Compliance Tier 2

DLA Piper Chile's broad practice is co-led by Diego Noguera and the recently promoted Mauricio Halpern (who can draw on his in-house experience of compliance management), and handles regulatory compliance assessments, compliance control mechanisms, the design of compliance programmes, criminal liability prevention models and compliance certifications. The practice is particularly experienced in compliance matters involving the forestry, mining and heavy machinery, retail, energy and publishing sectors. The team's abilities are complemented by the firm's active litigation department and the office's recent initiation of a white-collar practice, led by counsel Ignacio Schwerter, who joined in September 2019 from Cortés & Rodriguez.

Corporate and M&A Tier 2

The experienced 21-strong corporate and M&A practice group at DLA Piper Chile consistently acts on sophisticated corporate transactions and due diligence processes, and has substantial knowledge of Chile’s investment environment. The practice has particular expertise in deals involving technology and energy and natural resources, among others, and is highly-regarded for its corporate governance and venture capital specialisms. Matías Zegers and Paulo Larrain co-chair the corporate practice group, which also includes energy and mining sector expert José Pablo Dulanto, Marco Salgado – who heads the corporate group's media, sport and entertainment practice – and Mauricio Halpern, who made partner in January 2020. Additional support is provided by counsel Manola Quiroz and Jorge Timmermann, who was raised to the partnership in January 2021.

Venture capital Tier 2

DLA Piper Chile's predecessor -the former Bahamondez, Alvarez & Zegers- established a specialised VC practice group back in 2008, upon which the international firm has built and grown. Today it is regularly involved in landmark transactions, and has particular technology sector expertise. The team's work includes assisting entrepreneurs with corporate restructuring for financing rounds (including the internationalisation of holding companies), and with the negotiation of financing rounds and exits. It is also experienced in advising investment funds through specialised, start-up-related due diligence work and investment document negotiations. Matías Zegers assists clients ranging from start-ups and fast growing, mid-market businesses to global companies. Key support is provided by senior associate Jorge Timmermann and associate Eduardo Araya. Since publication, Timmermann has been raised to the partnership (effective as of December 2020).

Data privacy Tier 3

DLA Piper Chile's data protection offering leverages the firm's expertise in regulatory, technology, corporate and venture capital matters. Typical work includes data protection clauses for several business sectors, privacy policies for customers and employees, and data privacy agreements. Felipe Bahamondez heads the group, which recently expanded its GDPR coverage capabilities with the October 2019 hire of associate Lisa Hondl, a European data protection law specialist, from CMS' Munich office.

Labour and employment Tier 3

DLA Piper Chile's team comprises five practitioners experienced in collective bargaining and employment litigation, as well as employee compensation schemes, high-ranking officer terminations, and day-to-day matters. The practice group also assists with labour-related M&A due diligence, labour compliance and corporate immigration. Labour and employment generalist Luis Parada heads both the local team and the firm's regional practice group; he is also an expert in corporate immigration. Counsel Juan Pablo Mesías (labour due diligences, welfare benefits, labour audits; and all tax and social security-related issues) is also a key practice contact. Associate Iñaki Irisarri, who arrived from Cruz y Cia until 2018, is also noted.

Mining Tier 3

DLA Piper Chile's mining expertise comprises mining concessions, contracts, litigation, due diligence and project development. The practice has notable expertise in the lithium industry and, through its integration with DLA Piper, frequently works in cross-border matters in various jurisdictions. Metallic and non-metallic mining venture specialist José Pablo Dulanto leads the group, which also fields associate Claudio Sepúlveda – a mining concession and contract expert.

Projects and infrastructure Tier 3

The eight-strong team at DLA Piper Chile is particularly experienced in the development and financing of power plants and energy projects, as well as infrastructure and real estate. Highly regarded partners Felipe Bahamondez (natural resources and regulatory matters), José Pablo Dulanto (an energy and mining sector specialist), and Rodrigo Álvarez (real estate) co-head the projects practice. Notable support at senior associate level is provided by Diego Peña (infrastructure and the corporate aspects of energy projects), and Paulina Farías (energy, natural resources and regulatory matters).

Public law Tier 3

The six-strong team at DLA Piper Chile has broad public law experience, including administrative procedures before different authorities and agencies, industry-related regulatory reports, bidding processes launched by public entities, applications for public concessions, and litigation. It also has notable sector expertise in relation to food and beverage, technology, public infrastructure, construction, pharmaceuticals and energy, among others. Regulated markets and administrative law expert Felipe Bahamondez heads the team, which includes litigation counsel Ricardo López and senior associate Paulina Farías.

Real estate Tier 3

DLA Piper Chile is a constant market presence advising on the development of real estate projects, including the drafting of construction contracts, urban planning and the financing of housing, hospitality and photovoltaic plant projects. The practice also advises on regulatory, taxation and land issues. Head of the real estate and construction practice, Rodrigo Álvarez is a 20-year veteran of the sector and focuses primarily on full life-cycle project development (from project initiation to sale), along with the tax planning and implementation. Counsel Teresa Fernández handles both the corporate and regulatory aspects of real estate matters, while senior associate Bernardita Doren focuses on corporate, project and real estate finance.

Banking and finance Tier 4

DLA Piper Chile's team is experienced in advising banks, financial institutions and syndicated club banks on structured finance and multilateral transactions, credit agreements, and banking regulatory issues. In project finance, it is particularly experienced in photovoltaic solar projects. The practice co-heads are Matías Zegers and Mauricio Halpern, who was promoted to the partnership in January (having returned to the firm as a counsel in 2017, after a period in-house), who act for both borrowers and lenders; key support comes from associate Vicente Vergara.

Capital markets Tier 4

DLA Piper Chile's extensive practice covers IPOs, private and public placements, securities and bond issuances, capital increases, share exchanges of publicly held companies, and corporate governance regulations. The practice's sector experience takes in investment companies and retail, among others, and it has particular expertise in venture capital and in working with entrepreneurs. Diego Noguera and Matías Zegers are the experienced partners to note, with support provided by counsel Manola Quiroz and Jorge Timmermann, who was raised to the partnership in January 2021.

Competition and antitrust Tier 4

Handling M&A control and filings before the competition authorities, the representation of clients in investigations carried out by the FNE, and antitrust litigation before the TDLC and the Supreme Court, the team at DLA Piper Chile is most active in the consumer product manufacture, pharmaceutical, telecoms, tech, chemicals and energy industries. It has also recently developed an antitrust/competition compliance offering that undertakes training, internal investigations and economic behavioral analysis. The office's regulated markets and antitrust department is co-led by Felipe Bahamondez and counsel Carolina Bawlitza, a 2018-hire from the FNE where she worked in investigations, M&A control and leniency matters during the course of a decade. Former counsel Blanca Palumbo left to join the National Electricity Coordinator (CEN) as counsel in October 2019. However, since publication, the team has been further strengthened with the October-2020 hire of Sofia O’Ryan; with over a decade's experience in the sector, she arrives from the FNE where she was coordinator of the antimonopolistic practices' dvision.

Tax Tier 4

DLA Piper Chile regularly provides tax support for M&A and project finance deals, including new areas such as e-commerce and fintech. It also advises on, compliance, double taxation treaties and transfer pricing, as well as frequently representing clients before Chile's specialised tax courts (TTA). Rodrigo Álvarez heads the tax group and maintains a broad practice including inbound and outbound matters, complex tax structuring, tax planning, tax compliance, primarily across the real estate, financial services and technology sectors, and for family offices. Senior associate-level support comes from German Vargas (tax planning and restructuring, the tax aspects of M&A transactions and due diligence, taxation in cross-border transactions, audit procedures and VAT issues).

Dispute resolution Tier 5

DLA Piper Chile regularly handles complex commercial and civil law disputes - most recently in  the technology, pharmaceutical, food and transportation sectors. Counsels Macarena Iturra, who has a civil and commercial focus within a broader litigation and arbitration practice (and is particuarly noted for her trial expertise); and Ricardo López who handles civil litigation and administrative procedures (particularly cases related to civil liability, pharmaceutical regulatory matters and consumer law), co-head the arbitration and litigation team. The practice's offering was augmented notably in September 2019 with the opening of a white-collar practice under the leadership of counsel Ignacio Schwerter, who joined from Cortés & Rodriguez.

Electricity/oil and gas

DLA Piper Chile's six-strong energy and natural resources team is particularly focused on the development of power plants; it is also active in solar, hydro and wind power generation and transmission projects. Typical advice includes regulatory issues, due diligence, project development and finance. The practice is led by Felipe Bahamondez, who has a strong background in energy, natural gas and liquefied natural gas (LNG) projects, and José Pablo Dulanto, who is experienced in natural resources projects in the energy and mining sectors. Notable support is provided by senior associates Diego Peña and Paulina Farías.