Providing in-depth regulatory expertise to clients across industry sectors such as mining, energy, aquaculture, and natural resources, the 'well-prepared, agile, and collaborative' eelaw is a boutique firm exclusively dedicated to environmental law. The firm provides full life-cycle project support, from environmental assessments and permitting to defence in sanctioning and judicial proceedings. In addition, the practice has a unique specialisation in mine-closure regulations. Recent notable matters include successfully securing a favourable ruling from the Contraloría General de la República requiring the DGA to amend overreaching resolutions, reinforcing the limits of the agency’s authority. Separately, the team has provided comprehensive environmental compliance counsel to mining company Minera Las Cenizas, including inspection support, permitting strategy and sanction defense, whilst also defending the client in a high-stakes environmental claim. 'Always willing to dive into a new problem or case', practice head and veteran environmental lawyer Paulina Riquelme brings over 20 years' experience and is a leading figure in both domestic regulation and multilateral environmental agreements. Senior associate Amelia Sagredo leads the team’s project coordination, focusing on compliance, permitting and sanction-prevention for (primarily) mining and energy clients. Associate Daniela Jara, who has former experience at the environmental superintendence, brings extensive knoowledge of administrative sanctioning and compliance oversight.
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Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- ‘For me, it is the firm with the deepest knowledge of environmental law. Very willing to delve into every detail of the case, while also understanding its most strategic elements.'
- ‘Eelaw is a firm with a very consistent practice throughout its existence, always maintaining a high level of efficiency and quality. It has provided us with legal assistance for almost twenty years, and its collaboration has been very important to the development of our activities.’
- ‘Paulina is excellent. She's incredibly knowledgeable and truly adds a lot of value.’
- ‘This firm works with me on international negotiations related to the chemicals and residual waste cluster. They are skilled, up-to-date with the latest developments, and so on.’
- ‘Their primary difference is that these professionals are aware of all current developments in environmental matters, which makes it easier to present cases. ’
- ‘Paulina is an excellent lawyer who builds and strengthens the teams she joins.
Key clients
- Mainstream Renewable Power
- Sociedad Nacional de Minería
- Haldeman Mining Company (HMC) / Minera HMC
- Grupo Minero Las Cenizas
- Mitsubishi Corporation
- Compañía Minera del Pacífico
- Cerro Negro Mining Company
- KDM
- Minera Tres Valles
- Confederación de Producción y Comercio (CPC)
- CEMIN Holding Minero
- Gold Fields
Work highlights
Handled the filing a request with the Office of “Contraloría General de la República” on behalf of a mining company, so as to review the resolutions of “Dirección General de Aguas” (DGA) regarding the compny's water resources, obtaining a favourable opinion that requires the DGA to limit its actions to the scope of its competence and modify the challenged determinations.
Paulina Riquelme is participating (as a member of the Chilean Delegation) in the meetings of the Intergovernmental negotiating committee (INC) to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment; she has actively participated in these negotiations since INC.1.
Currently assisting Chile-based innovation and technology company, CEIBO, with the creation and implementation of a permitting strategy to facilitate the execution of its pilot projects.
Lawyers
Hall of Fame
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Leading associates
Leading associates with regular involvement in their team's key work, and recognition from peers or clients as being ones to watch.
Camila Martínez
Practice head
Paulina Riquelme