CMS Carey & Allende > Santiago, Chile > Firm Profile

CMS Carey & Allende > The Legal 500 Rankings

Energy and natural resources > Mining Tier 2

With ‘extensive mining and regulatory knowledge’, CMS Carey & Allende's five-member mining team in Santiago advises on the gamut of work involving mining projects and operations. The practice notably benefits from the firm’s track record in major domestic and international acquisition and project finance transactions in the energy and natural resources sectors, including due diligence work, project sales and M&A deals. It also has longstanding experience in the procurement and oversight of mining properties (including litigation issues). The group, which advises Compañía Minera Sierra Atacama on the legal aspects of its daily operations, additionally fields specialists in permits, licenses and mining contracts - such as option, exploration and net smelter return agreements. The practice further advises on land acquisition for mining purposes. The team’s key practitioners are veteran mining project expert Jorge Allende Z, whose expertise is complemented by his significant experience in engineering and construction matters; and Ignacio Errazquin, who regularly advises the governing bodies of major mining companies on both their daily operations and financing of projects. From the firm’s senior associate ranks, mining rights expert Manuel Ponce - who ‘shows a high level of knowledge and commitment’ - advises on mining processes and permits, particularly the protection of projects’ subsoil rights.

Chile > TMT Tier 2

The nine-member technology, media and communication practice at CMS Carey & Allende advises on the development of telecoms areas, such as passive and active infrastructure deployment, broadband network architecture for optical fibre (FTTx), small cells, 5G and distributed antenna systems. The department also advises on on the procurement of public telecoms services-related licences and concessions, and compliance with telecoms regulations. It is additionally mandated to structure IT solutions for the payments sector and advises on the regulations for digital platforms and data protection. The team’s other specialisms encompass TMT-related M&A, shareholder agreements, commercial policies and operational agreements; while in the fintech space, the team is highly active in relation to crowdfunding, e-money, online investment platforms, and digital and cryptocurrencies. Managing partner and IT and telecoms specialist Ramón Valdivieso is a former general manager for telecoms company Telex Chile; Ignacio Errazquin's sector expertise includes telecom infrastructure, telecoms-related M&A, and local public policy and regulatory matters. At associate level, Isidora Rencoret assists telecoms companies with expanding their businesses in Chile, as well as advising digital platforms and fintech and technology companies with data protection and consumer law. Former head of the firm’s venture capital and fintech group, Diego Rodríguez, left the firm in April 2024.

Chile > Corporate and M&A Tier 3

CMS Carey & Allende is widely respected for its sector expertise in traditional and renewable energy, digital infrastructure, financial services, manufacturing, IT and telecoms. It is also regularly mandated to advise on utilities, real estate, construction, hospitality and life sciences-related M&A. The group is co-led by managing partner Ramón Valdivieso, who is an adviser on M&A involving both Chile and other parts of Latin America; and Jorge Allende Destuet, who has ‘deep knowledge of M&A and private equity practices’. Promoted to partner in April 2024, Enrique Vergara frequently advises on significant M&A transactions, in addition to leading the firm’s banking and finance offering; and Sofía Haupt and Lucia Ochoa are experienced senior associates. Former partners Luis Felipe Arze, Fernando De Cárcer, Diego Rodríguez, and the recently-promoted Sebastián Barros all departed the firm in April 2024; the firm has subsequently hired Nicolás Vial, fomerly head of legal and compliance at Cermaq Chile, as a partner – effective September 2024. Since publication, the office has also seen the arrival of Ernesto Eckholt (formerly of NexLaw), who handles corporate and transactional matters, and who will head up the practice group’s venture capital offering – effective as of October 2024.

Chile > Real estate Tier 3

CMS Carey & Allende‘s real estate practice is particularly focused on urban and infrastructure developments, as well as regulatory work. The team’s expertise covers zoning issues, pipeline developments and power lines, along with expropriation procedures and the regularisation of industrial plants’ property titles. Clients further turn to the group for administrative litigation, regulatory compliance, and to obtain permits and licences. The firm’s real estate, construction and public and regulatory law practices are led by Pabla Gaínza, an adviser on urban planning, zoning, easements, expropriation processes and the regularisation of real estate assets. Senior associate Karin Muñoz departed the firm in April 2024.

Chile > Tax Tier 3

CMS Carey & Allende's six-member tax practice covers national and international tax planning, VAT, indirect taxation, cross-border transactions, double taxation agreements, and tax planning for HNW individuals and families. It also works alongside the firm’s corporate practice on M&A-related tax due diligence and tax structuring. The team, which additionally assists with the tax side of corporate reorganisations, is led by tax planning specialist Diego García, who is supported by Gonzalo Serrano (raised to partner in January 2024). Serrano is particularly focused on international taxation and HNW clients; and senior associate Matias Ramírez advises on the compliance aspects of direct and indirect taxation.

Chile > Banking and finance Tier 4

CMS Carey & Allende's nine-member banking and finance practice handles regulatory compliance work, asset management, financial structuring, loans, and international banking. The team is particularly proficient in energy and infrastructure project-related financings, as well as acquisition finance and domestic corporate financing. Former senior associate Enrique Vergara, who advises on syndicated loans, credit transfers, corporate bonds, and energy and infrastructure project finance, was promoted to partner in April 2024. Dual qualified (Chile/New York) Jorge Allende Destuet returned from 18 months as a visiting partner at New York City-headquartered law firm Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP in January 2024 – his broad practice includes corporate M&A, private equity, capital markets and project finance. Former practice head Fernando De Cárcer exited the firm in April 2024.

Chile > Capital markets Tier 4

Chile > Data privacy Tier 4

CMS Carey & Allende's seven-member team comprises IT and telecoms sector experts who routinely advise domestic and international clients on Chile’s data protection legislation. In relation to the firm’s international clients, the team’s experience includes assisting with the adaptation and implementing of new GDPR-related data protection policies in Chile. The key practitioners are telecoms expert Ignacio Errazquin; and Diego Rodríguez, who focuses on the IT industry. Intermediate associate Isidora Rencoret acts for digital platforms, as well as fintech and technology companies, on data protection issues.

Energy and natural resources > Electricity and hydrocarbons Tier 4

CMS Carey & Allende's full-service practice advises on energy projects at all stages, including both commencement and post-operation phases. The team’s expertise covers the structuring, development, acquisition, sale and financing of energy and infrastructure projects, as well as due diligence processes, special purpose vehicle incorporations, and the negotiation of credit agreements. The Santiago office also fields experts in power purchase and engineering, procurement and construction agreements, along with build-operate-transfer contracts. Jorge Allende Z advises on transmission line, power generation, and non-conventional renewable energy source projects. In a major development, former practice heads Luis Felipe Arze and Fernando De Cárcer, along with recently-raised partner Sebastián Barros Eyzaguirre, departed the firm in April 2024.

Chile > Intellectual property Tier 4

Specialised in the protection of industrial and intellectual property, CMS Carey & Allende's IP team comprises sector specialists in banking, technology, media, life sciences, automotive, consumer products, healthcare and fast-moving consumer goods. Acting at both local and global levels, the group advises on trade mark registrations, oppositions and portfolio management, as well as patents, copyright, domain names, litigation, data protection and counterfeiting and piracy. The IP team is led by Matías Somarriva, who has longstanding experience in trade marks, patents, industrial designs, copyright, and counterfeiting and piracy-related criminal and civil lawsuits.

Chile > Labour and employment Tier 4

CMS Carey & Allende‘s ‘team of employment lawyers is impressive’. The employment and pensions practice provides ongoing advice on contracts, pay and compliance, as well as visas and immigration requirements for international employees. The group also assists with redundancy programmes, senior employee dismissals, health and safety issues, collective bargaining, and employment-related litigation and investigations. Following the April 2024 departure of former employment and pensions group head Enzo Canales, former senior associate Julio Frías was raised to partner and practice leader, while former associate Constanza Yáñez is now at director level. Both Frías and Yáñez maintain wide-ranging labour law practices.

Chile > Projects and infrastructure Tier 4

Adopting ‘a very commercial approach to all matters’, CMS Carey & Allende comprises experts in structuring, developing, acquiring, selling and financing energy and infrastructure projects. The full-service department acts at both initiation and post-operation stages of projects, and additionally advises on due diligence processes, special purpose vehicle incorporations and credit agreements. The team, which further assists with related litigation at both domestic and cross-border levels, is led by Jorge Allende Z, an experienced adviser on energy and mining projects. However, former partners Luis Felipe Arze, Fernando De Cárcer and the recently-promoted Sebastián Barros departed the firm to co-found A/C/R Legal in April 2024.

Chile > Dispute resolution: litigation Tier 5

CMS Carey & Allende houses ‘a team with vast knowledge of conflict resolution’. The dispute resolution group is experienced in civil, administrative and commercial lawsuits, including environmental and sanctioning procedures, as well as consumer protection class actions, and conflicts between shareholders and boards of directors. Its expertise also encompasses bankruptcy proceedings and composition agreements. The Santiago office’s dispute resolution and compliance practices are led by Rodrigo Campero, who ‘has extensive knowledge of conflict resolution’; with key support provided by associate Carla Cortés, who focuses her practice on civil and commercial litigation. Former practice co-head Stephan Luhrmann departed the firm in April 2024. Since publication, the firm has strengthened both the arbitral and litigious aspects of its disputes capability with the hire of Tomás Bown - formerly at Jana & Gil Dispute Resolution; effective as of March 2025.

Chile > Competition and antitrust

Chile > Compliance

Latin America: International firms > Banking and finance

CMS has a mix of international and local law expertise in relation to Latin America. Having maintained a Rio de Janeiro office for many years, it then linked up with a local Sao Paulo firm to establish FAS Advogados, in cooperation with CMS in 2023. The international firm has further offices in Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru. The multi-office Latin America practice has close links to international commercial lenders and development banks, along with a range of regional borrowers. It has developed a notable record in financings by European lenders to Latin American borrowers. The team has a long history of headline acquisition financings, project finance, restructurings and receivables-based credit agreements. In Chile, Jorge Allende Destuet is the key names, along with Sergio Rodríguez-Azuero and Daniel Rodríguez in Colombia. Diego Peschiera and Miguel Viale are prominent banking practitioners in Peru. Mexico City partner Raul Zepeda has led a series of major financings, including large project financings in the jurisdiction. Ted Rhodes heads the Brazil desk from London. Former Santiago-based partner Fernando De Cárcer left the firm in April 2024.

Latin America: International firms > Corporate and M&A

CMS has a broad geographic presence in Latin America with offices in Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru, along with its association in Brazil, FAS Advogados, in cooperation with CMS. The firm is frequently involved in significant cross-border deals involving Latin America, including both private equity and strategic M&A transactions. Technology, media and communications continue to be key sectors for the firm, along with automotive, hotels and leisure, consumer goods, insurance, financial services, construction and infrastructure, healthcare and life sciences. Ramón Valdivieso and Jorge Allende Destuet are key partners in Chile, and continue to work on headline transactions for major private equity funds such as KKR. Juan Camilo Rodríguez is managing partner of the Bogota office and a specialist in cross-border M&A transactions, having spent much of his career at US and Europe-based firms. Juan Carlos Escudero is managing partner of the Lima office and has over 20 years of experience in M&A, while Giancarlo Schievenini is a key name in Mexico City. Head of the Brazil desk, Ted Rhodes, has returned to London after spending 14 years in the Rio de Janeiro office; he continues to focus on oil and gas, mining and minerals, and offshore and renewables deals.