DLA Piper Chile > Santiago, Chile > Firm Profile

DLA Piper Chile > The Legal 500 Rankings

Chile > Venture capital Tier 1

DLA Piper Chile's ‘very complete team’ advises on the full range of venture capital work, including financing rounds, corporate ventures, exits, employee benefit plans, and international expansions. The Santiago office’s recent workload includes advising early and growth-stage investment company Fen Ventures on a series of investments; and assisting Chilean chemical company SQM on the incorporation of its corporate venture capital arm. The seven-strong practice, which is notably active in relation to technology companies, is co-led by office managing partner Matías Zegers, who ‘stands out for his knowledge of venture capital’; and Jorge Timmermann, who also serves as the firm’s LatAm emerging growth and venture capital co-head. Zegers routinely advises on complex venture capital funding issues; and Timmermann’s experience includes assisting venture capital firms and entrepreneurs with establishing investment funds and start-up vehicles, and applying for state-driven funding opportunities. In the firm’s associate group, José Ignacio Marín advises companies on financing rounds, as well as the expansion and internationalisation of businesses; and Vicente Sáenz de Santa María assists companies and investors with financings through equity and debt instruments; Pilar Ay, a company and investor-side venture and debt financing expert, is currently on secondment at the firm’s Palo Alto (US) office.

Chile > Compliance Tier 2

Part of DLA Piper Chile's widely-respected corporate practice, the full-service regional player’s local compliance team assists with designing and implementing corporate compliance programmes, conducts criminal investigations, and advises on anti-corruption legislation, international sanctions, crime prevention, anti-money laundering and data protection compliance. Praised for its ‘practical legal knowledge, ability to adapt to new requirements and flexible billing’, the group also provides training to clients to help them identify potential risks and create tailored guides for their specific industry needs. The practice group recently experienced an increase in its workload, further to the publication of the amendment to Act 20,393 on Economic Crimes, which introduces new categories of offences, stricter penalties, and broader criminal liability for legal entities. The four-member compliance group is headed up by Mauricio Halpern (‘optimal availability and concern for the client’), who is experienced in developing and implementing regulatory compliance models, as well as assisting with the preparation of policies, procedures, reporting channels, risk matrixes, and control panels.  Halpern’s assistance also includes advises on best practices and market standards. May 2024 saw the team strengthened notably with the hire of former Albagli Zaliasnik practice director Francisca Franzani as a partner. Halpern and Franzani can also call on mid-level associate Andrea de la Vega who advises companies on regulatory compliance matters, in addition to acting in dispute resolution and civil litigation, such as defence-side consumer and customs law matters.

Chile > Data privacy Tier 2

‘An innovative firm that is at the forefront of technology discussions in Chile’, DLA Piper Chile's data privacy and protection specialists advise on compliance with data protection laws and regulations, privacy policies, consent mechanisms and data processing practices. It also assists with data breach responses, reporting obligations, risk assessments and mitigation. With ‘an incredible ability to foresee and avoid possible legal problems’, the team additionally reviews and negotiates contracts and agreements; advises on international data transfers (including EU GDPR requirements); and assists with the privacy implications of emerging technologies, such as AI ethics, biometrics, and blockchain.  It also recently advised on Chile’s draft protection of personal data bill for a range of clients. The technology-focused practice of team leader Jorge Timmermann (who also advises on M&A transactions and stock purchase and shareholder agreements), covers data privacy work; while that of counsel and ‘innate talent’ Carla Illanes, a data protection and information security expert, includes advising on data collection, privacy policies, risk assessments, compliance and data transfer strategies. Illanes’ career includes working for three years at the digital division of the Presidency Ministry’s General Secretariat, and -according to certain clients- she ‘plays an active role in the discussions on Chile’s data protection ecosystem’.

Energy and natural resources > Electricity and hydrocarbons

Delivering ‘full-service quality with boutique availability and dedication to clients’, DLA Piper Chile‘s eight-strong practice has extensive experience in advising on electricity, oil and gas, renewables and hydrogen projects. Its expertise ranges from regulatory advice to leading energy project-related transactions and contractual matters. The team also assists with related mining and environmental law issues, as well as merger control and antitrust matters. The group is mandated by clients to advise at every stage of the development and construction of energy generation projects, including associated works such as transmission lines, substations and gas pipelines. It additionally assists with the resolution of conflicts regarding concessions. The local team is co-led by Felipe Bahamondez, who has extensive expertise in energy and natural resources project development; and Diego Peña, who is ‘a shining example of a new generation of partners for the 21st century’. Peña’s experience includes high-stakes energy projects involving natural gas, hydro, wind, biomass and solar energy plants in Chile, Perú, Uruguay, Nicaragua and Australia, as well as the financing and construction of power transmission facilities in Chile. Providing support, Roberta Andreani is a mid-level associate who is particularly focused on renewable energy projects and energy transition work.

Chile > Banking and finance Tier 3

The full-service offering at DLA Piper Chile provides the Santiago office’s banking and finance practice with global leverage during high-end international finance transactions involving other jurisdictions. In addition to the team’s assistance to international conglomerates and companies with their traditional financing activities, the group is active in several fintech industry areas, such as payments, P2P lending, cryptocurrencies, and investment and personal finance. The Chile banking and finance practice is led by Mauricio Halpern, who advises banks, borrowers and sponsors on the structuring of credit facilities. In the senior associate ranks, Eduardo Araya focuses on financing and debt structuring, while Vicente Vergara (who returned from a year at the firm's New York offices in August 2023), advises borrowers on lending deals, structured products, and corporate and project financing.

Chile > Capital markets Tier 3

The capital markets team at full-service firm DLA Piper Chile undertakes placements, securities issuances, IPOs and capital increases, as well as stock options, bonds and American depositary receipts. The principal advisers in the Santiago office are: Diego Noguera, who advises companies on the domestic and international placement of securities; office managing partner Matías Zegers, who brings expertise in M&A, corporate governance and venture capital to the practice; and Jorge Timmermann, a former capital markets adviser to the Minister of Finance whose experience also includes advising on the issuance of bonds and commercial papers (predominantly on behalf of issuers).

Chile > Corporate and M&A Tier 3

DLA Piper Chile's 18-strong group has a notable track record in high-end M&A transactions, corporate governance and venture capital, its coverage encompassing both due diligence and post-closing stages; and with hundreds of lawyers practising throughout Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, Peru, and Puerto Rico, clients can additionally avail themselves of the firm’s enviable regional platform. The ‘great corporate and M&A team’ is led by Matías Zegers, a venture capital, M&A and corporate governance expert, who has ‘extraordinary experience in corporate matters’. Providing notable support, Marco Salgado advises corporate investors and companies from the consumer goods, infrastructure and energy sectors; and Jorge Timmermann -who ‘always delivers timely and quality responses’- handles matters including the structuring of M&A operations and the drafting and negotiating of stock purchase and shareholder agreements.

Chile > Labour and employment Tier 3

DLA Piper Chile's ‘experience in labour law is outstanding’. The six-strong labour and employment team in Santiago has notable expertise in gig-economy employment issues, as well as the manufacturing, services, healthcare, banking, leisure, cosmetics, energy, construction and real estate sectors. The group also advises on employer-side collective bargaining, along with compensation and benefits. Team head Luis Parada, who maintains a broad labour and employment caseload, also serves as the firm’s Latin America employment practice group co-leader. Providing key support at senior associate level, Diego González is ‘an excellent litigator who handles highly complex cases’, while Ignacio Abogabir focuses on contentious individual and collective labour law issues.

Chile > Projects and infrastructure Tier 3

’At all times well prepared, strategic and optimistic’, DLA Piper Chile's nine-member team advises on the development, acquisition, sale and financing of energy and infrastructure projects. Assisting at every stage of projects’ lifecycles, it is notably experienced in the energy and natural resources space. The key practitioners are project and infrastructure specialist Diego Peña, who ‘definitely deserves to be ranked among the best lawyers’; and Felipe Bahamondez, who has a significant track record in energy, natural gas and LNG projects. At associate level, senior Felipe Massardo acts for clients from the energy, infrastructure, construction, transportation and telecoms sectors; while intermediate Roberta Andreani focuses on renewable energy projects and energy transition work.

Chile > Public law Tier 3

DLA Piper Chile's seven strong regulated markets team advises on the gamut of administrative public law issues, in relation to clients’ interactions with regulatory bodies. Active in both the public and private sectors, the full-service firm handles the public law aspects of a range of industries, such as technology, public infrastructure, construction, real estate, energy, education, media, and food and beverages. The local practice is co-led by Felipe Bahamondez, whose experience covers administrative procedures, public bids and litigation; and Diego Peña, an adviser on clients’ energy and infrastructure project-related interactions with Chile’s administrative bodies. Senior associate Felipe Massardo assists with bidding processes, public works concessions, sanctioning procedures and litigation.

Chile > Tax Tier 3

DLA Piper Chile fields a ‘committed team that focuses on the needs of clients’. The seven-strong, full-service tax practice covers general tax advice, income tax, VAT, tax compliance, and structuring tax-efficient transactions for M&A, venture capital and private equity wealth management. It also assists with tax audits before the Chilean IRS, tax litigation, and start-up companies’ tax and restructuring issues. The department is co-led by longstanding tax specialist Rodrigo Álvarez, and the ‘tremendously creative’ Amory Heine, who advises both Chilean and foreign clients on corporate and personal tax planning. At senior associate level, Francisco Argüello predominantly focuses on international tax law.

Chile > Competition and antitrust Tier 4

Delivering ‘advice that is tailored to clients’ realities’, DLA Piper Chile's four-strong competition and antitrust practice routinely works alongside the firm’s corporate and M&A teams on both transactional and compliance matters. The group also assists with internal investigations, external procedures conducted by the FNE (and through the TDLC), and merger control analyses. The team is co-led by Felipe Bahamondez, who oversees the Santiago office’s strategy for antitrust cases; and counsel and antitrust specialist Sofia O’Ryan, who ‘has sophisticated knowledge of the Chilean free competition system’.

Chile > Real estate Tier 4

DLA Piper Chile's Santiago office advises on national and international real estate projects in the industrial, energy, commercial, housing, hotel, educational and health sectors. Its assistance covers regulatory, taxation, and urban planning and land issues, as well as financings, title reviews, land purchases, long-term lease agreements, and mergers and subdivisions. The team is also notably experienced in construction contracts. The group is co-led by founding partner Rodrigo Álvarez (who also co-heads the tax practice); and counsel and real estate and corporate law expert, Bernardita Doren.

Chile > Dispute resolution: arbitration

Chile > Dispute resolution: litigation

Latin America: International firms > Projects and energy

DLA Piper LLP (US)'s rapid growth of its US-based Latin America practice is bringing significant rewards. It now has prominent talent across multiple practices, including energy and infrastructure. Partners and associates in its New York, Washington DC, Los Angeles, San Diego, Houston and Miami offices, now frequently work alongside colleagues in Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Peru and Puerto Rico, as well as in Brazil (through Campos Mello Advogados in cooperation with DLA Piper). Many in the Latin America team are natives of countries in the region, or are native Spanish or Portuguese speakers. Margarita Oliva Sainz de Aja is head of Latin America banking and finance, and is based in New York after spending many years as a partner in Argentina; she is an experienced project finance specialist with an established client base of multilateral agencies, ECAs, commercial financial institutions, sponsors and project companies. Miriam Figueroa splits her time between New York and Puerto Rico, and has extensive expertise in infrastructure, power purchase agreements and public-private partnership contracts; much of her practice centres on Puerto Rico. New York partner Marcello Hallake is a prominent name in energy M&A, especially in Brazil-related deals; while Diego Peña is a key partner in Santiago. Bruno Soares joined the firm from what is now A&O Shearman in February 2024 and has subsequently become managing partner of the new Sao Paulo office.