Mr Fernando Samaniego > Prieto Abogados > Santiago, Chile > Lawyer Profile

Full-service law firm Prieto Abogados fields a five-member team that regularly appears before arbitrators in disputes related to energy, construction, real estate and retail. It is also increasingly active in arbitrations involving mining, agriculture, investment funds, finance, healthcare and software. The group is jointly led by Fernando Samaniego, who is frequently appointed as arbitrator in construction disputes; and ‘great lawyer‘ Alberto González Vidal, who is a real estate, construction and energy disputes expert. Key support is provided by counsel Juan Pablo Riesco and associate Agustín Prado, who both act in civil and commercial proceedings before the arbitration courts.

The ‘proactive, committed and responsible’ 10-member public and administrative law department at full-service practice Prieto Abogados covers public law disputes, sanctioning proceedings, transactions-related regulatory reviews, and interactions with authorities; the team’s recent caseload includes public law matters involving healthcare, telecoms, infrastructure, and  environmental sector clients. The group is led by the ‘very innovative’ counsel Juan Pablo Riesco, who acts for both national and international companies on regulatory and administrative matters. Partner-level support is provided by Fernando Samaniego, whose disputes practice covers proceedings before administrative and regulatory authorities; and Agustín Martorell, a recently-promoted partner who is increasingly active in administrative, public and regulatory law-related work.

Providing a ‘great level of service’, Prieto Abogados’ four-member real estate team is regularly sought out for complex projects, as well as ongoing real estate and urbanisation issues. The group’s expertise includes acquisitions, financings, development and construction work, as well as due diligence processes, land use, environmental matters and real estate-associated tax issues. The practice of the firm’s dispute resolution head, Fernando Samaniego, also incorporates property law, construction, M&A, and capital markets; he and director Alejandra Bañados, who acts for both national and international clients on real estate and corporate work, are the key practice figures. Former senior associate Camila Urzúa departed the firm for Villarino e Ilharreborde in May 2022.

The ‘top-level team‘ at full-service practice Prieto Abogados consistently acts before Chile’s ordinary courts in energy, construction, real estate and retail-related disputes. Other areas of increasing strength include claims and disputes involving the transportation, mining, agriculture, finance, healthcare and software sectors. The firm also houses public law litigation specialists. The combined litigation and arbitration department is co-led by Fernando Samaniego, who acts primarily in real estate, construction and antitrust litigation; and real estate, construction and energy arbitration expert, Alberto González V. At counsel level, Juan Pablo Riesco assists with claims involving public law, consumer rights, real estate, construction and energy, while Agustín Prado and Cristóbal Ipinza are the associates to note. Since publication, the team has been further strengthened with the hire of white-collar litigator and economic criminal specialist María Jesús Becerra, formerly of Parraguez & Marín – effective as of January 2024.