Firm Profile > Cariola Díez Pérez-Cotapos > Santiago, Chile

Cariola Díez Pérez-Cotapos Offices

Cariola Díez Pérez-Cotapos
AV. ANDRÉS BELLO 2711, 19TH FLOOR
LAS CONDES
SANTIAGO
Chile
Visit website 56 2 2360 4000 56 2 2360 4030

Cariola Díez Pérez-Cotapos > The Legal 500 Rankings

Corporate and M&A Tier 1

At Cariola Díez Pérez-Cotapos, 'partners and associates from all the firm's practices really do act as a team, something that is very difficult to find nowadays'. The corporate practice covers both domestic and cross-border acquisitions of private and public companies, complex corporate mergers and spin-offs, joint ventures, private equity and venture capital deals, and corporate restructuring transactions. The team recently advised on M&A deals involving sectors such as mining, energy, infrastructure, banking and financial services, insurance and media, while the compliance practice is focused on antitrust, unfair competition and consumer protection laws. Notable clients include Ripley, Enel, Rabobank, Principal Financial Group, Renovalia Energy Chile The Coca-Cola Company and Turner Broadcasting. Recent mandates saw the team advise Legend Holdings' subsidiary Joyvio Group on its $880m acquisition of listed-company Australis Seafoods, and  Canadian holding company ATCO on its $340m acquisition of a 40 per cent stake in Chilean port operation and development company, Neltume Ports. Other highlights included assisting AccorHotels on its $105m purchase (together with Chilean group Algeciras), of Atton Hoteles; and -in a significant bank assurance deal- act for Chubb Seguros on its strategic alliance with Banco de Chile (and its subsidiary Banchile). The firm has a very strong bench that includes José Luis Letelier, Sergio Díez, the recently returned Gerardo Varela, Cristián Herrera and Juan Pablo Matus. Other highly-rated partners are Francisco J Illanes, Carlos Pérez-Cotapos, Gonzalo Grez, Pedro Lluch and Sebastián Obach. Jorge Boldt is the compliance contact. The team was further strengthened in January 2020 with the appointment of the transaction-focused Andrea Saffie, and Tomás Vidal (whose practice centers on corporate and commercial matters), to the partnership.

Mining Tier 1

Cariola Díez Pérez-Cotapos assists foreign and local clients on the exploration, development, financing and operation of mining projects,  as well as worksite closures and associated issues; it also advises on significant acquisitions and sales of mining companies and assets. The team acted for Appian Capital Advisory on its acquisition of a 30 per cent stake of the outstanding share capital of Compañia Minera Caserones from Minera Auromin; and Goldcorp on the contribution of Minera Eton (owner of the Caspiche Project), to Compañia Minera Casale. Carlos Pérez-Cotapos and Gonzalo Grez, along with senior associate Cristóbal Herrera, are the names to note. Key clients include Rio Tinto, Goldcorp, Hudbay Minerals, BHP, Planta Recuperadora de Metales and Mineral Mining.

Real estate Tier 1

Cariola Díez Pérez-Cotapos 'has a well-coordinated and talented team that is very experienced in complex matters'. It advises on the purchase and sale of large shopping malls, office buildings and utilities' real estate assets. The practice is also highly regarded for its assistance with real estate greenfield projects, such as industrial plants and data centres, and advises on construction issues. Clients include Turner Broadcasting System, Accor Hotels, KPMG Auditores Consultores and RaboFinance Chile, Recent matters saw the team advise Ripley  with the sale of real estate in Santiago and Concepción, which included the cancellation of existing liens on the properties. It also advised WeWork Chile, as lessee, on its lease agreement with Inversiones Centro Sur. Juan Pablo Matus is the principal contact.

Banking and finance Tier 2

Cariola Díez Pérez-Cotapos' 'lawyers are effective and responsive, and give sound advice; they are also commercially minded and work well with counterparties to close deals'. The 12-strong practice group is highly rated for its structuring of financial transactions, particularly cross-border loans. Other key areas include project finance in relation to the mining, energy and infrastructure sectors, acquisition and corporate finance, complex restructurings, secured financing for agriculture producers, derivatives, and trade finance; the practice also has a robust finance-regulatory capability. An impressive lender-side client list includes Rabobank, Banco Santander, Banco BICE, BBVA Spain; Bank of New York, BNP and Itaú Corpbanca, as well as corporate heavywights such as Southern Cross Group and state rail entity Empresa de Ferrocarriles del Estado (EFE). Among recent matters, the team acted as special Chilean counsel to Crédit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank (as administrative agent), BNP Paribas (as documentation agent) and other lenders in a $500m senior unsecured revolving credit facility to Enel Américas. On the borrower's side, it also advised Fray Leon International (a Panamanian subsidiary of Chile's Von Appen Burose group), on a $20m term loan agreement granted by Banco de Crédito Inversiones (Miami branch) to finance the acquisition of both a maritime vessel and real estate. Rodrigo Sepúlveda, Francisco Illanes and the 'highly talented' Juan Antonio Parodi are the names to note.

Competition and antitrust Tier 2

'Always available for its clients', the team at Cariola Díez Pérez-Cotapos is highly-regarded for merger control and regularly acts in cartel and abuse-of-dominance cases. With a large base of consumer goods clients, the practice is noted for fielding lawyers with particular retail-sector expertise and it also assists with IP-related competition law matters. Key, active clients include Unilever, Warner Media, The Coca-Cola Company, Praxair, Ripley and Accor. Recent madates include representing American Airlines in the submission of a Joint Business Agreement for FNE and TDLC approval; and representing GNL Chile before the TDLC with regard to the structure of the gas market (an issue currently pending on appeal before the Supreme Court). Practice head Juan Cristóbal Gumucio 'has extraordinary capabilities during complex negotiations' and can call on Pedro Lluch for additional, experienced partner-level support. Former senior associate Jorge Grunberg left to establish Grunberg Puyol in mid-2018 but the practice was buoyed with the return of senior associates Camila Rojas and Elías Astudillo following their respective Masters' degrees.

Environment Tier 2

Cariola Díez Pérez-Cotapos 'has very good knowledge of environmental practice'. The team regularly assists with the environmental law aspects of power-plant developments and advises on sanctioning procedures before the authorities. Active clients include BHP Billiton, Iansa, Stericycle, SGS Laboratories and Cognita; and recent mandates saw the team advise diversified global corporation ATCO on the environmental due diligence required for the acquisition of a 40 per cent stake in Neltume Ports. Gonzalo Jiménez is highly rated and Martín Astorga 'gets very involved in his clients' issues, providing comprehensive legal advice not only when required, but also when new environmental regulations are issued'.

Labour and employment Tier 2

Cariola Díez Pérez-Cotapos is well known for its expertise in collective bargaining, immigration and the labour-law issues surrounding company restructuring; the team is also experienced in advising on compensation packages, stock option plans and the tax aspects of employment benefits.  Notable clients include adidas, Ripley, Coca-Cola and  IBM de Chile; the team recently assisted the latter with several union issues that arose from collective bargaining agreements. Ricardo Tisi is highly rated and Bárbara Zlatar is a notable associate.

Projects and infrastructure Tier 2

Cariola Díez Pérez-Cotapos' client base for projects includes private equity funds, mining companies and industrial entities. Representative work includes advising on the development and construction issues of power plant and transportation projects, as well as M&A, financing and planning aspects. Recent mandates saw the team advise Chile's Banco de Crédito e Inversiones on the financing for a 20MW hydroelectric generation plant. Senior and managing partner José Luis Letelier, Carlos Pérez-Cotapos and Juan Pablo Matus are the key contacts, along with Cristián Herrera, Gonzalo Grez, Gonzalo Jiménez and Rodrigo Sepúlveda.

TMT Tier 2

Cariola Díez Pérez-Cotapos 'has deep understanding and knowledge of technology'. The practice is experienced in advising IT, telecoms, media and internet companies on their investments in Chilean companies, joint ventures, transactional IP matters and TMT-related litigation; the department also has a robust IT and media-related regulatory practice and assists with data processing, large infrastructure projects involving technology companies, and TMT corporate matters. The client list includes names such as Turner Broadcasting, Fox International Channels, Google, Comscore. and Chilevisión. Highlights included assisting Turner International Latin America with the acquisition of Canal del Fútbol from the Chilean Football Association along with the Chilean League's transmission rights for 15 years. Technology, privacy and media group head Rodrigo Lavados has 'proven experience in contracts with software companies'.

Dispute resolution Tier 3

Cariola Díez Pérez-Cotapos is 'an excellent law firm for large and complex cases, and its ability to integrate teams is exceptional'. The practice is experienced in advising on litigation involving environmental law, regulatory issues, securities, tax, competition law and consumer protection issues, and is also well known for class action defences. Recent work saw Florencio Bernales advise broker Larrain Vial (and two of its executives) in administrative litigation against $40m in fines imposed by the SVS as a result of the Cascadas case; Raimundo Moreno assist Girsa with several debt collection actions filed against the Municipality of Valparaíso; and Fernando Urrutia act for CDM in an easment dispute with state-entity, CDE. Jorge Boldt , who made partner in 2018, is the other key contact; senior associate José Ignacio Azar is also noted. Clients include BHP Billiton, KPMG Chile, IBM Chile, Ripley and Google.

Insurance Tier 3

Cariola Díez Pérez-Cotapos is 'always available to answer client's queries'. The team is experienced in advising large industrial and commercial clients on their claims against insurance companies, particularly in relation to the construction, mining, retail and distribution centre sectors; the team also assists with the review of insurance policies, negotiations with insurance and reinsurance companies and the development of new business. Active clients include Maersk Chile, Sandvik Chile, Vida Tres and Ripley; recent matters saw the team assist the latter with the adjustment procedure following two robberies at its San Bernardo distribution centre. An 'experienced figure',  Florencio Bernales is the principal adviser.

Public law Tier 3

Cariola Díez Pérez-Cotapos advises on the public law aspects of gas distribution, energy generation, transmission and distribution, water regulations, and telecoms. The practice group also has expertise in constitutional law cases and recently advised clients on diverse matters including securities regulations and mandates from the food and beverage and education sectors. Head of regulatory matters, Gonzalo Jiménez leads the six strong practice group, which was substantially strengthened by the arrival of Carolina Helfmann (constitutional, environmental and regulatory law), formerly a senior associate at Prieto Abogados, as counsel.

Tax Tier 3

Cariola Díez Pérez-Cotapos advises on the tax aspect of acquisition structuring and the restructuring of existing investments; the team has also developed particular expertise in the tax rules affecting financial institutions and has a robust tax litigation practice. The team recently acted as tax adviser to Goldcorp in relation to a joint venture project with Barrick involving one of the largest undeveloped gold deposits in the world; IBM, Rabobank and Rolls Royce Marine Chile are also clients. Javier Cerón is the principal contact.

Electricity/oil and gas

Cariola Díez Pérez-Cotapos is particularly well known for its advice on greenfield thermal power plants; the practice is also increasingly active in assisting foreign and local companies with mini-hydro, solar and wind farms developments. Clients include Metro de Santiago, Enel Distribución and BHP Billiton; recent work saw the team advise Empresas Públicas de Medellín on the development and operation of Parque Eólico Los Cururos, a wind farm in northern Chile. Gonzalo Jiménez is the name to note.

Cariola Díez Pérez-Cotapos > Firm Profile

Cariola Díez Pérez-Cotapos (Cariola) is Chile’s leading law firm with 100 attorneys and a team of over 250 people. As a full-service firm Cariola Díez Pérez-Cotapos adds value to its clients through all of it’s areas of practice: general corporate, mergers and acquisitions, mining and natural resources, environmental, banking, finance, project finance and capital markets, tax, employment, litigation and arbitration, energy (hydro, solar, wind, biomass, thermal, geothermal), oil and gas, public utilities and infrastructure, media and telecommunications, antitrust and competition law, hotels and resorts, casinos, aquaculture and fisheries, as well as real estate and urban development, in order to provide a thorough service in all areas that are relevant for doing business in Chile.

The firm has at least one partner in charge of an assigned case, leading a team of associate lawyers and specialized attorneys who provide the best solution across all areas of law. During a transaction, a leading partner works with the most experienced and specialized lawyers in their areas of practice, encouraging their specialty in the different areas and giving an excellent service to clients.

Cariola is proud of being one of the top firms in Chile due to its local and international experience. The firm has been advising international and foreign large and mid-sized companies in different transactions for more than 50 years; many of those companies are still its clients. The firm frequently joins international working groups in connection with acquisitions, due diligence, project work, tax planning, corporate compliance, antitrust and litigation. It also advises foreign investors, foreign banks and financial institutions carrying out financial transactions and/or structuring project financing in Chile. The firm’s lawyers are accustomed to working in close co-ordination with in-house legal counsel of international corporations and international law firms.

Cariola’s lawyers are trained to be proactive in the best interest of clients, especially those based abroad. They are on top of legal and business developments and provide information on changes in the legal framework and policies, informing on the effects that these changes might have for clients and their projects.

The partners and associate lawyers of Cariola are outstanding practitioners and have gained recognition in the academic field by lecturing as professors in Chile’s most respected law schools and universities. The team are at least bilingual, and many members of the firm hold postgraduate degrees from universities in the US or Europe and have spent time abroad training at international law firms.

The firm’s Asia-Pacific desk has increased its presence in Asia-Pacific, especially in China, by organizing and participating in seminars and conferences in China and establishing contacts with Chinese authorities, chambers of commerce and other social and business organizations. In our client portfolio we are proud to have several Chinese companies, both state-owned and private, engaged in sectors of business such as mining, agroindustry, automotive, industrial and heavy machinery. In order to consolidate our relationship with Asian investors, our firm has created the Asia-Pacific Desk through which we are prepared to conduct all the China- and Asia-Pacific-related transactions handled by our firm and to provide specialized services to our clients.

Sargent & Krahn is the sister company of the general law practice firm Cariola. It is the oldest and most experienced firm offering legal services in intellectual property (IP) in Chile. The firm provides services in all areas of IP, including: trademarks; patents, utility models and industrial designs; pharmaceutical law and data protection; copyrights; technology, privacy and media; domain names; contracts; unfair competition and consumer protection; litigation, geographical indications; designations of origin and plant breeder’s rights.

Main Contacts

Department Name Email Telephone
Antitrust / Competition Juan Cristóbal Gumucio jcgumucio@cariola.cl +562 2368 3559
Banking, Finance and Capital Markets Francisco J. Illanes fjillanes@cariola.cl +562 2360 4040
Banking, Finance and Capital Markets Rodrigo Sepúlveda rsepulveda@cariola.cl +562 2360 4042
Banking, Finance and Capital Markets Juan Antonio Parodi jparodi@cariola.cl +562 2360 4048
Corporate and M&A José Luis Letelier jletelier@cariola.cl +562 2368 3588
Corporate and M&A Sergio Díez sdiez@cariola.cl +562 2368 3583
Corporate and M&A Pedro Lluch plluch@cariola.cl +562 2368 3585
Corporate and M&A Gerardo Varela gvarela@cariola.cl +562 2368 3585
Corporate and M&A Juan Pablo Matus jpmatus@cariola.cl +562 2368 3588
Corporate and M&A Cristián Herrera cherrera@cariola.cl +562 2368 3596
Energy Gonzalo Jiménez gjimenez@cariola.cl +562 2360 4047
Energy Sergio Díez sdiez@cariola.cl +562 2368 3583
Environmental Gonzalo Jiménez gjimenez@cariola.cl +562 2360 4047
Environmental Martín Astorga mastorga@cariola.cl +562 2360 4047
Intellectual Property Alfredo Montaner amontaner@cariola.cl +562 2368 3557
Intellectual Property Juan Pablo Egaña jpegana@cariola.cl +562 2368 3554
Intellectual Property Rodrigo Lavados rlavados@cariola.cl +562 2368 3557
Litigation and arbitration Florencio Bernales fbernales@cariola.cl +562 2360 4006
Litigation and arbitration Fernando Urrutia furrutia@cariola.cl +562 2655 6006
Litigation and arbitration Raimundo Moreno rmoreno@cariola.cl +562 2360 4006
Litigation and arbitration Jorge Boldt jboldt@cariola.cl +562 2655 6006
Labor and employment Ricardo Tisi rtisi@cariola.cl +562 2360 4028
Mining and Natural Resources Carlos Pérez-Cotapos cperez-cotapos@cariola.cl +562 2368 3591
Mining and Natural Resources Gonzalo Grez ggrez@cariola.cl +562 2368 3591
Real Estate Juan Pablo Matus jpmatus@cariola.cl +562 2368 3588
Taxation Javier Cerón jceron@cariola.cl +562 2360 4028
White Collar and Compliance Jorge Boldt jboldt@cariola.cl +562 2655 6006

Lawyer Profiles

Photo Name Position Profile
Mr Martín Astorga photo Mr Martín Astorga View Profile
Mr Florencio Bernales photo Mr Florencio Bernales View Profile
Mr Jorge Boldt photo Mr Jorge Boldt View Profile
Mr Javier Cerón photo Mr Javier Cerón View Profile
Mr Sergio Díez photo Mr Sergio Díez View Profile
Mr Juan Pablo Egaña photo Mr Juan Pablo Egaña View Profile
Mr Gonzalo Grez photo Mr Gonzalo Grez View Profile
Mr Juan Cristóbal Gumucio photo Mr Juan Cristóbal Gumucio View Profile
Mr Cristián Herrera photo Mr Cristián Herrera View Profile
Mr Francisco J Illanes photo Mr Francisco J Illanes View Profile
Mr Gonzalo Jiménez photo Mr Gonzalo Jiménez View Profile
Mr Rodrigo Lavados photo Mr Rodrigo Lavados View Profile
Mr José Luis Letelier photo Mr José Luis Letelier View Profile
Mr Pedro Lluch photo Mr Pedro Lluch View Profile
Mr Juan Pablo Matus photo Mr Juan Pablo Matus View Profile
Mr Alfredo Montaner photo Mr Alfredo Montaner View Profile
Mr Raimundo Moreno photo Mr Raimundo Moreno View Profile
Mr Carlos Pérez-Cotapos photo Mr Carlos Pérez-Cotapos View Profile
Mr Juan Antonio Parodi photo Mr Juan Antonio Parodi View Profile
Mr Rodrigo Sepúlveda photo Mr Rodrigo Sepúlveda View Profile
Mr Ricardo Tisi photo Mr Ricardo Tisi View Profile
Mr Fernando Urrutia photo Mr Fernando Urrutia View Profile
Mr Gerardo Varela photo Mr Gerardo Varela View Profile

Staff Figures

Other fee-earners : 77
Total staff : 250

Languages

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Other

Partners : 23

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