DLA Piper Chile > The Legal 500 Rankings

Chile > Venture capital Tier 1

‘Showing great expertise and flexibility when negotiating with corporate investors and mutual funds‘, international legal practice DLA Piper Chile has firmly built upon the specialised VC practice of its predecessor (the former Bahamondez, Alvarez & Zegers), which established the group back in 2008. Representative work includes advising entrepreneurs on corporate restructuring for financing rounds, and negotiating investment documents and exits, along with due diligence work. ‘Experienced and wise‘ Chilean VC and entrepreneurship attorney Matías Zegers consistently advises on first-of-their-kind transactions in Chile, and former senior associate Jorge Timmermann was elevated to the partnership in January 2021. Timmermann advises multiple VC firms and entrepreneurs on setting up investment funds, start-up vehicles, and applying for state-driven funding opportunities. At associate level, Pilar Ay and Eduardo Araya‘s practice includes VC work.

Chile > Compliance Tier 2

Providing 'a first-class service', the four-member compliance team at DLA Piper Chile, co-led by highly regarded partners Diego Noguera and Mauricio Halpern, has particular experience in sectors such as, forestry, mining, retail, energy, publishing and heavy industry. Noguera leverages off his extensive experience in corporate law and capital markets to assist with the identification of specific risks and potential conflicts of interest between private entities and public agencies; while Halpern, informed by his previous experience as in-house counsel, advises on risk assessment, internal control measures, fraud investigations, training, and internal and official reporting. The firm also fields a robust litigation department, while the white-collar practice (launched in 2019) is led by counsel Ignacio Schwerter. Further support is provided by regulatory compliance associate Andrea de la Vega.

Energy and natural resources > Electricity and hydrocarbon Tier 2

‘With commitment and responsibility from both partners and associates‘, the seven-strong energy and natural resources team at DLA Piper Chile focuses on the development of power plants, as well matters in the energy transmission and distribution segments. Heading the firm’s energy and natural resources practice group, Felipe Bahamondez has substantial experience in energy, natural gas and liquefied natural gas (LNG) projects; he regularly advises on matters involving electricity power plants (particularly solar). Key senior associate-level support is provided by Diego Peña, who has notable energy and infrastructure experience; and Paulina Farías (energy, natural resources and regulatory matters). Former partner José Pablo Dulanto left the firm in January 2021 to re-establish NLD Abogados. Since publication, the team has been strengthened with Peña’s elevation to the partnership – effective January 2022.

Chile > Capital markets Tier 3

The broad practice at DLA Piper Chile is a ‘technically extraordinary team‘ and advises on matters ranging from IPOs, private and public placements and securities issuances, to assistance with capital increases, stock options, bond issuances and credit line registrations. Clients additionally benefit from the group’s expertise in venture capital and its experience in working with entrepreneurs. Securities and capital markets expert Diego Noguera leads the department, which includes corporate and securities law specialist Matías Zegers. In January 2021, Jorge Timmermann (securities issuances and fund registrations) was made up to partner; but former counsel Manola Quiroz moved to NLD Abogados as a partner in February.

Chile > Corporate and M&A Tier 3

‘A very competent team that is always ready to help‘, the 15-member corporate and M&A practice group at DLA Piper Chile advises during each phase of M&A processes, from due diligence to post-closing actions; the practice has notable specialisations in corporate governance, technology, energy and natural resources, and venture capital-related transactions. Corporate group head Matías Zegers focuses his practice on M&A and corporate governance, and is considered one of Chile’s most experienced venture capital lawyers; Marco Salgado has substantial experience in both public and private M&A. Raised to the partnership in January 2021, Jorge Timmermann‘s transactional practice includes the structuring of M&A operations, and stock purchase and shareholder agreements. However, former partners Paulo Larrain and José Pablo Dulanto, along with former counsel Manola Quiroz, departed the firm in February 2021 to re-establish NLD Abogados, which merged into DLA back in 2018.

NLD Abogados was relaunched in February 2021 when Paulo Larraín, José Pablo Dulanto and Manola Quiroz, who have worked together since the 1990s, departed from DLA Piper BAZ/NLD - the result of a 2018 merger between BAZ|DLA Piper and Noguera, Larraín & Dulanto. Company and asset acquisition specialist Larraín co-chairs the corporate practice group alongside Dulanto (natural resources, M&A and general commercial matters); regulated-markets expert Quiroz was raised from counsel to partner in February 2021. Delivering 'fast, very solid answers', the seven-member group handles sophisticated M&A deals and due diligence processes, as well as post-closing activity.

Chile > Data privacy Tier 3

DLA Piper Chile's 'outstanding' four-member group combines its data protection legal expertise with experience in regulatory matters, technology, corporate law, venture capital and consumer protection. Head of the regulatory and regulated markets practice group, Felipe Bahamondez, has vast experience in the technology and telecoms sectors, as well as in data protection work. At associate level, Lisa Hondl is experienced in assisting large national and international companies with the implementation and everyday application of the GDPR, including communications with the national supervisory authorities.

Chile > Labour and employment Tier 3

DLA Piper Chile‘s four-member practice advises on a diverse range of employment law matters, including collective bargaining, complex employment litigation, implementing compensation schemes for employees, and termination of high-level officers. It also has a strong day-to-day practice, which assists with internal investigation, redundancies, hiring processes and dismissals, as well as labour-related due diligence for transactions, labour compliance and corporate immigration. Leading the firm’s labour and employment practice group, Luis Parada is a labour and employment and corporate immigration specialist. At associate level Gabriela Andrade was hired in January 2021 from EY Chile, and Ignacio Abogabir  was incorporated in November 2020 after over two years with the Chilean government. Former counsel Juan Pablo Mesías  left the firm in January 2021.

Chile > Projects and infrastructure Tier 3

Fielding a ten-strong team, DLA Piper Chile has substantial experience in the projects and infrastructure space, including the development of power plants and energy, infrastructure and real estate projects. Heading the firm’s energy and natural resources group, Felipe Bahamondez has a strong profile for energy, natural gas and LNG projects, as well as infrastructure mandates; and Rodrigo Álvarez has over 20 years’ experience in advising on real estate matters. The associates to note are seniors Diego Peña (energy and infrastructure) and Paulina Farías (energy, natural resources and regulatory matters), along with Claudio Sepúlveda, who assists with bidding processes and construction contracts. Former projects co-head José Pablo Dulanto departed the firm in February 2021. Since publication, Peña has been raised to the partnership - effective as of January 2022.

Chile > Public law Tier 3

The four-member team at DLA Piper Chile consistently assists with  administrative procedures before various authorities and agencies; the development of clients’ activities through regulatory reports; and public entities’ bidding processes. Other areas of expertise include food product labelling, responding to consumer claims filed before the Servicio Nacional del Consumidor, and public law litigation before the ordinary and special courts. Heading the regulated markets and antitrust practice group, Felipe Bahamondez has broad public law and regulatory experience; senior associate Paulina Farías has robust regulatory, public law, and energy and natural resources practices. Former counsel Ricardo López left the firm in early 2021.

Chile > Real estate Tier 3

DLA Piper Chile consistently assists both national and international clients with a wide array of real estate matters, ranging from the development of real estate projects and the drafting of construction contracts, to urban planning and project financing for housing, hospitality and photovoltaic plants; the team also regularly collaborates with the firm’s energy, regulatory and taxation departments. The real estate and construction practice group co-heads are Rodrigo Álvarez, who has over 20 years’ experience in real estate matters; and counsel Teresa Fernández, who handles a broad spectrum of real estate matters. At senior associate level, Bernardita Doren also assists with real estate transactions, including residential, industrial and agricultural developments.

Chile > Banking and finance Tier 4

DLA Piper Chile‘s four-strong team consistently advises banks, financial institutions and syndicated club banks on structured finance and multilateral deals; the Santiago office also has active practices in project finance (particularly solar) and regulatory matters. Matías Zegers has extensive experience in finance work; Mauricio Halpern (partner as of 2020), regularly acts as lead bank or borrower/sponsor counsel in relation to credit facility structuring; and associate Vicente Vergara‘s practice covers lending, structured products, and energy and infrastructure project finance.

Chile > Competition and antitrust Tier 4

DLA Piper Chile‘s ‘vision and knowledge are very in tune with what is required to meet the Antitrust Court’s high standards‘. The team’s scope of practice ranges from M&A clearances to FNE investigations and antitrust litigation before the TDLC and the Supreme Court; the Santiago office has also developed a robust antitrust and competition compliance practice. With broad experience in regulatory matters and antitrust, Felipe Bahamondez co-heads the department alongside counsel Sofia O’Ryan, who arrived form the FNE in October 2020, where she gained extensive experience in merger control, unilateral conduct and horizontal agreements. However, former counsel Carolina Bawlitza moved in house as a competition compliance officer at SMU in October 2020.

Chile > Tax Tier 4

The three-member team at DLA Piper Chile assists with the implementation of tax strategies for diverse investment projects, and advises companies and individuals on the daily development of their businesses; it also assists with the resolution of tax-related conflicts, and provides tax support during M&A transactions and project financings. Additionally of note, the group advises on the tax side to infrastructure and digital services matters. Experienced in advising on a broad spectrum of tax matters, Rodrigo Álvarez leads the tax group, which includes key senior associate German Vargas. Since publication, the team has been further strengthened with the addition of Amory Heine, formerly of Rojas & Cía, in November 2021; she handles corporate and individual tax planning, and transactional and business structuring, along with audits and litigation before the IRS and tax courts.

Chile > Dispute resolution: litigation Tier 5

DLA Piper Chile has broad experience in dispute resolution (both litigation and arbitration), consistently representing Chilean and foreign clients in high-profile cases; the team’s litigious experience is primarily in commercial and civil judicial proceedings along with the defence of constitutional and regulated rights. At counsel level, Macarena Iturra, has broad litigation and arbitration experience -particularly regarding civil and commercial issues- and heads up the dispute resolution practice, while Ignacio Schwerter, in turn, leads the white-collar practice area. Former counsel and co-head of the arbitration and litigation team, Ricardo A López moved to NLD Abogados as a partner in February 2021.