Mr Gonzalo Grez > Cariola Díez Pérez-Cotapos > Santiago, Chile > Lawyer Profile

Cariola Díez Pérez-Cotapos‘ seven-member mining practice is highly active in mining sector-related M&A deals, joint ventures and projects. In the projects space, it advises on the exploration, development, financing and operation of mining projects, as well as worksite closures; while on the M&A front, the firm’s track record includes high-profile acquisitions and sales of mining companies and assets (copper, gold, silver, nitrates, iron ore, coal and salt). The practice is jointly led by corporate, commercial, mining and environmental law specialist Carlos Pérez-Cotapos, who routinely advises on mining investment projects, mining companies’ M&A deals, and mining-related project financing; and Gonzalo Grez, an expert in mining high-tech contracts, community issues and land access, who advises companies on mining, energy and regulatory matters in Chile, Argentina and Ecuador. Within the firm’s associate ranks, senior Cristóbal Herrera has significant experience in mining-related constitution processes, mining property defence work, and litigation involving mining issues; and the practices of Patricio Turner, María Belén Fuenzalida, Lucas Antúnez and Sebastián Manzur also feature mining-law related matters.

Cariola Díez Pérez-Cotapos’ sizeable projects department is widely respected for its experience in mining, energy and telecoms projects. The firm also houses specialists in infrastructure and real estate; and its full-service offering comprises planning, development and construction issues, along with M&A and financing work. Among the group’s several active advisers, Carlos Pérez-Cotapos acts on mining projects; Sergio Díez’s broad practice includes PPP, EPC and O&M contracts; managing partner Juan Pablo Matus is a real estate and infrastructure project expert; and Cristián Herrera has notable infrastructure project experience. Also integral to the group are Mining law specialist Gonzalo Grez is also integral to the group, as are regulatory law department leader Gonzalo Jiménez and Rodrigo Sepúlveda, whose practice covers renewable energy and Public Works’ Concessions law-related infrastructure financing. Associate Verónica Cuadra is active in regulatory, environmental and energy law work.

Full-service firm Cariola Díez Pérez-Cotapos houses a practice group 44-strong (including 11 partners) that covers the full range of corporate and M&A work. The group’s representative expertise ranges from joint ventures and private equity / venture capital deals, to the acquisition of private and public companies, domestic and cross-border transactions, corporate mergers and spin-offs, and corporate restructurings. The firm fields multiple highly-rated partners, including: corporate law and contracts specialist Sergio Díez; Gerardo Varela, whose M&A track record includes energy, retail and aquaculture sector deals; Cristián Herrera, an adviser on corporate and transactional laws (as well as foreign investment and securities regulations); corporate, commercial, real estate and M&A expert, Juan Pablo Matus; and Carlos Pérez-Cotapos, who assists with corporate, natural resources and mining law matters. Senior partner Francisco J Illanes, José Luis Letelier and Gonzalo Grez are additional key practitioners, along with younger partner Andrea Saffie. The first line of advisors was further strengthened in July 2023 with the hire of Nicolás Lustig, who returns to private practice after more than 15 years in various in-house positions – most recently some eight years at BHP. Within the firm’s senior associate ranks, María Francisca Salas and Sergio Balharry both advise on M&A deals.