Barros & Errázuriz Abogados

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Barros & Errázuriz Abogados is one of the largest and most prestigious firms in Chile. It has developed a strong full service, business oriented practice, with a mix of local and international clients, advising multinational corporations, financial institutions, and local companies on a broad range of matters. The firm specialises in banking and financing, capital markets, mergers and acquisitions, tax, project finance, real estate, environmental, energy, telecommunications, infrastructure, antitrust, trust and estates, litigation, arbitration and dispute resolution. It is organised to provide legal services to its clients on their international operations, for which it has close links with firms in Latin America, the US and Europe. It is also a member of Affinitas, an Ibero American alliance, and Taxand, a global network integrated by firms with a strong tax practice.

Main areas of practice

Antitrust: The firm has a distinguished record in advising on major antitrust and competition law cases before Chilean antitrust agencies. It has been retained in several regulated areas and transactions requiring structures and agreements to ensure full compliance with the relevant legislation.

Banking & project finance: The firm handles secured and syndicated loans, transactions and guarantees, structured finance, project finance, leasing and tax-based finance.

Capital markets: The firm has been involved in ADR programmes, local and international bond offerings, IPO of local companies and tender offers of publicly traded companies. It has strong expertise in securities law and has advised publicly traded companies, stock brokers, and a substantial portion of the mutual and close investment funds which operate in Chile.

Corporate: The firm has acted as counsel to a variety of clients in real estate and construction, stock brokerage and investment funds, pharmaceuticals, media enterprises (TV), private ports, hotel and tourism, agricultural and forestry, among others.

Energy & public utilities: B&E acts as counsel to electricity generating companies, water, sewage and gas companies.

Environmental & sustainable development: The firm offers legal advice to ensure full compliance with environmental regulations in the development of electrical, shipping, mining, forestry, real estate, chemical and concession projects.

Infrastructure: The firm has advised sponsors, public works concessionaires and lenders in connection with inter urban and urban highways, prisons, ports, airports, energy and mining facilities.

Insurance: B&E offers continuing legal advice to international clients with participation in local insurance companies, as well as local providers of both general and life insurance.

Labour & employment: The firm possesses exceptional expertise in labour and employment matters, including collective bargaining, union affairs, litigation, and due-diligence processes for private and state-owned firms.

Litigation & arbitration: B&E acts in a wide range of cases before civil courts and regulatory agencies. It specialises in commercial litigation, insolvency, and corporate restructuring cases. It also counsels clients in local and international arbitrations.

M&A: B&E has been involved in many of the largest M&A in Chile, including private acquisitions in cross-border takeovers of listed companies, acquisitions of controlling and minority interests, divestitures and corporate restructuring programmes.

Mining, water rights and indigenous affairs: In 2011 B&E created an area dedicated especially to these matters. Its team has a vast experience in the legal advice required by mining and water companies in all their stages of development.

Real estate: The firm gives permanent legal advice to constructors and real estate developers. It also works with public and private funds involved in major real estate developments.

Tax: The firm draws on rich experience in advising on tax planning and tax litigation. It also provides tax advice to local and international clients on incorporations, acquisitions, reorganisation and liquidations, with strong practice in private stock and asset acquisitions, mergers, joint ventures, private equity funds and cross-border transactions.

Telecommunications & technology: The firm has advised mobile services, IP telephony, 3G, long distance, internet services, rural telephony, satellite and broadcast television services. It is involved in the most relevant trials and regulatory issues of telecommunication industry before the Antitrust Commission and the Courts of Justice.

Languages: English, French, German, Italian and Spanish.

Avenida Isidora Goyenechea N° 2939, 11th Floor
Santiago
Chile
Tel: +56 2 378 8900
Fax: +56 2 362 0386
bvicuna@bye.cl
www.bye.cl