Fielding an ‘exceptionally skilled team that achieves very good results’, Acuña & Compañía Abogados is a boutique firm that focuses predominantly on insurance work, particularly in relation to high-value losses. The ‘best law firm in Chile for insurance work’, its practice has an enviable reputation for its involvement in the Chilean market’s largest insured losses (at both adjustment and settlement stages). The team is also sought out to act in related legal proceedings and arbitrations, as well as complex subrogation actions. Major clients for the firm range from insurers Chubb, AIG and Zurich and reinsurer Swiss Re, to Lloyd’s syndicates and brokers. Highlights for the group include representing insurers Ace/Chubb in ongoing judicial proceedings against La Polar, its directors and officers, regarding the validity of a D&O insurance policy. Senior partner and insurance, reinsurance, arbitration and litigation expert, Alejandro Acuña Murray, ‘whose expertise is undeniable’, has longstanding experience in acting for local insurers and international reinsurers in major insured losses that occur in Chile; while fellow-founding partner Luis Cifuentes Araya, whose ‘prestige and reputation throughout the country are evident’, is an expert in civil, commercial and white-collar litigation. In the firm’s associate ranks, Whitney Silva also assists with high-end insurance claims.

The eight-strong insurance department at legal market powerhouse Carey acts for insurance and reinsurance companies, brokers and policyholders, on the gamut of insurance and reinsurance work. The practice has amassed a considerable expertise in insurance litigation, where it assists both insureds and insurance companies with large claims; and it regularly acts in regulatory and sanctioning proceedings before The Financial Market Commission (CMF). It also routinely prepares coverage opinions, in relation to specialty lines, such as business interruption, surety and credit insurance, disability and survivorship Insurance, D&O policies and trade credit insurance; and advises reinsurance companies and brokers on major legal and regulatory changes. Clients additionally benefit from the full-service firm’s multidisciplinary approach, which facilitates collaboration with the firm’s construction, energy, investment, data protection, finance and labour specialists. The group is co-led by Pablo Iacobelli, whose practice covers insurance companies’ M&A deals and regulatory corporate issues; and Matías Vergara, an expert in high-stakes insurance and reinsurance disputes, as well as non-contentious insurance work. The insurance and reinsurance group further includes senior associate Jorge Soto, whose recent experience includes assisting Unnio Seguros Generales with its defence against a CMF procedure that alleged non-compliance with CMF’s instructions for financial statement preparations.

The ‘tremendous’ 15-strong team at Estudio Carvallo delivers ‘a first-class service’. The firm has a strong market reputation for its broad coverage of insurance law, as well as related corporate aspects of insurance work such as registration issues and interactions with the Financial Markets Commission (CMF), the sector’s regulator. The group is also regularly mandated to act in litigation against the CMF. On the regulatory side, the team advises on product design, drafting new policies and programmes, distribution agreements and the structuring of insurance contracts. The practice additionally acts in subrogation actions in relation to a range of insurance coverage, including transportation, property, surety and liability; and assists insurers with defence-side matters in relation to liability policies and coverage. The department further stands out for its insurance fraud-related investigation and prosecution credentials. Name partner and veteran practitioner Manuel Carvallo is ‘undoubtedly one of Chile’s main protagonists for insurance law;’ while corporate insurance specialist Francisco Bauer is a former VP Legal at major insurer, Grupo SURA. The practice also fields the firm’s liability team head and defence-side specialist Marcelo Simian; and associate Francia Villegas, who heads up the workers’ compensation and labour law practice, a large generator of insurance coverage litigation.

The result of an August 2022 merger between Grasty Quintana Majlis and international law firm Clyde & Co, the Santiago office has ‘excellent knowledge of insurance, claims settlements, and the needs of insurance adjusters’. The firm’s insurance practice is widely respected for its litigation, regulatory and corporate credentials. On the insurance litigation side, the group is experienced in civil liability, recoveries and coverage litigation; and in non-contentious matters, the practice is experienced in regulatory work, such as the compliance of policies with local regulations, interacting with the relevant authorities, coverage analysis and representation before the Financial Market Commission. The team regularly assists Orión Seguros Generales with compliance issues, regulatory matters, litigation, and local policy drafting. The practice is led by Felipe Hoetz, a January 2023 hire and former name partner at Acuña, Hoetz & Cifuentes, who is ‘of great help in achieving results that are satisfactory to all parties involved’. Particularly focused on high-value losses, Hoetz has longstanding experience in insurance, reinsurance and loss adjusting work. The department also includes insurance litigation specialist Jorge Meneses, who acts for several insurance companies, in addition to heading the firm’s ​​public, administrative and regulatory law team. In January 2024, former legal director Alejandro Quintana V departed the firm for an in-house role at Starr Insurance.

Acting for both insurers and reinsurers, the ‘excellent professionals’ at DAC Beachcroft Chile demonstrate particular strength in high-stakes claims that are resolved through litigation, arbitration or mediation. The practice notably benefits from international law firm DAC Beachcroft LLP co-founding membership of Legalign Global, a closely-integrated alliance of four multinational law firms that focus on the insurance market. The 10-strong team in the Santiago office is led by Macarena Cámbara, whose career includes working at Marsh, THB Re and Zurich Chile, and who specialises in liability, financial lines, surety and cyber matters, as well as complex claims and loss adjustment control issues. Other senior figures include regional head of the firm’s Latin American practice, Andrés Amunátegui, a longstanding expert in insurance, reinsurance, and associated litigation and arbitration; Guillermo Amunátegui, who is experienced in insurance-related regulatory issues; and consultant and former MAPFRE Chile legal head, Edmundo Agramunt, an insurance and reinsurance, litigation and corporate law specialist. At senior associate level, the practice further includes Nicolas Le Blanc, an adviser to the London market on claims’ control processes for property, casualty, cyber and financial institution-related risks; litigation and arbitration group leader Javier Moya; and Andrés Faraggi, who acts for both Europe and US-based reinsurers. Experienced semi-senior Francisco Aravena is also noted.

With ‘deep knowledge of the insurance industry‘, the Chilean arm of international commercial law firm Kennedys 'provides practical and efficient solutions for the problems entrusted to it’. The four-strong insurance and reinsurance team in Santiago has notable experience in regulatory matters, claims management, policy writing, coverage reports and the corporate law issues affecting the insurance industry. On the transactional side, the group also covers distribution issues, compliance work and company formation; while in relation to claims, the department predominantly advises on property and energy matters, along with business interruption policies for the construction, mining, financial and retail sectors. Heading up the practice, insurance and reinsurance specialist Rodrigo Hayvard rejoined the firm as a partner in August 2023 after four years at FID Seguros, where he acted as both GC and chief compliance officer. The Santiago office further showcases civil and commercial litigation practitioner Gian Carlo Lorenzini, who ‘has great expertise in insurance matters’; and senior associate Daniel Silva, who ‘has solid knowledge of regulations and product conditions’, and is a regular adviser to insurers and reinsurers on Chilean insurance legislation and claims handling. In March 2024, former of counsel (and department head until April 2023) Mario Diemoz departed the firm for an in-house role.

Home to ‘a team of lawyers who are highly focused on their clients’, Pumpin, Dorfman, Nasser, Diaz (PDND)'s eight-member insurance practice has longstanding experience in advising damage, credit and life insurance companies. It also represents brokers and adjusters, and assists with regulator-related interactions. The practice’s expertise extends to advising insurance companies on product design, commercialisation issues, compliance with regulations, corporate law, competition, and fair treatment and business conduct issues. The group is additionally sought out to act in litigation and arbitration cases, as well as administrative proceedings before the Financial Market Commission (CMF) and other regulatory bodies. The insurance department’s principal advisers are Marcelo Nasser, who has ‘great knowledge of the insurance industry’, and is a veteran specialist in insurance, consumer protection, civil liability, and civil and commercial law; Gabriel Pumpin, an expert in land and maritime transport matters, and is an arbitrator for the Latin American Centre for Insurance and Reinsurance Mediation and Arbitration; and Ignacio Díaz, who (in addition to heading up the firm’s transportation and telecommunications work) co-leads the shipping and marine insurance practice alongside Nasser and Pumpin. The final name-partner to note, Mauricio Dorfman assists with corporate law, civil liability issues, and litigation and arbitration.

In May 2023, RRG Abogados transformed itself into RRA Abogados (Ríos Abogados), further to the departures of Stefanie Ramdohr and associate Esteban Rebagliati. The firm’s specialist team covers the gamut of insurance industry work, including complex litigation, arbitration, and claims in relation to life, health, property, surety, liability, all risk and business interruption. The ‘very proactive and empathetic’ six-member group also assists with corporate matters, regulatory issues, and the establishment of new life and non-life insurance companies. Highlight mandates for the team include acting for Liberty Compañía de Seguros Generales in a recovery claim involving Chile’s 2016 Rio Mapocho flood. ‘Clients feel confident and secure’ with longstanding Chilean insurance market specialist Roberto Ríos Ossa, who leads the firm. The practice further includes Alonso García, who has significant experience in high-stakes insurance liability claims and general litigation. García also has notable experience in all-risk insurance, liability insurance and surety insurance. In the firm’s associate pool, Mariela Schulze is an experienced litigator, while the workload of Josu Otegui de Los Santos covers insurance and reinsurance matters, as well as related corporate and regulatory issues.

Vergara, Fernández, Costa & Claro's multidisciplinary insurance practice has an enviable market reputation for its experience in high-stakes disputes involving insurance companies, as well as for settlement processes. The team also covers complex negotiations with insurers; the design and structuring of alternative forms of risk cover; and auditing for large companies’ insurance programmes. The principal advisers are commercial department head Sergio Fernández, who co-leads the firm’s insurance department alongside civil liability practice head Gloria Claro. The practice further includes counsel Manuel García de los Ríos, whose career includes over 25 years at German insurance group Allianz; and Catherine Campbell, Andrés Schlack and Valentina Battaglia, who are the associates to note.

With ‘good knowledge of insurance matters’, specialised insurance law and insurance litigation firm Contreras y Cia has longstanding experience in assisting policyholders and insurance brokers with insurance law issues, as well as coverage litigation against insurers. The five-member practice also covers policy underwriting and claims settlement processes. Author of the bill that gave rise to Chile’s current insurance legislation, founding partner Osvaldo Contreras S is a highly-rated insurance law specialist; José Manuel Madero is ‘an excellent professional who stands out for his knowledge of insurance and conflict resolution’; and Osvaldo Contreras B is an insurance and civil liability-related dispute resolution expert. During 2023, Vicente Rios and Gonzalo Escudero joined as associates from Liventus Chile and Marsh McLennan (respectively), where they both worked as claims managers.

Appointed as regular correspondent for several P&I clubs, JJR Abogados houses a ‘multidisciplinary team with high-level knowledge of the insurance and reinsurance industry’. The five-member team has substantial experience in advising on political risks, earthquakes, liability, general reinsurance, and insurance and reinsurance brokers’ liability. It also drafts insurance terms & conditions, and assists with Chilean compulsory adjustment procedures and regulatory work. The group’s experience additionally covers litigation and arbitration. The insurance, reinsurance and transport practice is led by founding partner Ricardo Rozas, who is ‘the first-choice insurance lawyer in Chile’. Max Morgan specialises in non-marine insurance and reinsurance, as well as commercial, maritime and insurance litigation; and associate Stefano Perretta acts in insurance, reinsurance and transport-related litigation.

Boutique legal practice Molina Ríos Abogados is home to a six-strong insurance team that advises on a range of insurance coverage matters, as well as policy models’ general and specific conditions. The practice’s insurance risk analysis expertise further extends to international credit, construction all-risk, civil liability, and guarantee and life insurance. Recent headline work for the group includes its advice to Caja Reaseguradora de Chile on the approximately $40m transfer of a life insurance portfolio to Mapfre. Department head and founding partner Carlos Molina is an arbitrator at the Chilean Association of Insurance (AIDA-Chile), while ‘very competent lawyer’ Felipe Correa acts in insurance-related litigation.

Established in 2022, Peralta Sandoval Llaneza Gutiérrez fields ‘a team of highly experienced lawyers with solid knowledge’. The group specialises in insurance and reinsurance sector-related business law, particularly insurance litigation. The principal advisers are former head of the Superintendence of Corporations’ securities department, Ricardo Peralta, who is a veteran insurance arbitrator; fellow name-partner Luis Sandoval, who ‘has great knowledge of the insurance industry and is an outstanding litigator’; and José Antonio Gutiérrez, confirmed in November 2023 as the legal committee president for the Association of Insurers of Chile. The practice also includes Aurora Llaneza, who ‘has extensive experience in the insurance world’. Key support is provided by experienced senior associate Mildred Barrientos.

The eight-member team at full-service law firm Prieto Abogados comprises experts in the regulatory aspects of insurance company formation and transactional activity in the sector. The group also has extensive experience in insurance product-related distribution agreements, such as bancassurance agreements, mortgage-related policies, cell phone protection policies and extended warranty policies. It additionally assists with supplying insurance-related services, such as road assistance, medical services and home assistance. Practice head Patricio Prieto L has longstanding experience in insurance and reinsurance regulation, as well insurance product development and insurance-related contract negotiations. Notable support is provided by director Maite Larrañaga, an adviser on insurance regulatory matters; and counsel Juan Pablo Riesco, who focuses on coverage claims litigation. Disputes specialist senior associate Agustín Prado is also active in insurance matters.

The four-member team at full-service firm Barros & Errázuriz covers the incorporation and establishment of insurance companies, as well as corporate governance and the sale of share holdings in insurance companies. On the regulatory side, the practice advises on compliance with the regulatory aspects of technical reserves, investment rules, risk management, internal control systems and anti-money laundering. The department is co-led by Carlos Ducci, an expert in corporate law, foreign investment, M&A and joint ventures; and Javier Díaz, whose career includes working as a lawyer for the Chilean Securities and Insurances Authority (now known as the Financial Market Commission). Senior associates Albert Harsch and Jorge Covarrubias round out the team.

Cariola Díez Pérez-Cotapos' insurance team routinely acts for large industrial and commercial clients in their policy claims against insurance companies. It also assists during loss adjustment procedures, including claims against the adjustment report and litigation with insurance companies. The group additionally assists with reviewing insurance policies and insurance programmes; it is particularly active in construction and retail-related insurance issues involving fire, earthquake, robbery and civil liability. Litigation group head Florencio Bernales and director José Ignacio Azar both act in complex insurance disputes. In the associate team, senior Trinidad Torres assists with insurance policy-related lawsuits and Daniel Washington is an expert in insurance policies.

Dentons‘s insurance and reinsurance practice is well known for its expertise in claims across the construction, energy, pharmaceutical, retail, and infrastructure sectors. The practice is particularly active on behalf of foreign insurers and reinsurers (especially from the London market), in relation to cover-related claims involving physical damage, business interruption, general liability, directors and officers coverage and political risk. The team’s workload frequently involves legal opinions on insurance law and insurance and reinsurance contracts, advice on adjustment processes, acting as claims controllers and leading settlement negotiations. Recent highlights also included recovery actions, where the group leveraged the firm’s litigation and arbitration experience. Practice head José Miguel López is a specialist in Chilean insurance regulations and practice, as well as the London insurance market.