Arteaga Gorziglia & Cia Abogados > Santiago, Chile > Firm Profile

Arteaga Gorziglia & Cia Abogados
El Golf 40
5th floor, Las Condes
Santiago de Chile
Chile

Email firm Visit website 56 2 2 947 6800 56 2 2 953 1112

Energy and natural resources > Electricity and hydrocarbons Tier 2

The ‘very attentive' team at Arteaga Gorziglia & Cia Abogados is well known for its expertise in greenfield energy project developments. The 11-strong energy practice routinely negotiates power plant-related engineering, procurement, and construction agreements, as well as operation and maintenance contracts for solar and wind power plants. The firm is additionally active in regulatory and administrative proceedings before Chile’s energy authorities, and fields a go-to team for advice on electricity law regulations. The practice is jointly led by commercial, corporate and business law expert Ignacio Arteaga, who (in addition to arbitration) focuses on energy projects and related contractual matters, energy M&A, and project development and finance; and renewable energy project development and finance specialist Luciano Cruz. The second line of key advisers includes energy litigator María Fernanda Brahm; and recently-promoted director Cristián Carpentier, who advises on M&A and project finance involving renewable power plants and high-voltage transmission lines. In November 2022, former director and regulatory and environmental practice head Pedro Lagos C departed the firm for an in-house role at ACCIONA Energía.

Leading individuals

Ignacio Arteaga – Arteaga Gorziglia & Cia Abogados

Next Generation Partners

María Fernanda Brahm – Arteaga Gorziglia & Cia Abogados

Practice head(s):

Ignacio Arteaga; Luciano Cruz

Testimonials

‘Arteaga is a fundamental part in the development of clients’ projects and prospecting for new technologies – the team helps with everything that has to do with regulatory, territorial and environmental issues!‘

‘The lawyers always give their point of view on clients’ enquiries, and deliver accurate comments that help with decision making.‘

‘A multidisciplinary team that supports clients with different areas of law, from electricity, environmental, territorial and administrative to accounting and labour law.‘

‘The most important thing about the firm’s lawyers is their availability to clients – always very attentive and quick in their responses.‘

‘Luciano Cruz always shows a willingness to solve problems and is honest in his comments even if they go against the opinion of the client.‘

Key clients

Grupo Saesa

China Southern Power Grid

Engie

Andes Mining and Energy

GPG

SunCo

Acciona Energía

Novasources Power Services (Northstar Energy)

Mainstream

Work highlights

Advised electricity distribution company Sociedad Austral de Electricidad (SAESA) on the acquisition of public Chilean company Enel Transmisión Chile from Enel Chile
Advised Engie Energía Chile on the acquisition of three wind farms in Chiloe, Los Lagos Region.
Advising Andes Mining and Energy on certain aspects of the development and construction phases of a methanol-to-gasoline pilot project in southern Chile using green hydrogen.

Chile > Corporate and M&A Tier 3

The sizeable corporate department at Arteaga Gorziglia & Cia Abogados houses experts in cross-border M&A transactions, predominantly in the energy, infrastructure and retail sectors. The team is also increasingly active in M&A deals involving digital companies, such as e-commerce operations and app-related start-ups. The group is led by Arnaldo Gorziglia, whose broad expertise encompasses M&A, corporate restructuring, capital markets, and infrastructure project financing; fellow name partner Ignacio Arteaga is a commercial, corporate and business specialist; while the 'outstanding' Luciano Cruz is a commercial law and energy expert. Also integral to the group, Andrés Ossandón is tax law head, while Cristián Carpentier -who was promoted to director in October 2022- has significant experience in M&A, and reorganisation and restructuring agreements.

Leading individuals

Arnaldo Gorziglia – Arteaga Gorziglia & Cia Abogados

Practice head(s):

Arnaldo Gorziglia

Testimonials

‘A coordinated group and very client friendly.’

‘One of the differences is the willingness to listen and work together with the client to achieve the objectives.’

‘Qualities – availability, solid advice, and good knowledge of the regulations.’

‘Luciano Cruz is outstanding.’

Key clients

Walmart

Qwantec

Sembrador Capital de Riesgo

SAESA

GPG

AES Andes

SIRVE

Sumitomo Chemical Chile

Andes Mining and Energy

Highly Innovative Fuels

Work highlights

Advised electricity distribution company Sociedad Austral de Electricidad on the acquisition of public Chilean company, Enel Transmisión Chile, from Enel Chile.
Advised Walmart Chile on the planning and implementation of a reorganisation, which comprised a reverse merger (with its parent company Inversiones Australes Dos) into Walmart Chile.
Advised Engie Energía Chile on the acquisition of three wind farms.

Chile > Projects and infrastructure Tier 4

Arteaga Gorziglia & Cia Abogados' sizeable corporate and project development practice routinely leads advice on the development, construction, financing and operation of transmission lines, wind and photovoltaic farms, and hydropower generation and thermoelectric power plants. Heading up the team, Arnaldo Gorziglia is a longstanding infrastructure project finance expert; while the broad practices of fellow name partner Ignacio Arteaga and Luciano Cruz also cover project development and finance work. Recently-promoted director Cristián Carpentier maintains an active energy and infrastructure project finance practice.

Practice head(s):

Arnaldo Gorziglia

Key clients

Sociedad Concesionaria Américo Vespucio Oriente

Grupo Costanera Norte

Acciona Energía

Global Power Generation

AES Andes

Saesa

Frontal Trust

Sunco

Sociedad Concesionaria Los Lagos

China Southern Power Grid International

Work highlights

Advised electricity distribution company Sociedad Austral de Electricidad on the acquisition of Enel Transmisión Chile.
Advised Engie Energía Chile on the negotiation, drafting and closing of a green loan facility for $250m, which was granted by Scotiabank Chile.
Advised Engie Energía Chile on the acquisition of three wind farms.

Chile > Tax Tier 4

With a track record that includes handling the tax aspects of large company sales, corporate reorganisations and financing deals, Arteaga Gorziglia & Cia Abogados’ five-member practice offers tax advice and planning, tax-side defence work and the resolution of tax controversies. The group - which is ‘well known in the market’ - is led by Andrés Ossandón, who assists with tax efficiency issues, planning and litigation, particularly in regard to the retail, real estate, energy and infrastructure sectors. At associate level, Gonzalo Guerra (an August 2022 hire from EY Chile) acts for both companies and individuals on tax matters; former senior Alejandra Ross departed the firm in March 2023.

Practice head(s):

Andrés Ossandón

Testimonials

‘Solid knowledge of the energy industry, with personalised treatment of all the issues that companies needs.‘

‘This law firm and its partners are well known in the market.’

‘Direct and honest treatment – when faced with various issues, they look for the best solution. Great handling of languages too, as all the lawyers are bilingual (Spanish/English).’

Key clients

Walmart Chile

Redeco

AME (Andes Mining & Energy)

HIF (Highly Innovative Fuels)

Bidfood

Danish Climate Investment Fund

Sociedad Austral de Electricidad

Obton

Work highlights

Advised AME with the tax analysis of a cross-border reorganisation.
Advised electricity distribution company Sociedad Austral de Electricidad on the legal and tax aspects involved in the agreement to buy Enel Chile’s stake in Enel Transmisión Chile.
Advising Redeco on the sale of three real estate projects to Fondo de Inversión GSI, which included the identification of tax consequences.

Chile > Dispute resolution: litigation Tier 5

Displaying ‘a willingness to fight for clients’ interests', Arteaga Gorziglia & Cia Abogados' litigation and dispute resolution practice comprises specialists in energy, urban law and antitrust-related disputes. The litigation practice is led by conflict resolution specialist María Fernanda Brahm who focuses on litigation, regulatory matters and environmental claims. In a boost to the team, Andrés Del Real, who is experienced in civil, commercial and regulatory litigation, as well as constitutional and administrative proceedings, was promoted to director in October 2022; while associate Santiago Portaluppi acts in environmental and constitutional disputes.

Practice head(s):

María Fernanda Brahm

Testimonials

‘Anticipation, flexibility and brilliance.’

‘Great experience, – always seeks to understand the state of the matter and hash out potential scenarios.‘

‘A team that is prepared and always willing to face emergency issues.’

‘Able to advise on alternative scenarios very quickly.‘

‘A willingness to fight for clients’ interests.‘

‘Delivery of critical and strategic analysis, which is transmitted in simple language, but with a willingness to listen to other approaches from the client.‘

‘Adapts to the needs of clients (including billing issues). Great speed in communications and proposals, and they anticipate and follow up on all relevant issues, so that the client can obtain the best possible result.’

‘Director Andrés Del Real and his team give excellent, efficient and very fast advice, and always with the utmost ease and flexibility.‘

Key clients

Sociedad Concesionaria Américo Vespucio Oriente

DPP Holding Chile

Constructor Atacama

Generadora Metropolitana

Sembrador Capital de Riesgo

Entav International

DirecTV

Work highlights

Acted for Sociedad Concesionaria Américo Vespucio Oriente in a matter before the Technical Panel for Concessions and concerning a discrepancy arising with the Ministry of Public Works.
Assisting DPP Holding Chile and the Chilean Association of Renewable Energies and Storage with a highly technical matter that involved both electricity and antitrust issues.
Acting for Generadora Metropolitana in relation to a trial before the Tribunal de Defensa de la Libre Competencia, which was brought by two hydroelectric companies against the National Commission of Energy (with a view to to overruling a regulation concerning liquefied natural gas in the national electricity market).

Arteaga Gorziglia is one of the best boutique law firms in Santiago de Chile, which specialises in counselling local and foreign companies in business law, transactional work and regulatory matters. Its core areas are corporate and commercial law; energy law; regulatory and environmental law; tax law; and litigation and dispute resolution. The firm’s purpose is to provide its clients with first quality, highly personalised, timely and efficient professional service, with clear understanding of their businesses and specific needs. The lawyers at Arteaga Gorziglia are among the top graduates of the best law schools in Chile, with post-graduate studies in the best universities in the United States and Europe, with experience in top ranked international law firms abroad.

Main areas of practice

Mergers and acquisitions: Arteaga Gorziglia has an experienced M&A team, which has counsel in operations from tender offers involving listed companies up to acquisitions of closed companies in all sorts of economic sectors and industries, mainly in the infrastructure, energy, retail and manufacture industries.

Corporate restructuring and project finance: Arteaga Gorziglia has a corporate practice with a modern and efficient structure, focused on providing tailored and dedicated services to the firm’s clients, with experience in cross-border operations and international corporate reorganisations, and is very well known and recognized in Chile for being at the forefront of the process creating and structuring ground-breaking finance structures for infrastructure and energy projects and public works in the country.

Foreign investment: An important number of the firm’s clients are foreign and multinational companies doing business in Chile or entering into joint venture operations with Chilean companies. It offers its foreign clients advice in creating the most appropriate tax and legal structure to develop their business in Chile according to their needs.

Energy: The lawyers in Arteaga Gorziglia have participated and led projects for the construction, financing and operation, as well as the day to day legal aspects of wind farms, photovoltaic farms, CSP power plants, hydropower generation plants, thermoelectric power plants, and high voltage transmission lines. They also help its clients in the drafting and negotiation of Engineering, Procurement and Construction Contracts (“EPC”) and Operation and Maintenance Contracts (“O&M) for the construction and operation of wind, solar, thermoelectric power plants (gas, diesel, coal), for the construction of high voltage transmission lines, and for the construction and operation of regasification terminal of LNG.

Infrastructure: The firm’s lawyers have vast experience in public concession of airports, prisons, power plants, ports, transmission lines, shopping malls, strip centers, and construction of mayor buildings for educational purposes. The firm has participated in the finance of the main toll roads, airports and ports of the country.

Tax: The firm’s specialist tax lawyers have vast experience in counselling companies and individuals in all kinds of highly complex matters, especially in tax planning and in the defence of the taxpayer before the Chilean tax authorities.

Litigation: Arteaga Gorziglia has a litigation and dispute resolution practice focused on commercial, civil, tax, arbitration and labour disputes as well as environmental and administrative litigations. Its lawyers are leading professionals in the area with an outstanding experience in highly sophisticated litigation cases in these fields. The firm also gives preventive counselling to identify potential conflicts a client could have beforehand. The Litigation team has extensive experience in presenting discrepancies before specialised and technical courts, such as Environmental Courts and the Panel of Experts of the General Law of Electric Services.

Real estate: Arteaga Gorziglia has a thorough understanding of regulatory, urban development, corporate, commercial and environmental issues, which enables the firm to provide comprehensive advice in this market. The firm has broad experience in urban planning, real estate project development, construction, related contracts, granting permits to build and secure finalised work, in addition to providing advice to clients on the resolution of conflicts between construction companies and their clients.

Environmental and natural resources: Arteaga Gorziglia has a leading environmental law practice in Chile. The firm’s lawyers have vast experience in environmental law and regulatory practice, including environmental litigation, environmental due diligences, urban planning and construction, energy, mining and natural resources. The firm provides environmental legal assistance to clients working in all economic sectors, providing its services to already operating companies as well as to greenfield projects. The firm also has performed legal due diligences of mining properties, assisted its clients in the constitution of different mining properties, and it has acted as legal counsel for clients, in operations that includes the transfer of mining properties and negotiation of different contracts that involve mining law.

Department	Name	Email	Telephone
Partner	Ignacio Arteaga	iarteaga@agycia.cl	+56 229476801
Partner	Arnaldo Gorziglia	agorziglia@agycia.cl	+56 229476802
Partner	Luciano Cruz	lcruz@agycia.cl	+56 229476803
Partner	María Fernanda Brahm	mfbrahm@agycia.cl	+56 229476807
Partner	Andrés Ossandón	aossandon@agycia.cl	+56 229476806

Name	Position	Profile
Mr Ignacio Arteaga	Founding Partner of Arteaga Gorziglia and co-head of the Corporate Group and…	View Profile
Mrs María Fernanda Brahm	Partner of Arteaga Gorziglia and head of Litigation and Dispute Resolution Group.	View Profile
Mr Cristián Carpentier	Director of Project Finance, Restructuring and Capital Markets Practice Group.	View Profile
Mr Luciano Cruz	Partner of Arteaga Gorziglia and head of Real Estate Group and co-head…	View Profile
Mr Andrés Del Real	Director of Dispute Resolution and Arbitration Practice Group.	View Profile
Mr Arnaldo Gorziglia	Founding Partner of Arteaga Gorziglia and co-head of the Corporate Group.	View Profile
Mr Andrés Ossandón	Partner of Arteaga Gorziglia and head of Tax Law Group.	View Profile