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

Cariola Díez Pérez-Cotapos > The Legal 500 Rankings

Chile > Corporate and M&A Tier 1

The ‘very complete' 44-strong practice at Cariola Díez Pérez-Cotapos is consistently sought out for its expertise in joint ventures, private equity and venture capital deals, as well as the acquisition of private and public companies. It also houses specialists in mergers and spin-offs, along with corporate restructuring transactions; and boasts a recent transactional track-record that is particularly strong in the mining, energy, infrastructure, insurance, media, and banking (/financial service) sectors, among others. The practice group houses a core group of highly in-demand partners; namely senior figures Francisco J Illanes (‘a leading lawyer in the local legal environment' who also has extensive international experience); corporate law expert Sergio Díez; M&A specialist Gerardo Varela; and Cristián Herrera, who advises on corporate/M&A, foreign investment and securities regulations; while Juan Pablo Matus and recently promoted Tomás Vidal ‘both demonstrate great technical knowledge'. Corporate, natural resources and mining law specialist Carlos Pérez-Cotapos; mining contracts expert Gonzalo Grez; and Andrea Saffie are also integral to the practice, as is José Luis Letelier, who has longstanding corporate law, M&A and foreign investment expertise. At senior associate level, María Francisca Salas and Sergio Balharry  are active M&A advisers.

Energy and natural resources > Mining Tier 1

The seven-strong mining team at full-service firm Cariola Díez Pérez-Cotapos has a particularly strong track record in mining companies’ M&A deals, as well as the exploration, development, financing and operation of mining projects. It also assists with worksite closures and associated aspects. The practice is jointly led by the 2021-2022 co-chair of the IBA Mining Committee, Carlos Pérez-Cotapos, who is regularly sought out for major foreign mining investment projects, mining sector-related M&A transactions, and the financing of mining projects; and Gonzalo Grez, who has notable expertise in mining-related hi-tech agreements, along with other mining-chain matters, community and land access issues, and cross-border transactions. Routinely handling mining and natural resources law work, senior associate Cristóbal Herrera leads the firm’s associate team for this area.

Chile > Real estate Tier 1

Cariola Díez Pérez-Cotapos' ‘outstanding' eight-member practice is consistently sought out for significant real estate M&A transactions, such as the purchase and sale of shopping malls, office buildings and utilities’ real estate assets. It also houses experts in greenfield real-estate projects (notably, industrial plants and large data centres), as well as the regulations concerning urbanism and territorial development matters. It is additionally on hand to assist with the construction issues surrounding industrial, commercial and energy projects. Co-leading the group are Juan Pablo Matus, who advises on the development of shopping malls and industrial, office and residential projects; and Tomás Vidal (made partner in 2020), whose track record includes acting for foreign funds on the acquisition of office buildings in Chile and the management of condominiums. Within the associate pool, Daniela Fierro is ‘always available to solve complex issues'. Mónica Pavez moved in-house at Ripley Chile in June 2021.

Chile > Banking and finance Tier 2

Routinely advising international banks, financial institutions, and private and state-owned companies, Cariola Díez Pérez-Cotapos‘ eleven-member banking and finance practice is particularly active in cross-border financings and structured finance transactions with complex security packages. Other key segments include project finance (particularly energy, mining and infrastructure projects); acquisition finance and domestic corporate financings; secured financing for agriculture producers and fish farming operations; and derivatives and trade finance. Fintech is also a growing area for the firm. The practice is co-led by senior partner, banking and finance veteran Francisco Illanes; renewable energy and infrastructure finance specialist Rodrigo Sepúlveda; and Juan Antonio Parodi, who has extensive experience in financing and refinancing transactions, syndicated loans and project finance. At senior associate level, Sergio Balharry‘s primarily corporate transactional practice also extends into  finance (and refinancing), securities matters and bankruptcy/restructuring.

Chile > Capital markets Tier 2

The 11-strong practice at Cariola Díez Pérez-Cotapos routinely advises investment banks and financial advisers, as well as investors and issuers, on debt and equity securities' offerings in Chile and abroad. Examples include IPOs, 144A/Reg. S deals, private placements, American depositary receipts, and the public offering of securities on the international and Chilean markets. The team is co-led by widely respected senior partner Francisco J Illanes; Rodrigo Sepúlveda, whose CM practice focuses on debt issuances and other capital instruments, and who has extensive experience working with Chilena state-owned companies; and Juan Antonio Parodi, who acts for both issuers and underwriters. At senior associate level, Sergio Balharry has experience in bond issuances. Florencia Grez left for MBC Abogados in June 2021.

Chile > Competition and antitrust Tier 2

The 11-strong, ‘very dedicated free competition practice‘ at Cariola Díez Pérez-Cotapos straddles the full range of both non-contentious and contentious competition work. The team’s expertise covers merger-control matters, along with cartel and abuse-of-dominance cases. Clients additionally benefit from the group’s retail industry expertise, as well as its ability to leverage the firm’s enviable IP credentials for competition issues. The competition practice is led by ‘excellent lawyer‘ Juan Cristóbal Gumucio, who is highly rated for his experience in merger control, contentious antitrust cases involving cartels and unilateral conduct, and compliance programmes; corporate law specialist Gerardo Varela provides additional partner-level support. Within the associate pool, seniors Camila Rojas and Catalina González both regularly advise on merger transaction and compliance work, while Cristóbal Lema and José Manuel Donoso also maintain active competition practices.

Chile > Consumer and advertising law Tier 2

Cariola Díez Pérez-Cotapos' consumer and advertising law practice routinely acts for major advertising clients, while also assisting with heavyweight litigation and non-contentious advice surrounding food products’ labelling. The department additionally has impressive experience in acting before the Self-Regulating Advertising Board (CONAR), while in consumer-related work, the team assists with companies with consumer claims. Leading the technology, privacy and media group, Rodrigo Lavados is an IP specialist, whose practice also covers consumer protection; competition law practice head Juan Cristóbal Gumucio provides additional partner-level support; and senior associate Gabriel Pensa's broad practice expertise includes advertising, consumer protection and food labelling. In October 2021, former senior associate  Felipe Fernández left the firm to become a partner at Ernst & Young (Santiago).

Chile > Dispute resolution: arbitration Tier 2

Arbitration is a core area for full-service firm Cariola Díez Pérez-Cotapos and the 18-strong practice has longstanding experience in complex arbitral cases involving international infrastructure disputes, shareholder disputes, and mining companies’ energy supply contracts, among other matters. The arbitration group, which comprises partners who are 'personally involved in every case' and includes two CAM Santiago arbitrators, is co-led by Florencio Bernales, the current chair of the Chilean Bar’s Arbitration Commission; Fernando Urrutia , a construction arbitration expert; Raimundo Moreno , whose recent caseload includes investment arbitrations; and Jorge Boldt, who is active in both civil and criminal matters. At senior associate level, José Ignacio Azar is a former foreign associate in the international arbitration and dispute resolution group at Debevoise & Plimpton LLP's New York office, while Trinidad Torres' recent experience includes seconding Bernales in a number of significant arbitration proceedings.

Chile > Dispute resolution: litigation Tier 2

‘A first-class, serious and reliable law firm', Cariola Díez Pérez-Cotapos houses an 18-member department that has a strong litigation track-record, frequently including disputes against the State or state agencies. Representative work includes litigation involving environmental, regulatory, energy, mining, securities and tax issues. Other areas of expertise range from construction disputes, insurance and torts, to competition and consumer protection issues, including class action defences. The litigation and arbitration practices are co-led by highly-regarded disputes specialist Florencio Bernales, who is ‘extremely focused on protecting clients’ businesses'; Fernando Urrutia is highly active in construction claims and insolvency-related proceedings; Raimundo Moreno (contractual and tort processes; unfair competition), who ‘stands out for his legal knowledge'; and Jorge Boldt , a civil and criminal law specialist. At senior associate level, José Ignacio Azar is a former Debevoise & Plimpton LLP foreign associate, while Trinidad Torres regularly seconds Bernales in litigation.

Chile > Environment Tier 2

With ‘solid mastery of specific issues‘, Cariola Díez Pérez-Cotapos' six-strong practice is particularly noted for its environmental law advice on the development of industrial and telecoms facilities. Recent highlights include assisting ENEX with defending a sanctioning process initiated by the Environmental Superintendence for alleged non-compliance with light-pollution emission standards. The practice is co-led by Martín Astorga, who has longstanding experience in public and environmental law regulations, particularly environmental impact assessments (EIAs), atmospheric emissions and territorial planning; and energy, environmental and regulatory expert Gonzalo Jiménez (environmental impact studies, concessions and permits). At associate level, senior Verónica Cuadra is ‘accurate in her advice‘, while Raúl Alvarez and Miguel Ortiz are both active members of the firm’s regulatory and environmental law practices.

Chile > Labour and employment Tier 2

The six-strong practice at Cariola Díez Pérez-Cotapos has a strong market reputation for its experience in collective bargaining, immigration and company restructuring-related labour issues. It is also sought out for its experience in compensation packages, stock option plans, data privacy-related labour matters, and the tax aspects of labour benefits. Clients additionally benefit from the firm’s Chilean membership of L&E Global (a worldwide alliance of employers’ counsel). The practice is jointly headed by Ricardo Tisi  , who ‘stands out for his knowledge of labour and trade union matters‘, and labour and corporate immigration specialist Bárbara Zlatar , who was made partner in January 2022 (as was labour law and people management expert Ignacia López  in April). At associate level, Sebastián Krebs  has significant expertise in labour trials. Josefina Rivera left the firm in September 2021.

Chile > Projects and infrastructure Tier 2

The 20-strong team at Cariola Díez Pérez-Cotapos‘ has a strong track record in greenfield energy, telecoms and mining projects, as well as being active in infrastructure and real estate matters. Being full-service, the practice’s infrastructure expertise includes planning, development and construction issues, as well as M&A and financing. The group is jointly led by seven partners: mining expert Carlos Pérez-Cotapos; managing partner Juan Pablo Matus, who advises on corporate matters, M&A and real estate law; Cristián Herrera whose broad practice includes infrastructure projects; natural resources and mining co-leader Gonzalo Grez; regulatory law head Gonzalo Jiménez; Rodrigo Sepúlveda, who acts on the financing of electricity distribution and generation projects; and commercial, corporate and real estate specialist Tomás Vidal (a partner since 2020). Associates Verónica Cuadra, Daniela Fierro  and Cristóbal Herrera are also key team members.

Chile > TMT Tier 2

Cariola Díez Pérez-Cotapos' sizeable TMT department is sought out by IT, telecoms, media and internet companies for its advice on joint ventures, investments, disputes and transactional IP matters. The firm also fields regulatory specialists in relation to IT and media projects, while additional specialisms include data processing, along with infrastructure projects involving technology components and corporate issues. The firm’s technology, privacy and media group is co-led by software and database expert, Rodrigo Lavados, who additionally assists with IP work; and Francisco Illanes, who also leads the financial, banking and capital markets group. Among the firm’s senior associate pool, Gabriel Pensa's practice includes IT, telecoms and data protection work. Felipe Fernández exited the firm to join Ernst & Young (Santiago) in November 2021.

Chile > Bankruptcy, insolvency and restructuring Tier 3

The seven-member team at Cariola Díez Pérez-Cotapos is regularly retained for complex liquidation and reorganisation proceedings; and clients benefit from the practice’s ability to combine its expertise in bankruptcy proceedings and financial restructuring, with the wider firm’s capabilities in tax, litigation, and white-collar crime. The insolvency department is co-led by Fernando Urrutia, whose litigation workload includes reorganisations and bankruptcy cases, and Raimundo Moreno, who frequently handles reorganisation and liquidation proceedings. Litigation and arbitration associate José Pedro Villablanca is also a key team member.

Chile > Compliance Tier 3

The four-strong compliance department at Cariola Díez Pérez-Cotapos routinely assists with administrative infringements involving internal fraud, investigations, and fraud committed against third parties. Representative work ranges from criminal proceedings to the implementation and monitoring of compliance models. In recent highlights, the team advised DNB Bank (Agencia en Chile) on the design and implementation of a money laundering and terrorist financing compliance programme. A partner since 2018, arbitration and litigation specialist Jorge Boldt   -who also heads up the firm’s white-collar practice- has an active compliance practice; associates Lorena Avendaño  and Simona Marquet  similarly assist with dispute resolution, white-collar and compliance work.

Chile > Data privacy Tier 3

Cariola Díez Pérez-Cotapos‘s technology, privacy and media group is headed up by Rodrigo Lavados (a partner since 2015), who, in addition to his strong focus on software and database-related IP matters, specialises in data privacy work. Lavados’ also handles fintech regulation, advertising, entertainment law, image law, unfair competition and consumer protection matters. At senior associate level, Gabriel Pensa advises on IT, telecoms and data protection matters. Felipe Fernández joined Ernst & Young (Santiago) as an associated partner in November 2021.

Chile > Dispute resolution: white-collar crime Tier 3

Traditionally known for intellectual and industrial property-related criminal matters, Cariola Díez Pérez-Cotapos‘ white-collar and compliance practice was formally established in 2016 by Jorge Boldt, whose practice covers companies’ internal investigations, the design and implementation of compliance models, and trials involving economic crimes. The five-strong group is also experienced in assisting with major cases involving internal and external frauds, unlawful administration, corruption and tax crimes; the majority of the team’s work focuses on criminal claimant-side matters and victim’s advisory and assessment, rather than criminal defence. Key senior associate Lorena Avendaño frequently seconds Boldt during criminal cases and internal investigations, while Pablo Cariola handles criminal matters concerning IP infringements.

Energy and natural resources > Electricity and hydrocarbon Tier 3

The recent track record of Cariola Díez Pérez-Cotapos' seven-strong group includes advising on gas pipelines, coal-fired power plants developments, and energy companies’ M&A. Its experience also includes the financing for a marine natural gas regasification terminal, PPA contracts, non-conventional renewable energy (NCRE) projects, green hydrogen production; and energy supply contract-related arbitrations. Heading the practice, Gonzalo Jiménez's experience includes assisting local electricity-consuming companies with tender processes; Sergio Díez is a specialist in wind farm greenfield projects; and Martín Astorga is noted for the environmental aspect of energy projects. Key associate Verónica Cuadra routinely advises on electricity regulations.

Chile > Public law Tier 3

Cariola Díez Pérez-Cotapos‘ six-member regulatory law department comprises experts in the relationships between private companies and governmental agencies and institutions. The team is particularly focused on environmental matters and energy projects, while also offering assistance with matters ranging from gas distribution, water regulations, telecoms and retail, to medical devices, public procurement, urban planning, and the food and beverage sector. The practice is co-led by regulatory law specialist Gonzalo Jiménez  , and Martín Astorga  , whose track record includes sanctions proceedings before the administrative authorities, as well as related legal claims. At associate level, senior Verónica Cuadra , as well as Miguel Ortiz , Raúl Alvarez  and Beatriz Prieto  are all active team members.

Chile > Venture capital Tier 3

Cariola Díez Pérez-Cotapos‘ seven-strong team advises entrepreneurs and emerging private companies at every stage of growth. Its expertise includes corporate governance, service contracts and shareholder agreements. The group is also experienced in related legal areas, such as new technologies, IP, data privacy and corporate law. The start-up and VC teams are co-led by Rodrigo Lavados, whose practice covers software licenses, trade marks, technology transfer contracts, and technology-related projects; and Andrea Saffie (promoted to partner in 2020), whose sector expertise encompasses investment funds and family offices. Senior associate Ernesto Eckholt's experience includes the structuring, formation and operation of venture capital.

Chile > Insurance Tier 4

Cariola Díez Pérez-Cotapos‘ four-member group routinely assists with claims against insurance companies that involve policies for construction, mining projects, commercial stores and distribution centres. It also advises insurance companies, brokers and banks on the development of new business; assists with reviewing insurance policies and insurance programmes; and acts on large insurance M&A transactions. The department is co-led by insurance disputes specialist Florencio Bernales, who also heads the litigation group; and Tomás Vidal, whose track record includes negotiating insurance policies. The associates to note are Daniel Washington, who assists with insurance policy claims and obligations, and insurance litigator Trinidad Torres.

Chile > Tax Tier 4

The six-member tax department at Cariola Díez Pérez-Cotapos routinely leverages the firm’s strong credentials in corporate law, litigation and mining matters. The group’s HNW expertise is also growing rapidly, with the team regularly mandated to structure investment plans by renowned investment banks and family offices in Chile. The tax practice is led by the director of the local branch of the International Fiscal Association, Javier Cerón, a ‘professional who always proposes alternative solutions'; while María Paz De Carcer is a key tax law associate.