Cristián Vial

Practice Areas

Cristián Vial is an associate in the Environment and Natural Resources practice group at Dentons’ Santiago office. His practice focuses on Water Law, where he advises clients on water supply matters for mining, energy, and industrial projects, incorporating ESG criteria and fostering effective stakeholder engagement. His experience includes processing permits and procedures before administrative and judicial authorities, such as the improvement of water rights, changes of water extraction points, construction of hydraulic works, and non-use fees, among others.

He also advises clients on engagement with various water user organizations, promoting collaborative and sustainable water resource management.

Additionally, Cristián is part of Dentons’ Environmental Law practice, actively participating in the processing of environmental and sectoral permits, as well as representing clients in all types of proceedings before the Superior Courts of Justice.

Career

Associate, Dentons Chile, 2021 – Present

Paralegal, Dentons Chile, 2019 – 2020

Publications

Co-exhibitor, XXV Conference on Water Law and Management, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, August 2023.

Co-author, “Challenges for a public policy on water resources: a National Water Commission”, in “Institucionalidad, gobernanza y regulación hídrica para sociedades resilientes”, Centro de Derecho y Gestión de Aguas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile, 2024.

Work Highlights

International Mining Company: Development of a strategy to secure water supply for its mining operation, ensuring compliance with legal obligations and strengthening relationships with key stakeholders, among other aspects.

Multinational Mining Company: Strategic advisory services on key water rights issues, including, among others: (i) the completion of water rights titles; and (ii) leading the process to organize a groundwater community, fostering relationships with key stakeholders such as agricultural businesses, rural drinking water communities, and private individuals.

Agroindustrial Company: Advisory services to one of Chile’s largest agroindustrial companies regarding their water rights, including: (i) processing various regularization and titles improvement procedures for water rights titles; and (ii) advising on the payment of non-use fees for water rights.

Mining Company: Development of a strategy to secure water supply and obtain a social license for a mining project, promoting compliance with ESG criteria and fostering collaborative relationships with relevant stakeholders.

Confidential Mining Company: Comprehensive advisory services on all aspects related to water rights for their mining project, including: (i) processing changes to water extraction points; (ii) securing mechanisms to supplement water supply; and (iii) organizing groundwater communities.

Agroindustrial Company: Strategic advisory services for the environmental assessment of an agroindustrial project, ensuring compliance with current environmental obligations, including the preparation, submission, and evaluation of the project before the Environmental Impact Assessment System (SEIA).

Agroindustrial Company: Design of a strategy for the expansion of its operations in Chile, including an analysis for submission to the Environmental Impact Assessment System, obtaining sanitary permits, and analyzing compliance with applicable regulations, among other aspects.

Languages Spoken

Spanish

English

Education