Energy and natural resources
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.
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Lawyer, Universidad de Chile. Msc. Environmental Policy and Regulation, The London School of Economics and Political Science (London, United Kingdom). Diploma in Environmental Law from the Universidad de Chile. Environmental Law Master´s Program, Universidad de Chile.
Cecilia joined VGC Abogados in 2012. She has been a partner since 2013.
She began her career in the National Environmental Commission (CONAMA) moving to the Superintendence of Health Services (SISS) and subsequently to the recently created Superintendence of the Environment (SMA) where she was the first head of the Compliance and Sanction Division. In this role she contributed to the development and implementation of effective control and sanction mechanisms and the formation of internal skills to apply them.
She participates as a guest professor in undergraduate and postgraduate courses in various universities in the country.
Her professional excellence has led her to be distinguished by her peers as Best Lawyer in the environmental category and by clients in Band 2 of Chambers and Partners in the same category. The Legal 500, in turn, recognizes her as a “compliance specialist”.
She is a member of the Chilean Bar Association.
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Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- 'The team has a high level of quality and experience, providing an invaluable contribution based on their years of practice.' 'Cecilia Urbina is praised for her excellence and constant valuable contribution to creating effective compliance strategies.' 'I consider VGC's experience, knowledge of the mining industry, and client focus to be highly relevant. This is not always found in other firms, which may provide more general advice without considering the specific characteristics of the operations they are advising on.' 'Our technical counterparts always request VGC's advice on complex environmental compliance issues. The firm's lawyers demonstrate a strong grasp of both legal and procedural considerations.' 'VGC differentiates itself through the knowledge its partners have of the mining sector and regulatory institutions. Thanks to this, the firm can anticipate future requirements and regulatory impacts that may specifically affect its clients' operations.' 'The firm has specific knowledge of the subject matter, experience, and close contact with the regulator. They have first-class teams.' 'Their experience is based on the clients they have and their years of specialisation in their field.' 'The lawyers/partners of the firm (Cecilia Urbina and Lorna Puschel) who manage our account offer a personalised service, guaranteeing a quick and agile response to all our requirements.' 'They have a deep knowledge of the REP Law from an environmental law perspective. The lawyers/partners (Cecilia Urbina and Lorna Puschel) guarantee a quick and agile response to all our requests, which are often of great complexity.' 'They have an excellent disposition, offer innovative solutions, and demonstrate a high level of knowledge of our company's sectoral discipline.'