Ramón Valdivieso > CMS Carey & Allende > Santiago, Chile > Lawyer Profile

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.

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.

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.