Cecilia Urbina

Compliance

Environment

Litigation

Public Law

Partner at Vergara Galindo Correa (VGC Abogados), where she is the Head of Compliance Practice. 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 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 advises companies across various sectors on the design, negotiation, and implementation of compliance and risk management strategies aimed at preventing and addressing environmental contingencies and liabilities. Her practice includes conducting administrative and judicial defense proceedings, strategic advice on environmental and sectoral permits, and support for sustainability initiatives, corporate environmental policies, and alignment with national and international standards.

Cecilia 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.

Member of the Chilean Bar Association.

2012 Promotion of Compliance under the New Environmental Institutional Framework. Co-authors: Julio García M. and Carolina Vera P. Abeledo Perrot Chile Publishing. In press.

2008 Analysis and Evaluation of Environmental Institutions in Chile: Elements for the Development of Their Capacities. Co-authors: Luis Cordero, Valentina Durán, Pilar Moraga. Development and Social Protection Strategies. Studies Series. Volume 2. Studies Division. Ministry General Secretariat of the Presidency. Santiago, Chile. Pages 155–196.

2006 Article: “Legal Nature of Emissions Transactions.” Co-author: Dominique Hervé Espejo. Third National Conference on Environmental Law; CONAMA and the Environmental Law Center, Faculty of Law, University of Chile. Santiago, Chile. October 2006.

2001 Article: “Regulation of Electromagnetic Pollution in Light of the Precautionary Principle and the Principle of Access to Environmental Information.” Co-author: Valentina Durán Medina. First National Conference on Environmental Law; CONAMA and the Environmental Law Center, Faculty of Law, University of Chile. Santiago, Chile. December 2001. Pages 263–293.

2001 Article: “Health Effects of Electromagnetic Pollution.” Co-authors: Andrei Tchernitchin and Valentina Durán. Published in Ethical Models for the Development of Electrical Systems. School of Electronic Engineering, Catholic University of Valparaíso. 2001. Pages 14–23.

Minera Los Pelambres

ReSimple

ECONSSA

Grupo Aguas

SQM

Telefónica

Viña Morandé

Empresas Lourdes

SICOMAQ

Lundin Mining

CMP

Complex Environmental Litigation. Negotiation and Mediation. Regulatory Compliance. Business and Human Rights.

Universidad de Chile

Lawyer

London School of Economics

MSc Environmental Policy and Regulation

Universidad de Chile

Diploma in Environmental Law