Full-service legal giant Carey is home to specialists in environmental impact assessments, as well as environmental sanctioning proceedings involving the mining, energy, infrastructure, water utilities, aquaculture and agriculture sectors. The 13-strong environmental, indigenous and regulatory practice is also routinely mandated to act (alongside the firm’s dispute resolution group) in high-stakes administrative disputes and environmental litigation. In recent highlights, the team successfully defended renewable energy producer Sonnedix against a lawsuit that challenged the environmental approval of its Meseta de Los Andes solar plant. The group is co-led by Rafael Vergara, whose wide-ranging expertise encompasses ESG (environmental, social and governance) matters, natural resources, mining, water rights and energy, along with surface lands, project finance, and corporate and commercial law; Manuel José Barros, who has significant experience in territorial planning, regulatory matters, and environmental and indigenous law; and Julio Recordon, whose environmental law practice covers project development, assessments, planning and regulatory issues. Recordon, who is ‘an excellent professional’, is particularly noted for complex environment-related administrative disputes and litigation. The practice further comprises Alberto Cardemil, a specialist in water law, agribusiness, and natural resources transactions, and litigation; and Aldo Molinari, who focuses on civil and commercial disputes, in addition to administrative and environmental regulatory litigation.

FerradaNehme's ‘top-notch’ environment and natural resources team ‘stands out for its knowledge’. The eight-strong group is widely respected for its advice on project-related developments and permits, including strategy design and implementation, along with the filing and management of permits. It further assists clients’ government and community relations teams with developing preventive strategies to avoid environmental disputes. The practice is increasingly involved in litigation, as well as sanctioning procedures before the Superintendency of the Environment. It also has notable expertise in Chile’s newly-enacted recycling and extended producer-liability legislation (EPR Law). The department’s highlights include representing BHP in an environmental damage lawsuit filed by The State Defence Council against a group of companies for alleged damage to wetlands. ‘Great for highly complex issues’, team head Patricio Leyton advises on energy and mining project development, including permitting and Environmental Impact Assessment System work; Valeria Ruz's wide-ranging practice encompasses permits, projects, environmental assessments, litigation and community relations; and Carola Salamanca handles permitting, project development, land use and EPR Law matters. At director level, Claudio Tapia's career includes a period at the Superintendence of the Environment as a prosecutor of administrative sanctioning procedures; but environmental litigator María-Pilar Dominguez left he firm in June 2024.

‘Very up to date with what is happening in environmental regulation’, Moreno Sáez & Avilés' 18-strong team covers environmental assessments, environmental sanctioning procedures and environmental litigation. Focused exclusively on environmental law, the boutique firm is consistently sought out by clients from the mining, energy, infrastructure, salmon, real estate, waste management and oil-and-gas industries. The group is co-led by José Adolfo Moreno, who advises on mining, infrastructure and energy projects; environmental permitting expert Andrés Sáez, whose recent experience includes litigation before Chile’s Environmental Tribunals, Courts of Appeal and the Supreme Court; and Sebastián Avilés, who is ‘an outstanding lawyer, who really gets involved in cases and provides innovative solutions’. In the firm’s director group, Teresita Chubretovic assists with the public and regulatory law aspects of environmental matters; Paula Gajardo Matthews advises on environmental assessments, citizen participation issues and community relations; Luis Orellana focuses on environmental and administrative law, as well as fishery and aquaculture regulation; Magdalena Prieto Pradenas is an experienced environmental and administrative law practitioner; Paulina Rivera Muñoz maintains a broad environmental law practice; and Doris Sepúlveda Solar has ‘great technical and analytical ability’. In a notable development, Emanuel Ibarra , a specialist in enforcement and sanctioning matters, was hired from the Environmental Superintendence (where he led the judicial team) in August 2023.

Schultz Carrasco Benitez Abogados is home to an ‘excellent work team with knowledge and experience in the environmental space’. The 14-member environmental and natural resources team has notable insight into how Chile’s public authorities operate, with several of its practitioners being former employees of the country’s key environmental bodies. The practice, which fields sector experts in renewable energy, mining, wastewater treatment, real estate and infrastructure, routinely defends its clients against  administrative special procedures before the the Environmental Courts, the Courts of Appeal and the Supreme Court. It additionally assists with the design and environmental assessment of projects, project-related permits, and compliance with Chile’s environmental legislation. Former Ministry of the Environment’s legal division head, Rodrigo Benítez, is an expert in the environmental assessment of mining, energy, infrastructure and agro-industry investment projects; and Edesio Carrasco is a former Environmental Assessment Agency regional director, who focuses predominantly on environmental permits, energy, land use and the development of industrial projects, as well as defence-side administrative matters. In the firm’s associate team, Esteban Cañas assists with administrative litigation and project-related environmental matters; and Mario Arrué advises on the environmental assessment of investment projects. In a boost to the group, environmental law specialists Graciela Venegas and Carlo Sepúlveda were made partners in August 2023.

With ‘high-level technical ability in environmental matters’, Vergara Galindo Correa Abogados' large environmental law practice advises both domestic and foreign companies on the environmental assessment of major projects, including obtaining the required authorisations and permits for the development, construction and operation of such works. Acting primarily for mining, agri-business, forestry, cement, energy and sanitary sector clients, the team also assists with oversight processes carried out by Chile’s authorities, as well as compliance issues. It additionally undertakes constitutional, administrative, civil and criminal law litigation. Among the team’s several experienced practitioners, Mario Galindo is a former National Environmental Commission (CONAMA) litigator; Javier Vergara's career includes serving as CONAMA (Metropolitan Region) prosecutor, director and technical secretary; and Cecilia Urbina ‘provides top-level strategic advice and is up to date on cutting-edge issues’. The practice further showcases ‘outstanding’ environmental law expert José Luis Fuenzalida, who is ’highlighted for his practical sense and interest in understanding technical aspects and business processes’; and Pablo Ortiz, previously a specialist prosecutor in economic crimes and officials at the Central North Regional Prosecutor’s Office; and environmental litigator Ignacio Mujica. Associate practice director Francisca Olivares advises on obtaining projects’ environmental approvals, as well as environmental permit processing.

Barros & Errázuriz‘s ‘environmental team is very good at both defining the general strategy and its implementation’. The full-service firm’s seven-member practice advises at every stage of clients’ business development and demonstrates expertise in projects’ planning, operation and closure phases, including due diligence, project finance, environmental assessments, permitting issues and community matters. The team also assists with local authority relations, compliance, and litigation before Chile’s environmental and ordinary courts (including the Supreme Court), along with enforcement proceedings and preventive advice. Additionally, the department has notable experience in urban planning, climate change issues, and waste management, recycling and aquaculture regulations. Recent highlights include assisting electricity transmission company Eletrans II with a sanctioning proceeding before the Environmental Superintendence. The team’s principal figures are Fernando Garrido, an expert in project finance, litigation, and natural resources and energy project development; and director Matias Montoya, a former Environmental Assessment Agency general counsel, who ‘has significant experience in environmental issues’. Montoya focuses on environmental assessments and environmental compliance, along with litigation and due diligence. In the firm’s associate pool, senior Mara Angelini has ‘a lot of experience in environmental issues and development permits’, while Cristóbal Gil is also a key member of the natural resources group.

Delivering ‘recommendations that are accurate’, Cariola Díez Pérez-Cotapos' eight-strong environmental, energy and regulatory law practice is consistently sought out to advise on the environmental law aspects of high-stakes projects, including the identification of political and social risks (in addition to legal issues). The full-service firm comprises experts in the development of energy, food and telecoms facilities, and it is increasingly mandated to act in environmental litigation. It additionally advises clients on the implementation of complex regulations, such as Chile's recently-enacted environmental crime legislation. Recent work highlights include advising Vidrios Lirquen on the implementation of an emissions reduction system. The practice is co-led by Martín Astorga, who has longstanding experience in industrial, energy, infrastructure and telecoms project developments, his expertise covering environmental impact assessments, atmospheric emissions, territorial planning and public contracting; and Gonzalo Jiménez, an adviser on concessions, permits and other administrative authorisations. In the firm’s associate ranks, senior Verónica Cuadra's recent workload includes advising on Chile’s recently-introduced extended producer liability legislation in relation to the approval of a waste management system; Miguel Ortiz focuses on regulated public utilities, energy projects, constitutional law and administrative contracting, in addition to environmental law and the management of permits. Former associate Raúl Alvarez departed the firm in August 2023.

Echeverría Ilharreborde Scagliotti’s ‘environmental practice is top-notch’ and ‘compares favourably with any other team in this branch of law’, according to clients. Predominantly focused on the energy, aquaculture, mining and industrial sectors, the eight-strong environment group comprises specialists with backgrounds in both litigation and corporate law. Regulatory highlights include advising Chilean mining-and-chemical giant, SQM, on the environmental assessment procedure for a pipeline’s modification, which will deliver desalinated water to the Nueva Victoria plant; while on the contentious front, the team defended aquaculture company Aqua Chile against nine sanctioning procedures before the SMA (Chile’s Environmental Authority), which concerned overproduction beyond the limits of environmental permits. The practice is co-led by Jose Domingo Ilharreborde (‘an outstanding lawyer for environmental issues’), whose practice covers the environmental assessment of energy and industrial projects, particularly in relation to environmental and administrative litigation; and ‘great strategist’ José Pedro Scagliotti, who has notable environmental litigation expertise. In the firm’s associate team, recently-raised senior Juan Pablo Wiegand focuses on environmental and energy matters; and Santiago Samaniego is an adviser on environmental assessments, administrative litigation and regulatory matters. In a boost to the firm, former senior associate and environmental, mining, energy and aquaculture law practitioner, Felipe Infante, was promoted to the partnership in January 2024.

Home to ‘experts in multiple aspects of environmental law’, Eelaw's 13-strong team also comprises public and private sector specialists in mining, energy, waste, the circular economy and water resources, as well as advisers on community relations. The boutique practice is consistently mandated to advise on the development and implementation of a range of major projects, including regulatory developments at both national and international levels. Examples include environmental licensing and permitting strategies, feasibility studies and environmental proceedings, particularly against the Chilean Environmental Enforcement Agency. The firm also handles international environmental law issues such as climate change, the Minamata Convention on mercury and global plastics treaty negotiations. The group is led by the ‘excellent, brilliant and very hard-working’ founding partner Paulina Riquelme, who currently serves as chair of the Confederation of Production and Commerce’s Sustainability and Climate Change Commission. Riquelme’s longstanding environmental law expertise ranges from investment project-related environmental impact assessments, preventive environmental compliance strategies and defence-side litigation and sanctioning administrative procedures, to waste regulation, contaminated site remediations, corporate environmental issues and emissions-related damages. In the firm’s senior associate team, Jorge Brower specialises in mining-related environmental issues; while Camila Martínez's workload encompasses environmental compliance, sanctioning procedures and environmental litigation.

The 13-strong team at full-service firm Guerrero Olivos is consistently mandated to advise on a broad range of environment matters. The practice group's expertise encompasses environmental litigation, regulatory compliance, and the environmental aspects of energy, mining, real estate and construction project development. It is also sought out to assist with M&A-related environmental due diligence. The team is particularly active on behalf of energy and mining companies, real estate developers, ports and terminal operators, as well as waste management, logistics, manufacturing, and food and drink businesses. Also of note, the group acts for non-governmental conservation organisations, along with investors and start-up companies that focus on environmental sustainability. The department showcases four partners, namely: Clemente Pérez, an expert in environmental litigation, the environmental aspects of international M&A, regulatory work, and the environmental implications of real estate and energy project developments; Martín Santa María, who specialises in environmental assessments and urban planning; Sebastián Abogabir, an adviser on non-conventional energy project-related environmental assessments; and Benjamín Pérez, who is experienced in mining project-related environmental issues. In the firm’s associate ranks, senior Francisca Pellegrini routinely advises on the environmental aspects of energy projects; and Sebastián Mozó is another key member of the mining, water law and environmental law teams.

Home to ‘a very solid team with extensive experience in both private and public sector matters’, Philippi Prietocarrizosa Ferrero DU & Uría's eight-strong environment and sustainability law team is highly experienced in environmental matters and procedures, including project development and permitting. The full-service practice also provides strategic advice on the environmental law aspects of politically-sensitive project developments; local and international M&A and financing deals involving environmental issues; along with high-stakes administrative and judicial environmental litigation. Also of note, the regional firm’s environmental team in Santiago advises throughout the entire lifecycle of projects, from initial development phases through to financing, operational, and sale and closure stages. The environmental law team in Chile is led by Juan José Eyzaguirre, a longstanding specialist in investment project-related environmental, regulatory and judicial issues. It further showcases Felipe Arévalo, who routinely acts in complex administrative and judicial environmental litigation; and water resources, environmental and natural resources specialist Matías Desmadryl, whose practice encompasses general regulatory matters and litigation. Principal associate and environmental law practitioner Mario Mozó has notable energy, mining, agribusiness and infrastructure sector expertise. Mozó also assists with the environmental aspects of project finance and international and domestic transactions, along with administrative and judicial environmental litigation.

Housing ‘several people with a good level of experience’, Barros Silva Varela & Vigil's environment team routinely handles environmental assessments, compliance with environmental regulations, and sanctioning proceedings before the Superintendency of the Environment and the Environmental Protection Agency. The nine-strong group, which also assists with environmental crime-related prosecutions, showcases Claudia Ferreiro, an expert in project-related environmental impact assessments, defending clients before State agencies, concessions and environmental regulations; and former Undersecretary of the Ministry of the Environment, Felipe Riesco. In the firm’s senior associate ranks, José Ignacio Vial is an experienced litigator; and Esteban Carmona advises on environmental regulation, administrative procedures and permit applications.

DS Abogados has an ‘ability to resolve conflicts that is extraordinary’. The four-strong environment law practice covers project-related environmental and administrative strategies, as well as defence-side matters before the environmental authorities and courts. It also assists with sanctioning procedures brought by Chile’s Environmental Superintendency and General Water Departments. The practice is co-led by environmental and regulatory law specialist Enrique Oyarzún Iglesias, whose recent focus covers real estate, logistics, storage, energy and agro-industry-related projects; and Jorge Ignacio García Nielsen, an adviser on urban planning, water rights and natural resources law. The team further includes senior associate Carlos Vargas, who is ‘a very good lawyer’.

Providing ‘very deep advice’, Dentons‘s eight-member department is experienced in advising on complex environmental issues, in addition to mining, water and energy-related mandates. The environment and natural resources group also assists with the resolution of conflicts before arbitration tribunals and courts. The team’s representative expertise covers environmental assessment procedures, permits, ESG issues, and advice on environmental liability and exposure. The practice is co-led by José Ignacio Morán, an adviser on projects from both water and environmental perspectives; and José Domingo Villanueva, whose workload includes environmental assessments, obtaining environmental permits and representation in sanctioning proceedings. Recent highlights for associate Cristián Vial include advising on water supply issues in relation to mining projects. Former associate Blanca Dominguez joined Nestlé during 2023.

Boutique law firm Lavin Abogados & Consultores delivers ‘great support at all stages of the mandate’. Highly specialised in environmental law, the practice routinely advises on environmental impact assessments for large-scale projects nationwide. It also assists with environmental permits, compliance programmes, damage-related legal proceedings, and defence-side audit and sanctioning processes. The practice of founding partner Julio Lavín encompasses mining, energy and utilities, as well as maritime and aquaculture concessions; while Andrés Del Favero is an expert in mining and maritime concession-related infrastructure projects. At senior associate level, Gonzalo Lavin's workload includes environmental issues and community relations; Javiera Catalán advises on administrative law; and Arturo Lavín covers mining and water law, in addition to environmental matters.

With ‘extensive knowledge in environmental matters’, Lawgic Abogados' is a natural resources and environmental boutique that routinely advises companies from the mining, energy, industry, aquaculture, agri-business, desalination, tourism and real estate industries. Highly specialised in environmental, water, mining and energy law, the broad practice also handles project-related administrative and judicial environmental disputes. The environmental law group is led by founding partner Felipe Meneses, an expert in environmental, indigenous and regulatory law. At associate level, senior environmental law expert Ximena Jirón is a July 2023 hire from Carey, while environmental law and project development practitioner Josefina Barriga Martínez is a January 2024 recruit from consultancy WSP. Former associate Constanza Pelayo departed for the Environmental Assessment Service (SEA) during 2023.

Prieto Abogados' ‘lawyers stand out for their application of environmental regulations and laws to business contexts’. The eight-strong environmental law team, which comprises industry expertise in mining, energy and real estate, routinely acts in judicial cases, administrative sanctioning proceedings and environmental assessments. It has also developed notable compliance experience in relation to environmental offences. The team is co-led by Agustín Martorell, who is ‘truly an excellent lawyer’; and counsel Romina Tobar, an April 2023 hire and former Environmental Assessment Service legal department head. Tobar advises on environmental assessments, community relations, and permitting, administrative and judicial procedures. Associate Ignacio Matte is also a key member of the firm’s environmental and regulatory law team.

Pruzzo Ruscica Brotfeld Abogados specialises in environmental, water rights and energy work. The seven-strong group is particularly focused on the mining, ports, agribusiness, utilities, construction, infrastructure and electricity (both generation and transmission) sectors; and it's expertise encompasses litigation, strategic environmental assessments and regulatory compliance. The department is co-led by environmental and administrative law expert Dino Pruzzo, whose practice includes defending investment project owners against sanctioning proceedings; and Javier Ruscica, an adviser on water rights management strategies. At senior associate level, Catalina Quinteros (whose professional trajectory includes over four years at State environmental agencies) handles environmental permits, administrative issues and judicial matters; and Astrid Francke assists with Environmental Impact Assessment System administrative procedures.

Displaying ‘a willingness and determination to resolve challenges’, Baker McKenzie Chile's four-member team has wide-ranging experience in mining, energy and environmental matters. The full-service group’s advice ranges from compliance with environmental regulations, to obtaining project-related permits. The Santiago office also routinely liaises with the firm’s large global and Latin America environmental practices on cross-border mandates. The department is led by mining law specialist Mirco Hilgers, while senior associate Santiago Vial is experienced in mining, infrastructure and corporate law.

The five-member environmental law practice at Bofill Mir Abogados is well known for its experience in mining, infrastructure and energy matters. Advising on a range of environmental compliance and enforcement work, the practice covers regulatory issues such as permits, appearances before the Environmental Assessment Service and Environmental Superintendence, and the due diligence for acquisitions and project financings. The team is co-led by mining and natural resources expert Pablo Mir; and director Cristián Franetovic, who routinely assists with due diligence, permits, authorisations, and environmental regulations-related compliance. The group was further strengthened with the June 2024 arrival of former FerradaNehme senior associate María Pilar Domínguez, an experienced environmental law litigator.

The six-member natural resources practice group at Claro & Cia. has notable energy sector expertise, particularly in relation to non-conventional renewable energy. The full-service firm is also home to industry specialists in mining, water resources, fish farming, forestry, agriculture and wine. The team advises on the environmental law aspects of major projects, in addition to acting in environmental cases before Chile’s environmental courts and Environmental Superintendence. The practice is led by Nicolás Eyzaguirre, whose wide-ranging practice covers both strategic litigation advice and contract drafting.

Advising on projects from their earliest stages, IMAD Abogados' ‘highly-qualified team’ has extensive experience in water, mining and environmental matters. The group’s coverage encompasses environmental impact studies, sectorial permits, and defence-side administrative and judicial matters before Chile’s Environmental Administration, Environmental Courts, Courts of Appeals, and Supreme Court. It also acts in sanctioning proceedings. The practice is led by name partner Domingo Irarrázaval, who has ‘great technical and practical knowledge’. Irarrázaval’s expertise includes advice on environmental assessment strategies and community relations, as well as sanctioning proceedings.

The three-member environment and natural resources group at Jara Del Favero Abogados advises on regulated sectors, such as recycling, sanitary, mining, water, infrastructure, forestry, maritime concessions, agriculture, and energy. In addition to environmental law, the team additionally assists with community relations issues. It also acts before Chile’s environmental courts, as well as in administrative procedures. The practice is led by Javier Naranjo, a former Minister and Undersecretary of the Environment (and partner since July 2023). Naranjo routinely advises on environmental and administrative law mandates, while senior associate Martín Esser primarily assists with project-related environmental matters.

Full-service firm Morales & Besa is home to experts in both public and private sector environmental projects. Acting for national and international mining, environment, construction and investment banking clients, the five-strong group is experienced in environmental and regulatory matters, such as project-related environmental assessments, water rights, mining law and public contracts. It is also regularly mandated to act in environmental litigation, as well as enforcement and sanctioning processes. Heading up the team, Aldo Cardinali recently led advice to Global Infrastructure Partners on regulatory and environmental matters.

Launched in June 2022 by Pablo Tejada and Pablo Méndez, TM Abogados is a natural resources, public law and environmental law boutique that provides ‘effective responses to complex problems’. Former practice directors at Allende Bascuñán & Cía and Moreno Sáez & Avilés, respectively, Tejada is a public law and environmental law specialist whose experience includes administrative sanctioning procedures, along with civil and environmental litigation; and Méndez (‘truly a lawyer specialising in environmental issues’), advises clients from the mining, ports, forestry and energy sectors.

Urenda, Rencoret, Orrego y Dörr‘s environmental law practice advises on the environmental permits and authorisations required for the implementation of mining and energy investment projects. The five-member group also acts in administrative sanctioning procedures and legality reclamation processes before Chile’s environmental, health and water authorities. It additionally assists during the judicial phases of such processes before the environmental courts and the Supreme Court. The team is led by energy and environmental law expert Ignacio Urrutia, who is ‘an excellent and reliable lawyer’; while associate Javiera Vicuña‘s practice covers water, energy and mining matters.