Mr Cristóbal Pellegrini > Barros & Errázuriz > Santiago, Chile > Lawyer Profile

Full-service law firm Barros & Errázuriz has significant experience in energy-related matters, including electricity sector issues. The  13-strong team covers the negotiation of power purchase agreements (PPAs), regulatory issues, energy M&A, joint ventures, and acquisition processes. The firm is also home to specialists in project financing and energy-related disputes. On the renewable energy side, the team advises domestic, regional and international market players, developers and financiers on hydroelectric, wind and solar energy projects, as well as transmission lines. In energy litigation, the group’s track record includes successful lawsuits over the interpretation and application of large PPAs. The department is led by José Tomás Errázuriz, who advises on major energy projects, as well as energy litigation (in addition to leading the firm’s dispute resolution offering). The team further showcases Fernando Garrido, who has extensive experience in natural resources and energy project development, energy M&A, project finance, litigation, and energy companies’ general corporate matters; and Cristóbal Pellegrini, who is ‘a practical lawyer who knows the electricity market in Chile in depth’. Pellegrini focuses predominantly on energy project developments, PPAs, project finance, M&A transactions (including due diligence), corporate law, and litigation. Associates Catalina Vergara and Raimundo Ruiz are also experienced in energy projects.

Delivering ‘effective solutions’, Barros & Errázuriz’s sizeable practice has longstanding experience in high-stakes infrastructure and energy projects (and related transactions). The group is consistently mandated by developers, sponsors, constructors, operators, suppliers and financiers on tendering processes, as well as public and private works concessions, in relation to highways, prisons, airports, logistics centres, seaports and land terminals. It also assists with both renewable, conventional and transmission energy projects; mining companies’ large desalination projects; and high-value project financings. The practice is co-led by Nicolás Balmaceda, who focuses on infrastructure and financing work, as well as energy projects, public works concessions, engineering, construction, and arbitration; and infrastructure and energy project expert Francisco De la Barra, a regular adviser to sponsors, financial institutions, equity investors, export credit agencies, construction companies and development banks on project development and financing. The department further includes Fernando Garrido, who assists energy industry clients with the development, permitting, environmental and contractual aspects of generation and transmission projects; Cristóbal Pellegrini, a specialist in the project financing of large generation and transmission facilities; María Olga Rivera, who has notable port industry expertise; and mining project practitioner Felipe Allende. At senior associate level, Diego Ovalle and Nicole Ubal are the names to note.