Claro & Cia. > Santiago, Chile > Firm Profile

Claro & Cia. > The Legal 500 Rankings

Chile > Banking and finance Tier 1

Claro & Cia.'s sizeable, almost 30-strong, banking and financing practice has an enviable track record in terms of structuring complex financial products and banking deals. The team’s representative expertise ranges from multilateral and cross-border financings, to project finance, structured solutions and lending. Key figures in the department include Rodrigo Ochagavía, whose specialisms include corporate and project finance, banking, capital markets and energy; senior partner and head of the firm's M&A practice José María Eyzaguirre B, whose expertise also takes in banking, finance and capital markets; and Cristóbal Eyzaguirre, who -while best known for his  highly-rated litigation practice- also advises on banking, finance, capital markets and reorganisations. Other names to note are banking and finance and project finance expert Jorge Martín; José Luis Ambrosy (corporate finance, capital markets and international finance transactions); energy and project financing specialist Ariel Mihovilovic; and José María Eyzaguirre F, who is active in project finance. In 2021, former counsel Jaime Salas moved to Boza & Muirhead Abogados, while former associate Gerardo Otero left to co-found financial-data platform, Aevum.

Chile > Capital markets Tier 1

The 14-member practice at full-service firm Claro & Cia. has a market-leading reputation for designing and structuring complex securities transactions that involve multilateral financings and cross-border capital flows. Representative work includes local and international securities deals, regulatory compliance and corporate governance issues in relation to IPOs, debt offerings, project bonds, securities exchange-listings, exchange offers, hybrid securities, and cash and debt tender offers. The group is co-led by Rodrigo Ochagavía  , who has extensive capital markets experience – particularly in the energy, mining, pension funds, banking and insurance sectors; and capital markets, corporate finance and general corporate specialist José Luis Ambrosy  , who has ‘vast knowledge‘. Additional integral members of the department include cross-border transactions experts Felipe Larraín   and Luisa Núñez    (‘a very solid lawyer, technically’), along with Juan José León , who focuses on banking and capital markets regulations. Cristián Lagos   is the counsel to note, his broad corporate practice including securities law matters and capital markets offerings; while Nicolás Aspillaga   (capital increases) and María Jesús Argandoña   (local bond issuances) are both active associates.

Chile > Competition and antitrust Tier 1

The large, 18-strong practice at full-service legal heavyweight Claro & Cia. has an enviable track record in high-profile cases involving horizontal and vertical integration, collusion and price discrimination issues. It is also widely respected for its expertise in merger control filings and settlement agreements, with clients additionally appreciative of the team’s regular interactions with Chile’s antitrust authorities. The antitrust practice is co-led by highly-rated litigator Cristóbal Eyzaguirre and José Miguel Huerta, an expert in government proceedings and investigations concerning mergers and cartels. Also integral to the department are litigation, arbitration and antitrust expert Santiago Bravo (at partner level since 2020); and Álvaro Vives (elevated to the partnership in January 2022), who assists with merger-control matters, regulatory issues, cartels and abuse of dominance work. At associate level, Juan Pablo Celis (government enforcement proceedings and investigations into merger control and cartels), and Tomás Kreft (who focuses on litigation, arbitration and antitrust law), are the names to note.

Chile > Corporate and M&A Tier 1

The 36-strong M&A group at renowned blue-chip player and market stalwart Claro & Cia. routinely assists with due diligence and structuring issues, negotiations, and the drafting and completion of complex acquisition agreements, including share and asset deals, cross-border mergers, takeovers and exchange offers; it is particularly well known for its M&A work involving publicly-listed clients. The practice is led by renowned M&A partner José María Eyzaguirre B, who focuses on complex cross-border transactions, with a specific focus on tender offers, public transactions and corporate governance issues; Rodrigo Ochagavía, an M&A expert in deals involving regulated sectors such as energy, pension funds and insurance; energy M&A specialist Matías de Marchena; and Felipe Larraín, who is active in cross-border transactions involving foreign investors. Also integral to the practice are: Ariel Mihovilovic, who primarily advises on the acquisition and sale of energy sector assets; funds specialist Juan José León; and cross-border transactions expert José María Eyzaguirre F. Counsel Patricio Smart is also noted.

Chile > Dispute resolution: arbitration Tier 1

Claro & Cia.'s weighty, 30-strong practice is routinely sought out for its expertise in domestic and international arbitration. The practice group’s lawyers consistently act as counsel in arbitral proceedings under the rules of CAM Santiago, ICC, ICSID and The London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA), while several of the firm’s practitioners also act as CAM Santiago arbitrators. The litigation and arbitration practice is led by Cristóbal Eyzaguirre, who specialises in complex and multi-front litigation and arbitration; senior partner José María Eyzaguirre G is a renowned litigator; Nicolás Luco is experienced in energy arbitration; Felipe Ossa is an international litigation and arbitration expert; and José Miguel Huerta's broad practice includes commercial arbitration. The second line of experienced advisers includes Santiago Bravo (a partner since early 2020); while at senior associate level, Felipe De Marinis regularly acts before arbitral tribunals. Vicente Portales  left the firm in September 2021 for Fix Abogados.

Chile > Dispute resolution: litigation Tier 1

‘A law firm of the highest level and prestige‘, Claro & Cia. fields a powerful, 30-strong dispute resolution department that specialises in complex commercial court litigation and transnational disputes, as well as domestic and international arbitration. The firm additionally houses a robust white-collar crime practice. The practice is led by renowned disputes practitioner Cristóbal Eyzaguirre, whose expertise encompasses complex civil and commercial litigation (particularly in relation to banking and finance, capital markets and M&A); antitrust, competition and regulated-markets related disputes; and bankruptcy; with close support form senior partner José María Eyzaguirre G, who has longstanding litigation and arbitration experience. Also integral to the group are Energy disputes specialist Nicolás Luco; international litigation expert Felipe Ossa; and José Miguel Huerta, who specialises in litigation, antitrust, commercial arbitration and bankruptcy matters, are all also integral figures in the practice group. Recent growth includes the promotion of Santiago Bravo and Álvaro Vives to the partnership in 2020 and 2022, respectively; while at senior associate level, Javier Rodríguez, Tomás Kreft and Ignacio Orellana all have active litigation practices. Former senior associate Vicente Portales left the firm in late 2021 for FIX Abogados.

Energy and natural resources > Electricity and hydrocarbon

Leveraging its market-leading project finance and project development expertise, Claro & Cia. houses a go-to practice for the development, construction, operation, acquisition, disposition, ownership and financing of energy and infrastructure projects. Representative specialisms range from power plants (hydro, wind and solar), to transmission lines and sub-stations, gas plants and liquified gas terminals. The team also has extensive experience in regulatory matters, and routinely works alongside the firm’s arbitration and litigation groups on energy-related disputes. Heading up the 27-strong department, Rodrigo Ochagavía regularly advises on the negotiation and structuring of offtake agreements and energy financing: José Luis Ambrosy's broad experience includes renewable energy and gas terminals; Ariel Mihovilovic is an energy and project finance specialist; and Luisa Núñez and José María Eyzaguirre F are both cross-border transactions experts. Former associate Gerardo Otero left the firm in August 2021.

Chile > Projects and infrastructure Tier 1

The sizeable 27-strong project finance and project development practice at market mainstay Claro & Cia. has a strong track record in the financing, development, construction, operation, acquisition, ownership and sale of energy and infrastructure projects. Representative specialisms include power plants, transmission lines and substations, and greenfield and brownfield projects undertaken on a non-recourse project finance basis. The team is also highly involved in the accords required for the development of projects, including engineering, procurement and construction (EPC), and operation and maintenance (O&M), agreements, along with transmission, interconnection, supply and power purchase contracts. The team’s recent experience also covers project bond financings and infrastructure-related public concessions. The practice is led by projects and infrastructure specialist Rodrigo Ochagavía; Jorge Martín, who advises on international infrastructure and transportation projects; and José Luis Ambrosy, who regularly acts on renewable energy and gas terminals. Also highly regarded are cross-border finance transactions expert Luisa Núñez; Ariel Mihovilovic, an energy and project finance specialist; and cross-border expert José María Eyzaguirre F. Former associate Gerardo Otero left the firm in August 2021.

Chile > Bankruptcy, insolvency and restructuring Tier 2

The 10-strong bankruptcy and restructuring practice at market-mainstay Claro & Cia. is particularly focused on complex restructuring work at both local and cross-border levels. The department is led by civil and commercial litigation and arbitration expert Nicolás Luco, with close support from a number of senior colleagues. Head of the firm’s M&A practice, José María Eyzaguirre B has a strong track record on the restructuring side, and recently played a key role in LATAM Airlines’ worldwide restructuring strategy. Head of the firm's dispute resolution department, Cristóbal Eyzaguirre is also integral to the practice; in addition to contentious aspects he also had considerable experience of reorganisations in general. Additional key assistance is provided by cross-border transactional expert Felipe Larraín; and José Miguel Huerta, whose specialisms include bankruptcy work. At the junior partner level, Santiago Bravo is regularly involved in major restructuring cases.

Chile > Intellectual property Tier 2

Claro & Cia.’s full-service IP practice has longstanding experience in brands and patents, but it also acts on major IP matters involving advertising, software, data protection, unfair competition and consumer law. The team additionally assists with IP-related regulatory issues and transactions; and has sector expertise in agriculture, clothing and footwear, cosmetics, food and beverage, mining, pharmaceuticals, technology and tobacco. Department head Felipe Claro has extensive experience in advising on complex and novel IP matters, while privacy and IP specialist Paulina Bardón is a new partner as of January 2022. At associate level, senior Claus Krebs advises on both trade mark and patent work; Mahish Sadarangani assists with trade mark, copyright and internet issues; Trinidad Rojas manages the firm’s patent practice; and Bryan Kernitsky has a broad IP practice.

Chile > Tax Tier 2

Claro & Cia.‘s 13-strong tax practice (as well as three tax accountants) can leverage the firm’s strong credentials in M&A, capital markets, banking and project finance during complex domestic and cross-border transactions; it is also increasingly active in major tax cases before the tax courts. The team is led by Jorge Carraha, who routinely advises multinational and corporate clients on headline transactions; and Nicolás Maturana who was raised to the partnership in January 2022 and is particularly focused on the tax aspects of M&A, financing and capital markets deals, as well as corporate reorganisations. Within the senior associate group, Rafael Cruzat provides tax advice to the banking, financial services, fintech and private wealth sectors; and Javier Pérez‘s practice covers the tax aspects of transactions and reorganisations, along with tax litigation.

Energy and natural resources > Mining Tier 3

In addition to assisting from a mining regulatory perspective, the seven-strong department at full-service law firm Claro & Cia. assists with mining sector-related financings, project development, M&A deals and litigation; it is also increasingly active in environmental cases further to the creation of the Environmental Courts and Environmental Superintendence. Leading the firm’s natural resources team, Nicolás Eyzaguirre's broad practice includes advising local and foreign companies on developing mining sector projects, as well as transactional and contentious matters; former senior associate Joaquín Rodríguez, who was raised to the partnership in January 2022, focuses on natural resources transactions.

Chile > Environment Tier 3

Claro & Cia.'s environmental group consistently advises on projects from environmental perspectives; and it is able to leverage the firm’s sector specialisms in energy, mining, water resources, fish farming, forestry and agriculture. Recent highlights including representing Anglo American Sur in an environmental damage claim filed by the State of Chile. The natural resources group is led by Nicolás Eyzaguirre, who ‘stands out for his knowledge'; bolstering the team’s offering, former senior associate Joaquín Rodríguez -who has a transactions-driven profile- was made partner in January 2022, and former Superintendency of the Environment trial lawyer Tomás Darricades was rehired in July 2021 from Moreno Sáez & Avilés.