Barros & Errázuriz Abogados

Managing Partners: Cristián Barros

Senior Partners: Fernando Barros T, José Tomás Errázuriz G

Number of partners: 33

Number of other lawyers: 150

Firm Overview:

Barros & Errázuriz is among the most important law firms in Chile thanks to its continuous and sustained growth over time. It was founded in 1988 and currently has 33 partners, 4 directors and more than 150 attorneys.

The firm gives comprehensive legal advice through a team of attorneys specialising in different areas of law. At the national level the firm is considered a leading firm in matters of Capital Markets, Mergers and Acquisitions, Tax Planning, Financing, Energy, Real Estate Development, Environment, Telecommunications and Infrastructure, as well as in matters of Dispute Resolution and Antitrust.

The firm is a member of Affinitas, an alliance based in Latin America composed of independent firms and leaders in each of the countries where they operate: Barros & Errazuriz (Chile) Gómez-Pinzon (Colombia), Mijares (Mexico) and Miranda & Amado (Peru).

Main Areas of Practice:

Antitrust/Competition:

The firm has a distinguished record in advising on major antitrust and competition law cases before Chilean antitrust agencies.

Banking & Project Finance:

The firm handles a broad range of banking and finance issues including secured and syndicated loans, transactions and guarantees, structured finance, project finance, leasing and tax-based finance.

Capital Markets:

The firm has been involved in ADR programmes, local and international bond offerings (representing both issuers and underwriters), IPO of local companies and tender offers of publicly traded companies. It has a high expertise in securities law and has advised several traded companies, stockbrokers, and a substantial portion of the mutual and close end investment funds in Chile.

Compliance:

The firm provides advice related to the design, implementation and monitoring of policies and internal procedures in relation to corporate compliance with the legal and regulatory requirements applicable to commercial activities, and to corporate governance, risk management and anti-corruption practices.

Corporate:

The firm has acted as counsel to a variety of clients in a range of areas including real estate and construction, stock brokerage and investment funds, pharmaceuticals, media enterprises (TV), private ports, hotel and tourism, agricultural and forestry, among others.

Energy & Public Utilities:

The strong practice acts as counsel to electricity generating companies, water, sewage and gas companies.

Environmental & Sustainable Development:

The firm offers legal advice to ensure full compliance with environmental regulations in the development of electrical, shipping, mining, forestry, real estate, chemical and concession projects.

Fintech:

The Fintech team is a pioneer in providing legal advice to Fintech companies in Chile. It advises founders and early stage companies on the design, creation and development of various Fintech ventures.

Infrastructure:

As a regular player in the largest infrastructure transactions in Chile, the firm has advised sponsors, public works concessionaires and lenders.

Innovation & Entrepreneurship:

Barros & Errázuriz has committed to the development of the entrepreneurial ecosystem. The firm maintains a close contact with different incubators, accelerators and investors from our country and industry.

Insurance:

The firm offers continuing legal advice to international clients with participation in local insurance companies, as well as to foreign reinsurance entities operating in Chile.

Labour & Employment:

The firm possesses exceptional expertise in labour and employment matters, including collective bargaining, union affairs, litigation and due diligence processes for private and state-owned firms.

Litigation & Arbitration:

The firm acts in a wide range of cases before civil courts and regulatory agencies. It specialises in commercial litigation, insolvency and corporate restructuring cases. It also counsels several clients in local and international arbitrations.

Water Rights:

The firm gives advice in a wide variety of matters related to water rights as a key asset of many industries.

M&A:

Provides legal advice to private parties and government agencies in a range of constitutional and administrative law matters, including regulatory issues.

Public Law:

Provides permanent legal advice to private parties and government agencies in a wide range of constitutional and administrative law matters, including regulatory issues.

Real Estate:

The firm represents a variety of clients in all major real estate activities. It has been involved in several major real estate developments during the last decade in Chile.

Tax:

The firm draws on rich experience in advising on tax planning and tax litigation. It also provides tax advice to local and international clients on incorporations, acquisitions, reorganisation and liquidations, with strong practice in private stock and asset acquisitions, mergers, joint ventures private equity funds and crossborder transactions.

Telecommunications & Technology:

The firm advised a variety of clients including, mobile services, IP telephony, 3G, long distance, internet services, rural telephony, satellite and broadcast television services.

Pro Bono:

The firm has a commitment to provide pro bono legal services to people and institutions in need.

International Work:

The firm has extensive experience in cross-border transactions involving financing, corporate restructuring, M&A, foreign investments and international joint ventures. Over the past years it has handled some of the largest cross-border transactions in Chile including toll road financing, international bidding process of utilities companies and liquidation of foreign investment funds.

Languages:

English, French, German, Spanish.