Mr Andrés Laymuns > Prieto Abogados > Santiago, Chile > Lawyer Profile

The ‘team of top-level lawyers’ at Prieto Abogados is routinely mandated to advise on cross-border M&A deals, private equity transactions and joint ventures. The 29-strong corporate and M&A practice’s recent experience includes deals involving insurance, construction, mortgage loans and subsidised housing leasing. It is also notably active in retail, energy, natural resources, and food and wine sector-related M&A, as well as being increasingly involved in advising private investment funds on the acquisition of controlling stakes in family-owned businesses. The multidisciplinary team can further draw upon the firm’s tax, labour, antitrust, environmental and litigation credentials in relation to transactional mandates. The group is co-led by Juan Tagle, an adviser on M&A, joint ventures and bidding processes; and energy sector specialist Fernando Bravo, who is a longstanding secretary for ENGIE Energía Chile’s board of directors. The practice also showcases Isabel Wolleter, who advises on corporate law, M&A and capital markets; José Andrés Pascual, an expert in energy and natural resources-related M&A and joint ventures; and Nicolás Yuraszeck K, who is experienced in corporate law, M&A and infrastructure and construction projects. Practice directors Andrés Laymuns and Maite Larrañaga, along with senior associate Aníbal Larrain and associate Tomás Ochagavía round out the team. Former counsel Federico Rodríguez left the firm in December 2023.

Prieto Abogados‘s 25-strong energy and natural resources practice ‘stands out for its extensive knowledge of the energy industry’, with recent mandates including regulatory work, major energy M&A deals and energy sector projects. Examples include the acquisition of a large energy generation portfolio and the development of battery energy storage system projects. Acting for electricity generators, transmission companies, construction firms, and investment funds, the team’s experience also covers the sale of unconventional renewable energy projects’ plant portfolios, including the management of bidding processes. Among the team’s several key advisers, Juan Tagle‘s specialisms encompass the electricity generation, distribution and transmission markets, as well as natural gas transportation, joint ventures, and energy and natural resources project-related bidding processes; Fernando Bravo serves as the longstanding secretary to Engie Energía Chile’s board of directors; Nicolás Yuraszeck K is increasingly involved in the acquisition and development of electricity projects; and Agustín Martorell advises on energy and natural resources-related projects and regulatory issues. The department further includes counsel Andrea Von Chrismar, whose energy sector experience covers regulatory matters, competition law, tender processes and transactions. Notable growth includes the hire of practice director Romina Tobar from Chile’s Environmental Assessment Service in April 2023; and -following the departure of former counsel Federico Rodríguez– the promotion of energy M&A practitioner Andrés Laymuns to counsel in January 2024.

Prieto Abogados‘ 27-strong projects and infrastructure team has a strong market reputation for its advice on the development, implementation, financing and acquisition of projects. The group was recently notably active in relation to the construction of battery energy storage systems, desalinisation plants and a power transmission line project. The team’s key practitioners are: Juan Tagle, whose expertise covers power plants, transmission lines, ports, and mining and desalinisation construction projects, as well as joint ventures and bidding processes; banking and finance head Mario Gorziglia, an adviser on significant corporate reorganisations and project financing; projects and infrastructure specialist Nicolás Yuraszeck K, who has ‘a very global vision of the interests of each party involved’ and longstanding experience in construction projects, tender processes, project finance, regulatory matters and project-related M&A deals; and counsel Isabel Monge, who is experienced in the financing of mining, electricity transmission and renewable energy projects, as well as automobile, agriculture and electro mobility sector-related work. At associate level, intermediate Emilio Del Real is another consistent adviser on projects and infrastructure. In a boost to the practice, Andrés Laymuns, whose wide-ranging expertise includes engineering projects for the energy, green hydrogen and mining industries, was promoted to practice director in January 2024.