Legal market stalwart Carey fields a six-member water law practice that assists with the strategic planning of water rights for a range of projects that require water usage. Examples include mining, chemical facilities, fisheries, agribusiness, water utilities, water supply for human consumption, and hydroelectric generation in run-of-the-river, reservoir and tidal power plants. The team also assists with related administrative processes before the Chilean Water Authority; structures the sales-and-acquisitions of the use-and-supply of water rights; and assists with compliance audits and tender processes. The practice is additionally experienced in providing legal reports for litigation or strategic planning purposes; and is notably active in its advice to Chilean private water utilities companies, such as Aguas Nuevo Sur Maule where the firm’s practice leader Alberto Cardemil serves as a member of the board of directors. Water, natural resources and corporate law specialist Cardemil advises hydropower generators, mining companies and water utilities on critical water rights and supply issues; his recent experience includes assisting Mejillones Amoniaco y Energía with the exploration and development of alternative ways to secure water supply for its green hydrogen and ammonia production plant project in Mejillones. Providing key support, associate Camila Lavín is a water and regulatory law expert.

Fielding lawyers who ‘stand out for their knowledge of the regulations and jurisprudence’, Philippi Prietocarrizosa Ferrero DU & Uría's water resources department in Santiago has a market-leading reputation for projects that require water, particularly the mining, energy, sanitary, industrial and agricultural sectors. The team assists at all stages of strategic planning, its advice also covering the required permits and authorisations for projects. The group’s expertise further extends to searching for water supply solutions for projects; preparing environmental impact studies; salt and desalinated water supply projects; hydroelectric power plants; underwriting long-term water supply contracts; and appearing before the General Directorate of Water, General Comptroller of the Republic, Chile’s ordinary and special courts of justice, and the Environment Superintendence. The water law practice is led by ‘outstanding partner’ and former General Water director, Matías Desmadryl, a water resources, environment and natural resources specialist, who has extensive experience in general regulatory matters and litigation. In the firm’s associate ranks, ‘special mention goes to’ water and sanitation law practitioner Sergio Jaque, while Franco Valenzuela routinely acts for both national and international companies on a range of matters that involve the use of water. Former associate Francisca Mendoza left the firm during 2023.

Aylwin Estudio's ‘lawyers are very experienced in the water sector’s legal issues’. Acting for government agencies and public and private companies, the firm’s nine-strong environmental and water law department focuses on water rights, the regularisation of water use, and permits for hydraulic works such as aqueducts, reservoirs and dams. The group also houses expertise in water easements, water-related compliance audits, water litigation, agreements between water users and community relations with water-user associations. Its broad sector expertise ranges from hydroelectric energy, mining, agriculture and forestry sectors, to waste management and transport (among others). The ‘outstanding’ water law department is co-led by Nicolás Cannoni Mandujano, an expert in energy, agriculture, mining, sanitation and forestry projects; and Pedro Aylwin Chiorrini, who also leads the natural resources and corporate groups. The firm further showcases counsel and veteran natural resources, water and mining specialist Gonzalo Arévalo Cunich, a former legal department head at the General Water Directorate, and current adviser to the Hydraulic Works Directorate. In the firm’s associate ranks, the experience of senior Carmen Gloria Ramírez Astudillo includes assisting with processing permits and authorisations for water resources and hydraulic works; while Andrés Ibarra advises both companies and institutions on water, administrative and regulatory law issues.

With the ‘ability to understand the needs and objectives of clients’, BEC Abogados’ six-member water law department is routinely mandated by exporting companies and agricultural producers, as well as non-profit organisations that are responsible for Chile’s water distribution. The practice focuses on the implementation of efficient water use solutions across the energy, mining and real estate sectors, while standing out for its presence in the agriculture industry. It additionally maintains a highly active water law disputes practice. Recent highlights include acting for the River Lontué Surveillance Board on the removal of a historical blockage that existed to enable the construction of a reservoir. The water law department is co-led by Gonzalo Bulnes Llompart, who focuses predominantly on water law-related civil and administrative litigation and dispute resolution, and is ‘capable of solving problems that arise very quickly’; and Benjamín Bulnes León, who ‘delivers immediate and highly efficient solutions’, and acts for water user organisations before Chile’s different state administration bodies and courts. Bulnes also regularly advises on the processing of permits before multiple sectorial bodies. Former deputy director of the General Directorate of Water, Juan José Crocco Carrera, retired from the partnership in May 2023 but remains a consultant for the firm.

Guerrero Olivos’ eight-strong water law practice has ‘extensive knowledge of water law in Chile and the constant changes in legislation that affect mining operations and their projects’. The practice is particularly active on behalf of banks, energy and mining companies, real estate developers, along with logistics, manufacturing, and food and drinks businesses. The full-service law firm’s wide-ranging expertise covers water law litigation, regulatory compliance, and the water rights aspect of the development of energy, mining and construction projects. The team also advises on the due diligence for major water sector-related M&A deals; and assists with the optimisation of water rights, including water disposal, intake and restitution transfer applications, the modification of water supply sources, and water intake and hydraulic works authorisations. The group additionally assists with water and environmental assessments, permitting procedures, inspections and sanctioning processes. Benjamín Pérez advises on day-to-day water law matters, and the water aspects of M&A, project development, and project and acquisition finance; and Sebastián Abogabir’s broad workload includes the constitution and acquisition of water rights. In the associate group, the water law practice of senior Francisca Pellegrini complements her energy sector work, while Sebastián Mozó specialises in water rights in relation to mining project development.

Delivering ‘a top service with competitive prices that adapt to the client’s budget’, natural resources and environmental law boutique, Lawgic Abogados, is consistently sought out by companies of all sizes from the energy, agriculture, aquaculture, desalination and mining sectors to advise on water law-related legal strategies, regulatory issues, corporate law and litigation. The firm’s five-member team was recently notably active in relation to desalination and green hydrogen production-related matters; and the group provides ongoing advice to Unifrutti on water law issues. The group is co-led by former Carey senior associate, Sebastian Del Campo, who ‘delivers good strategies when facing complex issues’, and whose water law practice covers regulatory matters, administrative and judicial litigation, natural resources-related transactions and the development of investment projects; and Agustín Walker, a former Núñez Muñoz Abogados of counsel, who maintains ‘a very competent and good practice’, and who is experienced in water rights, natural resources and project development work. In the firm’s associate ranks, Francisco Silva - whose career includes working at the litigation unit of Chile’s General Water Agency - is a specialist in water law, administrative sanctioning and judicial proceedings; and Karla Miranda routinely advises on administrative and judicial litigation, regulatory due diligence and project development.

The seven-member water rights team at boutique firm Guzmán & Cia houses experts in drinking water and sanitation law. The practice also advises on public law, corporate matters and administrative litigation; and it routinely assists clients with their interactions with the General Comptroller of the Republic, the Environmental Superintendent, the General Directorate of Water, the Hydraulic Works Directorate, the Superintendence of Sanitary Services and the General Treasury of the Republic. The team is led by water rights specialist Alberto Guzmán Alcalde, while associate Roberto Parada Herrera assists with applications before the National Water Authority. Former associate Cristian Álvarez Núñez departed the firm in August 2023.

With ‘excellent knowledge of water law’, IMAD Abogados’ practice routinely advises on the water, mining and environmental aspects of major development projects. The team’s expertise ranges from the exploration of groundwater and surface water, changes of catchment points and the regularisation of rights, to permits for hydraulic works and the constitution of easements. It also advises on administrative and judicial inspections and sanctioning proceedings, as well as the collection of fees for non-use of water use rights. The team is led by the ‘committed’ Domingo Irarrázaval, whose recent experience includes preparing legal analyses on alternative water supplies in areas of water scarcity.

Launched in early 2023, RAM Abogados is the result of a merger between Acevedo, Allende, Mujica & Cía. and Ríos y Cía Abogados, the latter firm the previous home to various water law specialists. With a ‘great focus on water rights’, the nine-strong practice advises agro-industrial companies, along with other water users and organisations, on the constitution and regularisation of water use rights; transfers of catchment points; and authorisations for construction of water accumulation works. It also assists with audits, patents for non-use of water, contracts, title studies and technical reports. The group is co-led by Andrés Ríos Urquidi and Pablo Astorga Lanas, both of whom predominantly focus on water law and agricultural real estate projects.

Boutique law practice Schenke Brancoli Abogados | SLBZ is home to a 11-strong water law team that specialises in the constitution, regularisation, protection and safeguarding of water rights. The group’s workload covers negotiations regarding water law contracts and advising Water Code-governed companies. It also assists with water property audits and the due diligence on water-related projects. The practice is co-led by civil and criminal litigation specialist Ricardo Brancoli; and water, mining and electricity law expert Hipólito Zañartu, who routinely provides private and public institutions with legal reports on water issues. At associate level, Camila Pozo Parot advises companies on natural resources.

Particularly well known for environmental and regulatory work, Vergara Galindo Correa Abogados’ seven-strong water law practice provides ‘very direct collaboration with clients’. The team fields experts in mining-sector-related water rights, its experience covering matters before the General Department of Waters that involve the adjustment of water rights. The group also assists with water course modification procedures before the Hydraulic Works Department. The practice is led by Winston Alburquenque, a mining, water and energy law specialist. Key support is provided by associate director Solange Villarroel, whose practice includes advising on water law work.