CMS Carey & Allende > Santiago, Chile > Firm Profile

CMS Carey & Allende > The Legal 500 Rankings

Chile > Corporate and M&A Tier 2

The 17-strong practice at CMS Carey & Allende is highly active in both local and international M&A transactions and demonstrates notable expertise across a broad array of industries including energy, private equity, financial services, manufacturing, IT, telecoms, infrastructure and utilities, along with real estate, construction, hospitality, leisure and life sciences. The corporate and M&A department is co-led by managing partner Ramón Valdivieso, who focuses primarily on M&A operations (both in Chile and elsewhere in Latin America via the CMS’ regional network); and ‘outstanding attorney‘ Jorge Allende D. Also key to the group are: Luis Felipe Arze, who is especially active in the energy (/natural resources), agribusiness, hospitality and regulated-markets’ sectors; and M&A and corporate law specialist Fernando De Cárcer. Experienced senior associates Sebastian Barros and Enrique Vergara both handle corporate and M&A work.

Energy and natural resources > Electricity and hydrocarbon Tier 2

Full-service law firm CMS Carey & Allende houses a nine-strong team that consistently acts on renewable energy and power transmission projects, including the regulatory aspects of power plant developments, permits, construction contracts, sub-contracting agreements and public concession bids. It also has extensive experience in advising major energy players on acquisitions, joint venture transactions, bidding processes, PPAs, and project finance. Additionally, the team is increasingly assisting companies with green hydrogen matters. Jorge Allende Z and Luis Felipe Arze both routinely advise on transmission line, electrical generation and NCRE projects, while Fernando De Cárcer's practice includes the development and financing of energy projects. The senior associate to note, Sebastián Barros brings notable expertise in transactions, project development and financing to the energy group.

Energy and natural resources > Mining Tier 2

‘An agile and available practice with significant experience in national and international mining', CMS Carey & Allende's practice group has longstanding experience in advising mining companies on the creation and acquisition of mining properties, as well as the financing, development and operation of mining projects. It also consistently assists with the negotiation and drafting of exploration agreements and mining easements for mining project developments. The team additionally acts for energy companies on the mining law aspects of projects, including the protection of projects’ subsoil. Department head Jorge Allende Z has longstanding mining projects experience that is complemented by his engineering and construction expertise. Recently promoted senior associate Manuel Ponce also routinely advises on mining and water rights.

Chile > Real estate Tier 2

Active across a range of sectors, CMS Carey & Allende's real estate group is particularly focused on urban and infrastructure developments, including contractual, tax, financial and property clearance aspects. It also assists with related regulatory matters, zoning issues, pipeline and power line developments, easements, and the expropriation and regularisation of the property titles of industrial plants. The team’s experience additionally extends to filing administrative and judicial appeals, administrative litigation, and the procurement of permits and licences. Heading the firm’s real estate, construction and public and regulatory law practices, ‘excellent lawyer', Pabla Gaínza's experience includes the planning of industrial distribution centres, shopping malls, casinos, hotels, residential areas and educational establishments. Senior associate Karin Muñoz‘s real estate projects practice includes housing, warehouse and equipment projects.

Chile > TMT Tier 2

The seven-member practice at CMS Carey & Allende's seven-strong group handles a broad range of IT and telecoms matters, including infrastructure deployment, the procurement of licences and concessions, and regulatory compliance. It also has notable payments-sector expertise, while TMC-related M&A, data protection and fintech are additional key areas. The group is jointly led by managing partner and co-head of the firm’s corporate/M&A group, Ramón Valdivieso, a former general manager for telecoms company Telex Chile; and Diego Rodríguez, a go-to adviser for fintech work. Telecoms specialist Ignacio Errazquin is also integral to the team. Former senior associate Alejandro Celedón left the firm in October 2021 for Chilean multinational IT company, SONDA.

Chile > Venture capital Tier 2

The 10-strong venture capital practice at CMS Carey & Allende routinely advises clients at each phase of their growth, through to exit stages; its expertise covers seed capital and financing rounds, due diligence, vesting plans, and regulatory analyses to determine businesses’ viability. The group also fields specialists in data protection, corporate governance and tax planning; clients additionally benefit from CMS' global legal accelerator programme, equIP, which nurtures the development of tech start-ups  in Chile, Brazil, Colombia, Mexico and Peru. Increasingly focused on VC matters, practice leader Diego Rodríguez routinely acts for start-ups in the technology and fintech sectors. Providing further partner-level support, Fernando De Cárcer's VC transactions practice includes advising entrepreneurs and investors on securing agreements that focus on growth for stakeholders. Former associate Ricardo Celedón left the firm in December 2021.

Chile > Banking and finance Tier 3

CMS Carey & Allende's five-member team handles syndicated loans, project finance and receivables-based credit agreements, with other key areas ranging from debt restructuring to the financing of international expansion plans and capital markets transactions. Clients also benefit from the group’s ability to leverage the expertise of M&A colleagues during big-ticket acquisition financings. Leading the group, Fernando De Cárcer's experience includes advising publicly-held companies on the issuance, registration and placement of securities. Other key advisers include hospitality, finance and natural resources specialist Jorge Allende Destuet; and senior associate Enrique Vergara, who advises both local and foreign clients on banking and finance matters.

Chile > Data privacy Tier 3

Housing a three-member ‘multidisciplinary team that adds value', CMS Carey & Allende is experienced in advising both domestic and international clients on Chile’s data protection legislation. The practice is also sought out by international clients to adapt and implement their data protection policies in Chile (further to the implementation of GDPR in Europe). Co-heading the firm’s TMC team, Diego Rodríguez's practice covers complex IT and commercial contracts, as well as regulatory matters concerning the telecoms and fintech industries.

Chile > Labour and employment Tier 3

The six-strong practice at CMS Carey & Allende routinely handles contracts, pay and compliance; high-stakes litigation; visas and immigration requirements; corporate deal-related employment advice; redundancy programmes and senior employee dismissals; and employee health and safety issues. The firm additionally houses experts in union issues and collective bargaining; its recent caseload includes advising clients on Covid-19-related emergency legislation, including liaising with key government bodies on uncertain points of law and practice. The employment and pensions group is led by Enzo Canales, who consistently acts on major employment matters; while at senior associate level Julio Frías ‘stands out for his technical knowledge and professionalism‘. Recently promoted senior Constanza Yáñez is also noted.

Chile > Projects and infrastructure Tier 3

CMS Carey & Allende fields experts in both the financial and legal-regulatory aspects of development projects. The 11-strong department’s specialisms include the feasibility and pre-contract management aspects of construction, operational and transfer issues; and in addition to major project financings, the team assists with power transmission, renewable energy, land easements, EPC contracts and water rights. The practice is led by Luis Felipe Arze, who is particularly active in non-conventional renewable energy (NCRE) projects, while Jorge Allende Z regularly advises on energy and mining projects. Also key to the group, Fernando De Cárcer assists with public and private tendering processes for infrastructure works; and senior associate Sebastián Barros is experienced in transactions, financings and project development.

Chile > Capital markets Tier 4

The seven-strong team at full-service firm CMS Carey & Allende frequently assists with private placements and public offerings, including IPOs and project bond issuances. The practice is co-led by managing partner Ramón Valdivieso, whose broad practice includes the issuance, registration, and placement of securities; and Jorge Allende D who focuses on M&A, capital market operations and private equity, and routinely acts for international clients from the hospitality, finance and natural resources sectors. Completing the partner-level team, Fernando De Cárcer advises on securities and the development of corporate governance practices; while senior associate Enrique Vergara ‘s practice includes corporate bonds work.

Chile > Dispute resolution: litigation Tier 4

Regularly acting before Chile;s Supreme Court and Courts of Appeal, CMS Carey & Allende‘s seven-member litigation group handles post-M&A disputes, tort actions, consumer protection, insolvency, corporate governance, public procurement and white-collar crime, for a client base drawn particularly from the construction, energy, telecoms, real estate and retail sectors. The dispute resolution and compliance groups are led by Rodrigo Campero, who undertakes both litigation and arbitration and demonstrates ‘detailed knowledge of clients’ cases‘; while the ‘highly efficient and proactive‘ Stephan Luhrmann (a partner since early 2021) heads the firm’s regulatory litigation and environmental departments. Key associate Hugo Ojeda (civil and commercial litigation; administrative sanctioning processes), is currently undertaking his LLM.

Chile > Environment Tier 4

CMS Carey & Allende‘s environmental law practice is particularly noted for its assistance with projects requiring government authorisation, the team routinely interacting with regional communities. Its expertise also includes the environmental assessments of power plant and mining projects. Clients additionally benefit from the firm’s robust environmental dispute resolution and litigation practice, which is able to leverage its colleagues’ administrative law expertise. Growth within the team includes the elevation to partner in early 2021 of Stephan Lührmann, who focuses on environmental litigation before the courts and administrative authorities.

Chile > Intellectual property Tier 4

CMS Carey & Allende’s three-member IP group specialises in the protection of industrial and intellectual property, particularly in relation to brands from the banking, technology, media, life sciences and fast-moving consumer goods sectors. Representative advice covers trade marks, patents, copyright, domain names, counterfeiting and piracy. The firm also has robust litigation and data protection practices. Leading the IP group, Matías Somarriva has substantial experience in trade marks, patents, industrial designs, copyright and counterfeiting.

Chile > Tax Tier 4

CMS Carey & Allende‘s five-member group consistently advises on national and international tax planning, indirect taxes, cross-border transactions, double taxation agreements, and tax planning for HNW individuals and families; and regularly works alongside the firm’s corporate and M&A practice on designing efficient tax structures for M&A deals, tax due diligence processes, and corporate reorganisations. Tax group head Diego García   is a tax planning and corporate restructuring specialist, while senior associate Gonzalo Serrano  regularly acts for HNW individuals. Former tax group director Cristóbal Groetaers    left the firm in late 2021 to co-found Groetaers, Gallegos & Cía.

Latin America: International firms > Banking and finance

CMS has a wide-ranging banking and finance practice in Latin America, given additional geographic coverage by its multiple offices in the region (Brazil, Chile, Peru, Colombia and Mexico). From acquisition financings to the development of fintech markets in key jurisdictions, the Latin America team benefits from the global firm’s standing and expertise in key segments, along with strong connections to top law firms in New York and elsewhere in North America. Its impressive client base includes private equity houses, corporates, government entities, banks and DFIs. Key partners include Fernando De Cárcer and Jorge Allende Destuet in Santiago, Daniel Rodríguez and Sergio Rodríguez-Azuero in Bogota, and Miguel Viale and Diego Peschiera  in Lima.

Latin America: International firms > Corporate and M&A

CMS has continued to cement its position in Latin America with local teams in Mexico, Colombia, Chile and Peru, and an international group in Brazil. The firm remains noted for its work in energy, including oil and gas, though with an increasing emphasis on renewables and energy transition sectors such as green hydrogen. Mining is another core strength, particularly in its Chile and Peru offices. Increasingly, the digital sector is an additional key area for many of the Latin America offices. The firm also continues to impress in private equity, especially in technology infrastructure segments – fibre optics, data centres and cell towers. Jorge Allende Destuet   and Ramón Valdivieso   are prominent names in M&A and private equity in Chile, Juan Carlos Escudero  is a key figure in Peru, Juan Camilo Rodríguez   is a leader in Colombia, and Ted Rhodes  has many years of experience in Latin America energy M&A, having led the Rio office since 2010.