The four-member team at Morales & Besa handles environmental mandates across both public and private sectors. The practice provide counsel on complex environmental issues to a diverse client list, including major national and international actors in industries such as mining, energy, construction and project financing. Following the April 2024 departure of former practice head Aldo Cardinali (who moved in house at mining group KGHM Chile), Macarena Laso currently leads the practice, bringing extensive experience in corporate, infrastructure and construction matters; while fellow partner Carlos Silva specialises in projects, infrastructure and energy, and has particular niche expertise on the regulatory complexities of bidding processes and financings. Senior associates José Tomás Mery and Catalina Troncoso round out the practice group, with Mery leveraging his experience at the Chilean Environmental Enforcement Agency regarding enforcement procedures, regulatory compliance and environmental due diligence; and the mining sector-oriented Troncoso focusing on due diligence, mitigation proposals and contingency management.
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Key clients

  • Parque Andino Juncal
  • Contour Global
  • BofA Securities, Itau BBA USA Securities, J.P. Morgan Securities, Santander US Capital Markets and Scotia Capital (USA)
  • Global Infrastructure Partners
  • Empresa Portuaria Valparaíso
  • KGHM and Minera Carrizalillo
  • Aconcagua Foods
  • Banco de Crédito e Inversiones
  • Bredenmaster
  • Banco de Crédito e Inversiones / Banco Santander-Chile
  • The Bank of Nova Scotia / Scotiabank Chile

Work highlights

Advised a consortium formed by BofA Securities, Itau BBA USA Securities, J.P. Morgan Securities, Santander US Capital Markets and Scotia Capital (USA), as initial purchasers of an international bond issued by Empresa Nacional del Petróleo (ENAP)
Advised Parque Andino Juncal on the judicial opposition to a mining company that sought to constitute a mining property within the client’s private conservation reserve.
Advised Empresa Portuaria de Valparaíso on the update of its Crime Prevention Model under the recently enacted Law No. 21.595 of Economic Crimes, from an environmental crimes’ perspective.

Lawyers

Leading associates

Leading associates with regular involvement in their team's key work, and recognition from peers or clients as being ones to watch.

José Tomás Mery

Practice head

Macarena Laso