Band 1
Provided by Paulina Riquelme
National and Comparative Environmental Law
Project and Permit Development
Environmental Litigation
Environmental Compliance
Regulatory Development and Regulatory Monitoring
Pollution Control and Circular Economy
National and International Chemical Agenda
Climate Change
Closure of Mining Works
Paulina has over 20 years of distinguished experience in environmental law, building a solid and widely recognized practice across a broad spectrum of environmental and natural resources matters. Her expertise spans advising on investment projects within the Environmental Impact Assessment System (SEIA), designing preventive environmental compliance strategies, defending clients in litigation and sanctioning administrative proceedings, waste management and contaminated site remediation, corporate environmental due diligence, and emission compensation mechanisms, among others.
She has advised leading mining, energy, natural resources, aquaculture, and sustainability projects, while also contributing to the development of Chile’s environmental regulatory framework and actively engaging in public policy debates. Her practice extends to international environmental law, with a particular focus on multilateral environmental agreements to which Chile is a Party.
Paulina has been invited to serve as an expert in the Presidential Commission of Experts for the reform of the SEIA and is currently a member of the Advisory Council of the Ministry of Environment of Chile (MMA). She also sits on the roster of arbitrators at the Arbitration and Mediation Center of the Santiago Chamber of Commerce (CAM) and advises the National Mining Society (SONAMI) on environmental regulatory issues.
A lawyer from Universidad Católica de Chile, Paulina began her career in 1999, developing her practice in environmental and natural resources law. As a Fulbright Scholar, she earned an LLM in Energy & Environmental Law with distinction from Tulane University.
Today, in addition to leading Eelaw, Paulina is part of the Faculty Council of the Master in Environmental Law at Universidad del Desarrollo Law School and the Postgraduate Diploma in Environmental Law: Management Instruments – New Trends at Universidad de Chile Law School. She also teaches Environmental Law in the Construction Law Diploma at Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile.
Awards:
Chambers and Partners Band 1 - Environment
Legal 500 Hall of Fame - Environment
Lexology Thought Leader - Environmente and Climate Change
Best Lawyers: Environment, Mining and Natural Resources
Member of the Roster of Arbitrators of the Arbitration and Mediation Center of the Santiago Chamber of Commerce (CAM), Chile.
International Association for Impact Assessment (IAIA).
Environmental Law Institute (ELI), Washington, D.C.
Society for Risk Analysis (SRA), Virginia, USA.
Chilean Association of Environmental Law (ACHIDAM).
Fulbright Alumni Association Santiago.
Chilean Bar Association.
Exhibitor. “Comments to the Law of Closure of Mining Operations”. VII Conference on Medium Mining - MEDMIN. Santiago, August 2109.
Co-author. “New Environmental Institutionality: Design criteria for regulatory development”. Legal News Magazine Nº23, January 2011, Universidad del Desarrollo.
Exhibitor. “First International Meeting of Environmental Law”, Mexico City, October 2002, name of the Presentation: “Panorama of Environmental Law in Chile”.
Co-author. "Proposals for the Regular Financing of Political Parties", Center for Public Studies, Working Paper No. 302, 2000.
Author. “The Sectorial Environmental Permits in the System of Environmental Impact Assessment”, Journal of Economic Administrative Law Vol. I Nº1, January-June 1999, p. 95-125, PUC Law School
Author, book review on Environmental Law entitled: "The Ecological Crime: Operational Manual", Chilean Law Magazine May-August 1999. PUC Law School.
Sociedad Nacional de Minería, Haldeman Mining Company (HMC), Minera HMC S.A., Cerro Negro Mining Company (www.cerronegro.cl), Grupo Minero Las Cenizas (MLC), Confederación de Producción y Comercio (CPC), Mitsubishi Corporation (MCI), Compañía Minera del Pacífico, KDM S.A. (www.kdm.cl), CEMIN Holding Minero, Minera Tres Valles (MTV), Lithium Chile, Mainstream Renewable Power, Battery Mineral Resources (BMR), Marimaca Copper Corp. , Andes Iron, CEIBO, among others.
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Spanish and English.
Provided by Chambers
Head of department Paulina Riquelme is praised by market observers for her extensive environmental law expertise in Chile. She boasts longstanding experience in regulatory and environmental compliance work for major projects in Chile, especially in the mining sector.
Provided by Chambers
Paulina Riquelme is an excellent, accessible and innovative professional. She is creative, responsible and has clear ideas, generating ease with her communications.
Paulina Riquelme delivers very clear explanations and creative solutions that are tailored to the needs of the client. Her advice is a great contribution that adds value to our company.
Paulina Riquelme is an excellent, accessible and innovative professional. She is creative, responsible and has clear ideas, generating ease with her communications.
Paulina Riquelme delivers very clear explanations and creative solutions that are tailored to the needs of the client. Her advice is a great contribution that adds value to our company.
Provided by Eelaw
Energy and Utilities
Environmental and Waste
Resources and Mining