Barros Silva Varela & Vigil

Barros Silva Varela & Vigil's eleven-strong environmental group advises on a wide range of issues including environmental assessments, sectoral permitting, compliance, sanctioning procedures before the SMA and environmental crime defence. The team is especially active in the real estate and land development sector, where it continues to advise clients on regulatory interpretation and compliance strategy before the environmental and administrative authorities. The practice is jointly led by partners Claudia Ferreiro and Felipe Riesco, who bring great expertise in administrative and sanctioning matters, where they leverage their experience in public law to advise clients across environmental issues, both regulatory and contentious. As associate level, senior José Ignacio Vial and Esteban Carmona are the names to note: Viál is a seasoned litigator who has notched up victories before both the Environmental Courts and the Supreme Court; while Carmona frequently leads the team in filing and obtaining environmental permit applications before various government agencies. Since publication, Vial has left the firm upon his appointment as Environmental Sub-secrretary in the incoming administration of José Antonio Kast.