Prieto y Cía

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Prieto y Cía is a full service business-oriented law firm with consolidated prestige in handling complex matters. With its experienced team of lawyers with international exposure, the firm provides legal services across a wide range of practice areas. With a relevant foreign and local client base, PyC has an active participation in energy, natural resources and public utilities, as well as in capital markets and taxation. The firm’s practice in insurance, M&A and its experience in securities, litigation and antitrust stand out.

Practice groups

Antitrust: PyC is highly regarded in this area, having participated in numerous cases, regarding concentration, vertical and horizontal integration, collusion and unfair competition in telecommunication, energy, insurance, financial services, forestry, food stuffs, retail, aeronautical, industrial, health, technology and internet, among others.

Banking, finance and capital markets: The firm has sound experience in these matters. In this area, the firm has a very strong financial and capital market team representing some of the principal local investment banks. In this respect, PyC has represented several issuers and placing agents in debt issuances in the local and international market, and structured complex investments funds. Whether on behalf of the underwriter or the issuer, PyC has continued to be an active participant in securities’ offerings, as well as project finance transactions regarding infrastructure and IPOs.

Corporate law and securities: Much of the firm’s work consists of corporate finance, corporate governance, takeover bids, joint ventures, reorganisations, partnerships, among others. PyC has a long-standing team, including partners that previously served in high positions in the Chilean SEC.

Customs and trade: PyC has experience in these matters and has also lately developed this practice in Asian countries, with a special focus on China, India, Korea and Singapore.

Energy & natural resources: PyC plays an active role in energy matters, representing gas pipelines and power generators. The firm has broad experience in the energy field with an emphasis in LNG projects and thermal generation plants, having participated in developing and financing projects; negotiating and drafting power agreements and having advised clients in related disputes.

Mining: The mining department has lawyers with experience in Chile and Canada who provide advice from exploration to commercial production of minerals. Prieto y Cía has participated in relevant transactions in this area and provides services to local and international junior, mid tier and senior companies, covering all their needs as required by the different stages of development.

Environment: The environmental department provides its clients with different levels of advice, including the production of a sustainability strategy that allows them to proactively comply, according to administration requirements, with the domestic environmental legislation and with environmental requirements at destination markets. Likewise, it advises on environmental impact assessment and other permitting processes at their projects or operations. Furthermore, it is experienced in representing industries interests before authorities when designing new regulations.

Insolvency, bankruptcy and business reorganisation: PyC has participated in bankruptcy procedures, representing debtors and creditors. PyC has traditionally had an outstanding practice in business reorganisations and debt restructurings.

Insurance and institutional investors: The insurance department has a solid clientele of local and international insurance companies and brokers, with a group of specialists that include a former head of the insurance department at the Chilean SEC.

Labour law: The labour department has a litigation and general advice practice, advising clients on incentive programmes for executives and employees, collective bargaining procedures, labour accidents, due diligence processes and restructuring of companies.

Litigation and arbitration: PyC has participated in relevant cases in a wide range of areas with its lawyers acting as arbitrators in various proceedings. The firm also represents clients in all kind of commercial litigation and arbitration proceedings before ordinary courts of justice, as well as before arbitrators and the Chilean antitrust tribunal.

M&A: PyC has participated, on behalf of buyers, sellers and banks, in the transfer of companies in areas such as power generation, gas, water, telecommunications, insurance, finance, shipping, air and surface transportation, railways, construction, pension funds, forestry, food business, department stores and supermarket chains, infrastructure, chemicals and technology, among others.

Public utilities: PyC has extensive experience in gas, power, water and telecommunication services. It has advised in matters related to the construction and financing of gas works, including cross-border pipelines and GTAs. PyC has represented some of the top companies in the country in the power generation, transmission and distribution areas.

Taxation: The tax department at PyC advises clients in respect of all tax issues, including the structuring of diverse and complex transactions.

Languages: Spanish, English, Italian, Portuguese, French,

www.prieto.cl