Sebastián Abogabir > Guerrero Olivos > Santiago, Chile > Lawyer Profile

With ‘solid knowledge of the energy business‘, the 18-member energy and natural resources practice at full-service firm Guerrero Olivos acts for owners, developers and operators of renewable energy projects (such as wind and solar), as well as thermal power plants and regasification terminals. Comprising energy, electricity, environment and water law specialists, the department’s workload encompasses energy generation, transmission and distribution project developments; and the group has particular expertise in the negotiation of power purchase agreements. It is also routinely mandated on regulatory issues, such as energy and transmission planning, rulemaking processes, public bids, and disputes; it is also increasingly sought out for green hydrogen projects. The practice is jointly led by Clemente Pérez, who has longstanding experience in transactional and regulatory energy matters; Sebastián Abogabir, a regulatory expert who is ‘great for his analysis‘; and recently-raised partner Felipe Frühling, who advises on energy project developments. At associate level, senior Francisca Pellegrini primarily acts for energy developers, but Andrea Olea  departed for the National Energy Commission in April 2022.

With ‘a lot of experience in environmental and administrative issues‘, Guerrero Olivos‘ environmental and water law practice covers environmental litigation, regulatory compliance, and the environmental and law aspects of energy, mining, and construction project development. It also advises on the environmental due diligence for M&A deals. A quartet of partners co-lead the practice: Clemente Pérez, who assists with regulatory work, environmental litigation, M&A-related environmental issues, and the environmental side to high-stakes real estate and energy projects; Sebastián Abogabir, a specialist in environmental assessments for non-conventional energy projects; water law expert Benjamín Pérez; and Martín Santa María, who advises on the environmental assessment of project development and urban planning. At associate level, senior Francisca Pellegrini‘s practice includes compliance and permitting issues, while Antonia Ibarra regularly assists with energy project-related environmental and regulatory disputes.

‘Great for its commitment to clients’, Guerrero Olivos’ 16-member department routinely advises on the financing and development of significant energy and infrastructure projects, as well as the acquisition and sales of projects. On the energy side, the team is highly experienced in solar, wind, power plant, green hydrogen and LNG regasification terminal projects. The firm’s expertise further extends to projects involving desalination and water supply facilities, transport infrastructure (roads and -more recently- cable cars), and social infrastructure such as hospitals. The practice’s key advisers are energy and infrastructure project expert Clemente Pérez; Sebastián Abogabir, who acts for energy companies and international lenders on the financing, development and permitting of non-conventional renewable energy (NCRE) projects; Miguel Coddou, who assists with lender-side project financings; and recently-raised partner Felipe Frühling, whose energy sector credentials encompass solar power and green hydrogen projects. Promoted to partner in January 2023, Benjamín Novoa is a project finance expert, while senior associate  Francisca Pellegrini specialises in the development of energy projects.

The seven-strong water law department at full-service law firm Guerrero Olivos represents domestic and international clients from the mining, agribusiness, industrial and hydroelectric sectors. The team is experienced in obtaining and transferring water rights, and negotiating complex water supply, and purchase-and-sale agreements for projects. The practice also covers both the optimisation of water rights (including intake and restitution transfer applications) and modification of water supply sources, along with hydraulic works-related authorisations. It additionally acts in sanctioning processes and water law-related litigation. Benjamín Pérez is experienced in the water law aspects of project developments, the constitution and acquisition of water rights, and representation before the Water Bureau; and Sebastián Abogabir’s water rights’ expertise covers regulatory and permitting matters. At associate level, senior Francisca Pellegrini assists with the water side to energy projects; Antonia Ibarra is an active member of the firm’s environmental and water rights practices; and Sebastián Mozó (mining projects-related water law issues) is a June 2022 hire from Vergara Galindo Correa Abogados.