FerradaNehme's ‘top-notch’ environment and natural resources team ’stands out for its knowledge’. The eight-strong group is widely respected for its advice on project-related developments and permits, including strategy design and implementation, along with the filing and management of permits. It further assists clients’ government and community relations teams with developing preventive strategies to avoid environmental disputes. The practice is increasingly involved in litigation, as well as sanctioning procedures before the Superintendency of the Environment. It also has notable expertise in Chile’s newly-enacted recycling and extended producer-liability legislation (EPR Law). The department’s highlights include representing BHP in an environmental damage lawsuit filed by The State Defence Council against a group of companies for alleged damage to wetlands. ‘Great for highly complex issues’, team head Patricio Leyton advises on energy and mining project development, including permitting and Environmental Impact Assessment System work; Valeria Ruz's wide-ranging practice encompasses permits, projects, environmental assessments, litigation and community relations; and Carola Salamanca handles permitting, project development, land use and EPR Law matters. At director level, Claudio Tapia's career includes a period at the Superintendence of the Environment as a prosecutor of administrative sanctioning procedures; but environmental litigator María-Pilar Dominguez left he firm in June 2024.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
- Profile
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘The team is top-notch and stands out for its knowledge and excellent technical excellence.’
‘Unparalleled dedication to understanding the specific particularities of each case and client.’
‘Adds value significantly through their advice.’
‘Ability to understand the particular needs of each case and link them with the idiosyncrasies of each client. This is a very important feature and unfortunately scarce on the market.’
‘Patricio Leyton is great for highly complex issues, as are Claudio Tapia and María-Pilar Domínguez.’
Key clients
- Andes Iron
- BHP
- Teck Resources
- Ree Uno
- Barrick Gold Corporation
- Codelco División Ventanas
- American Tower Chile II
Work highlights
- Acted for Andes Iron in its appeal before the Environmental Court in relation to the Committee of Ministers’ rejection of a project.
- Acted for BHP in an environmental damage lawsuit which was filed by The State Defence Council against a group of companies for alleged damage that water extraction caused to the Tilopozo wetlands.
- Acted for Codelco in an environmental damage lawsuit, which was filed before the Second Environmental Court by a fishermen’s union against the Environmental Authority and thirteen companies.
Lawyers
Hall of fame
The lawyers at the very top of the profession, widely known and respected by peers and clients for their longstanding involvement in market-leading work.
Leading associates
Leading associates with regular involvement in their team's key work, and recognition from peers or clients as being ones to watch.
Claudio Tapia
Practice head
Patricio Leyton; Valeria Ruz; Carola Salamanca