Álvaro Ortúzar

Practice Areas

Álvaro is a founding partner of OVB and a renowned local attorney with more than 40 years of experience in dispute resolution, complex negotiations, civil, commercial and anti-trust litigation. He has stood out during his career for his role as litigator, arbitrator, advisor and author of legal opinions.

He has had outstanding participation in many of the most relevant disputes in recent decades and has great prestige as a litigator before the Superior Courts of Justice, as an arbitrator and as an author of legal opinions. He represents companies in various productive sectors, including forestry, mining, construction, agroindustry, real estate, fishing, finance and the securities market, regulated markets and shareholder disputes.

Career

B.A. in Legal and Social Sciences, Law School, Pontifical Catholic University of Chile (1978) (summa cum laude).

Professional Memberships

Member of the roster of Arbitrators in the Arbitration and Mediation Center of the Chamber of Commerce (CAM Santiago).

Member of the Chilean Bar Association.

Member of the roster of Arbitrators in the Concessions Panel (2018-2019).

Professor of International Private Law at the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile and of Civil Law at the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile and the University of Chile.

Frequent speaker at seminars, conferences and specialized commissions.

Senior Counsel for Group One of Banks in Liquidation (1982-1984) and Vice-President of Banco Continental (1986-1987).

Publications

El Abuso del Derecho ante la Constitución (An Abuse of Law in respect of the Constitution), Editorial Jurídica (2003).

Diverse publications and articles in specialty magazines.

Clients

Angelini Group

Yarur Group.

Work Highlights

Along with his wide experience as a practitioner, Álvaro regularly acts as a sole arbitrator or member of tribunals in relevant conflicts. He is also usually required as a legal informant on civil and commercial law.

Representing two town halls and over 700 hundred farmers in a negotiation and civil actions against a major energy company) for its responsibility in the collapse of a tunnel that caused an incommensurable economic and social damage in the valley, causing the loss of around 16.000 hc of crops (Matter Value Confidencial)

Representing one of the top banks in Chile in the class action brought by a consumer association (Matter value undetermined)

A national economic group against an international conglomerate in ICC commercial arbitration regarding the purchase of an insurance company sold for US$108 million.

An international auditing firm in a civil liability claim for US$ 120 million.

A multinational economic holding in a shareholder´s conflict over control of the most important cellulose company in the country.

An important international holding in a shareholder´s conflict over the control of a main energy company in the country.

Santiago’s Archbishopric in a claim seeking to nullify a canon-law foundation and associated contracts (for more than US$300 million).

A mining company before the Supreme Court regarding approval of environmental permits needed for its operation.

An important pharmaceutical company in a class action filed by the National Consumer Service following a conviction for collusion by the Competition Court and upheld by the Supreme Court (more than US$40 million).

An important poultry company before the Competition Court and the Supreme Court in collusion proceedings filed by the National Economic Prosecutor.

A major poultry company in a class action filed by the National Consumer Service after the Competition Court and the Supreme Court upheld a conviction of collusion (more than US$300 million).

Two municipalities and farmers in a dispute over the collapse of a tunnel that cut off the flow of irrigation water in the zone.

A mining company on an arbitration against an international construction company for damages arising out construction defects on a mining project for over USD$ 100 million.

A power generating company in an arbitration under CAM Santiago Rules to default on an Exclusive Right Contract (US$16 million).

A mining company in an arbitration under CAM Santiago Rules against a power utility due to application of a green tax (US$15 million).

A majority shareholder in a financial institution in diverse disputes with one of the minority partners.

A main movie theater chain in an accusation made by the National Economic Prosecutor petitioning for divestment of assets in a concentration transaction, exceeding US$60 million.

Languages Spoken

Spanish

English