from the firm’s affiliation with the Affinitas network, which fosters collaboration on regional banking, finance and capital markets developments with peers in Colombia, Mexico and Peru. The practice recently advised Ares Management on the negotiation and restructuring of mezzanine credit agreements totalling $280m. Co-leading the team, Francisco De la Barra‘s track record includes several local and international structured financings of projects; and Enrique Barros V is a corporate and structured finance specialist. The group also showcases veteran banking and finance practitioner Nicolás Balmaceda; Bernardo Simian, an adviser on both bank financings and capital markets deals; and structured and corporate finance expert María Olga Rivera. In the senior associate ranks, Nicole Ubal‘s practice covers corporate financing, projects finance and refinancing; José Miguel Poblete is experienced in project finance; and Jean Andre Petit focuses on both domestic and cross-border transactions. Former fellow senior Valentina Villalobos moved in-house at Pacific Hydro Chile in October 2023.