Rafael Vergara > Carey > Santiago, Chile > Lawyer Profile

The ‘great team‘ at Carey is routinely involved in the development and financing of Chile’s most significant mining projects. The firm also fields a go-to practice for major mining sector-related M&A transactions; and regularly advises domestic and foreign metallic and non-metallic minerals companies on their exploration, exploitation and processing activities. Other key areas for the team include mining, water and land use surface rights; environmental and community issues; agreements for mining projects; and mining-related litigation. Jointly leading the group, Rafael Vergara (‘the best mining lawyer in Chile‘) acts for many of the world’s largest global mining companies; Alberto Cardemil is a renowned water rights specialist; and counsel Francisco Corona regularly acts on major mining transactions. At associate level, Maximiliano Urrutia focuses primarily on natural resources, mining and energy work; and Esteban Fresno‘s track record includes the corporate governance aspects of a copper project development.

Carey‘s ‘extremely professional team‘ is consistently sought out for its expertise in environmental impact assessments, as well as environmental sanctioning proceedings for clients from across the mining, energy, infrastructure, water utilities, aquaculture and agriculture sectors. The full-service, 15-strong environmental, indigenous and regulatory practice also acts in complex administrative disputes and environmental litigation, including defence-side work before the Environmental Courts. Among the team’s several active figures, Rafael Vergara‘s broad practice encompasses natural resources, mining, water rights and energy law, along with environmental, ESG and surface land issues; Alberto Cardemil is a water rights and supply expert; and co-head of the firm’s litigation group Aldo Molinari acts in administrative and environmental regulatory litigation. Both raised to partner level in late 2022, Manuel José Barros focuses on Environmental Impact Assessment System work, environmental audits, administrative proceedings, and litigation; and the ‘highly qualified‘ Julio Recordon is a specialist in the environmental law aspects of energy, mining, aquaculture, forestry, health and real estate projects. In August 2022, former senior associate Tomás De La Maza moved in-house at Frutura.

Full-service market giant Carey is consistently mandated to advise on the development, financing and execution of high-stakes projects. The firm’s extremely large 47-strong infrastructure, project development and project finance practice comprises specialists in energy infrastructure, including thermoelectric, hydroelectric, wind, photovoltaic, biomass, and oil-and-gas matters. The team is also active in projects involving mining, roads, hospitals, medical centres and telecoms, as well as the industrial, housing, hospitality, ports and airports sectors. Among the practice’s several active partners, Rafael Vergara is a mining deal expert; Oscar Aitken jointly leads the firm’s construction and engineering practice alongside real estate head Juan Pablo Stitchkin; and Juan Francisco Mackenna and José Miguel Bustamante are both sought out for major energy and infrastructure projects. Also integral to the department are renowned water rights practitioner Alberto Cardemil; Felipe Moro, an adviser on project development and finance matters; Fernando Noriega, whose broad practice includes project finance; and José Tomás Hurley, who assists with the development of energy projects and associated infrastructure issues. Key senior associate Juan Pablo Vukasovic also has wide-ranging projects expertise.