José Luis Fuenzalida

Commended by clients for its ‘specific subject matter knowledge, experience, and close contact with the regulator’, the environment practice at boutique firm Vergara Galindo Correa Abogados is recognised as a pioneer in Chile’s environmental and regulatory legal landscape. Advising clients across key sectors including mining, energy, agribusiness, forestry, sanitation and construction, the department assists businesses navigating complex regulatory frameworks and meeting sustainability obligations. The group’s expertise includes providing cradle-to-grave support on large scale projects, carrying out environmental impact assessments, obtaining permits and conducting litigation. The team is highly experienced at helping clients secure environmental approvals, frequently engaging with communities under frameworks such as Chile’s Indigenous Peoples Law. At the helm, founding partner Javier Vergara, a leading authority on environmental law in Chile; while fellow name partner Mario Galindo brings a robust public sector background, having served as a litigator for the National Environmental Commission before joining the private sector, where he has remained a key figure in high-stakes environmental litigation and compliance. A partner since 2013, Cecilia Urbina‘s experience as the first head of the compliance and sanction division at Chile’s Superintendence of the Environment (where she was instrumental in developing the country’s enforcement mechanisms) brings the firm considerable institutional insight. José Luis Fuenzalida leads the project advisory team, advising clients on the intricacies of project approvals and long-term environmental strategy. Other key lawyers include associate practice directors Francisca Olivares, who focuses on providing comprehensive environmental litigation advice to large companies and projects; and Lorna Püschel, who heads up the biodiversity and protected areas team.