Chile 2022
Supported by the Association of Corporate Counsel
Legal manager North Latin America and Andean region | Electrolux
General counsel and corporate compliance officer | Sacyr Chile
Legal manager, data protection officer and human rights correspondant | L’Oréal Chile
General counsel Chile and compliance officer Latam | ALSTOM
Vice president associate general counsel head of legal Latin America | Everest Compañía de Seguros Generales Chile
Vice president, corporate affairs and sustainability | WOM Chile
Chief legal, sustainability and corporate affairs officer | Softys
General counsel, corporate affairs and corporate secretary | Aclara Resources
General counsel and secretary of the board | ENEL Chile and Enel Americas
General counsel, chief compliance officer and corporate secretary | Grupo Automotores Gildemeister
Legal manager – compliance and ethics | The Adecco Group
Vice president of legal and compliance in Andes | Liberty Mutual Insurance
Head of legal and compliance Chile, Perú and Ecuador | Boehringer Ingelheim
In-house lawyer, fiscal | Sociedad Concesionaria Vespucio Norte Express
General counsel for Latin America and Caribbean, and regional director risk management LAC | WSP
Director of legal affairs | Empresa de Correos de Chile
General counsel | Echeverría Izquierdo Montajes Industriales
Legal and compliance manager | Grupo Bureau Veritas Chile
Human resources director | G4S Security Services Chile
Company secretary and general counsel | Coordinador Eléctrico Nacional
Legal and administration director | Minera Freeport McMoRan South America Limitada
Vice president legal, regulatory and coporate affairs | VTR Comunicaciones
Legal manager – fiscal | Fábricas y Maestranzas del Ejército
Head of legal, compliance and ethics officer | EDF Renewables Chile
Associate general counsel and head of Latin America legal organisation | TATA Consultancy Services
Corporate legal manager | Empresa Nacional del Petróleo
Senior corporate and real estate lawyer | Gibraltar Group
The Legal 500 has been analysing the capabilities of law firms around the world for 35 years. Over the course of the last decade, we have expanded our legal analysis to include corporate counsel–again on a global scale–as reflected in our GC Powerlist series, which identifies the leading corporate counsel in more than 150 jurisdictions.
As lead researcher for The Legal 500’s Chile GC Powerlist 2022, it is my pleasure to introduce this extensive edition of the GC Powerlist series. Rarely have we conducted so many interviews with the leading in-house legal minds of a country while investigating; it was a privilege to be able to speak with the lawyers contained within these pages about opportunities and challenges they face now and in the future. Some examples of these enervating discussions are below.
In common with their contemporaries around the world, Chile-based GCs have endured a highly uncertain past two years. As Alberto Vergara, director of litigation at Scotiabank Chile reflects, ‘the Covid-19 pandemic made the changes and challenges that we were already facing even more dramatic, urgent, and exponential. Legal counsel, especially in-house ones, had to adopt overnight ways of working that we previously would have considered counterintuitive’. He views the agility that he and his in-house legal colleagues showed in adapting to the pandemic’s new requirements in order to continue effectively serving their organisations as a point of pride: ‘We as legal counsel were crucial in order to provide the legal advice required to adapt to the new circumstances, putting aside our established wisdom and old ways of working. We should be proud of the outcome.’
Anastassia Fagetti Arenas, legal manager, data protection officer and human rights correspondent for L’Oreal Chile summed up the huge value that top-quality in-house counsel can give to an organisation, with a fitting tribute to her contemporaries: ‘With our ability to anticipate changes in an increasingly volatile, complex, uncertain and ambiguous world, having a position in legal matters allows us to evaluate the most suitable solutions proactively and take a more active role in the face of different changes or challenges. This ability to accelerate our legal vision allows us to protect the organisation’s reputation and ourselves against possible impacts on the company, our stakeholders, and shareholders.’
I am extremely pleased to present this list of the most successful, agile and innovative in-house lawyers in Chile.
Yoonsong Choi | Lead Research Analyst | GC Powerlist Chile 2022
The Legal 500 has kindly invited Carey to host the fourth edition of the GC Powerlist Chile, which recognises the most influential and innovative general counsel of Chile. In order to identify the top general counsel in the country, The Legal 500 conducted independent research, which includes in-depth consultations with important members of the Chilean legal community, with a particular emphasis on those general counsel that promote effective team collaboration.
Carey warmly congratulates those who have been recognised, including those with whom we have shared professional experiences that have enabled us to appreciate first hand their leadership and effectiveness.
Although Chile is experiencing tumultuous times, including the drafting of a new constitution which will be approved or rejected through a referendum in September, the legal community in Chile widely believes that our democratic traditions, our solid institutions, a general absence of corruption and a respect for the rule of law will ultimately allow our country to continue prospering and maintain its position as one of the leading nations in Latin America.
Carey reiterates its belief that the general counsel recognised by The Legal 500 have played, and will continue to play, an important role in maintaining Chile’s high ethical and political standards. We view them as legal lighthouses which guide the corporations they serve, preventing them from making decisions that might lead them to dangerous waters. As Chile’s largest law firm, Carey, of course, shares this task.
We also share many of the same values and beliefs with this group of prestigious general counsels. Building a strong and positive culture in a law firm is not an easy task and requires continual work and reflection. We at Carey appreciate the leadership and inspiration that the lawyers recognised by The Legal 500 this year provide to the entire legal community.
Thank you to The Legal 500 for this invitation and, once again, congratulations to the general counsel selected for their outstanding work.
Jorge Carey | Chairman | Carey
The Legal 500 successfully hosted the GC Summit Chile 2025 on 17 June at the prestigious Mandarin Oriental in Santiago. This premier event brought together a distinguished community of in-house counsel and legal professionals from across Chile and the wider LATAM region. Designed to foster dialogue, share strategic insights, and build lasting connections, the summit addressed the pressing legal challenges and innovations reshaping today’s business environment.
Through a curated series of panels, the Summit explored emerging regulatory frameworks, dispute resolution strategies, labour law reforms, and corporate crime implications. Each session balanced expert commentary with practical, real-world guidance for the benefit of the in-house legal audience. The day concluded with an engaging networking reception, enabling participants to strengthen ties and continue conversations in a relaxed setting.
The day commenced with welcome addresses from Margherita Birri on behalf of The Legal 500 and Daniel Álvarez Valenzuela, Director of Chile’s National Cybersecurity Agency, setting the tone for a day of forward-thinking legal discussions.
Sponsored by Magliona Abogados, the opening panel focused on the intersection of technology, data governance, and legal compliance. As Chile accelerates its digital transformation, this session explored the legal ramifications surrounding data privacy, cybersecurity frameworks, fintech development, and artificial intelligence. Speakers dissected current and proposed regulatory measures and shared best practices for corporate compliance. A key emphasis was placed on anticipating policy shifts and embedding digital resilience within legal departments.
Presented by Bofill Escobar Silva, this session tackled the increasingly multifaceted nature of legal disputes. From regulatory conflict to high-profile litigation, César Ramos provided a deep dive into dispute resolution tactics that go beyond the courtroom. Real-life case management experiences illuminated how organisations can approach complex legal threats holistically, blending legal, reputational, and strategic considerations. Attendees gained insight into structuring internal processes and external counsel relationships to manage high-impact litigation effectively.
With sweeping reforms reshaping Chile’s labour law landscape, Munita & Olavarría’s panel unpacked three transformative legislative shifts: the phased reduction of the working week, proposed pension reform, and the enactment of the “Karin Law”. Legal leaders examined how these reforms affect employment policies, workplace investigations, and long-term HR planning. Attendees received practical guidance on internal policy alignment, compliance risk mitigation, and engaging constructively with organisational change.
The final panel of the day, hosted by VCG Abogados, explored the profound impact of Chile’s new Economic Crimes Law on corporate environmental liability. The discussion centered on how environmental breaches are now reclassified as criminal offences, with heightened scrutiny and enforcement mechanisms. Panelists stressed the importance of cross-functional compliance, robust internal audits, and executive accountability. The audience left with actionable strategies to strengthen environmental governance and minimise exposure to criminal proceedings.
To close the summit, attendees enjoyed a vibrant networking reception. Set against the elegant backdrop of the Mandarin Oriental, guests connected over refreshments and informal conversation. The reception underscored the collaborative spirit of the event and provided a fitting conclusion to a day marked by knowledge exchange, strategic reflection, and community building within Chile’s in-house legal community.
GC Summit Chile 2025 proved to be a landmark event, reaffirming The Legal 500’s commitment to supporting in-house counsel with critical insights, peer engagement, and access to leading legal thought. Through its carefully structured programme and high-level discussions, the summit empowered attendees to confront challenges with confidence and contribute meaningfully to their organisations’ legal and strategic priorities.
Looking ahead, The Legal 500 remains dedicated to delivering timely, relevant content and fostering impactful conversations within the global legal community.
