Mr José Miguel Huerta > Claro & Cia. > Santiago, Chile > Lawyer Profile

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.

‘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.

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.

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.