Babette Smeets

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Leaders in Law endorses Babette Smeets as our exclusively recommended Family Law expert in Chile. If you wish to get in touch with Babette, please use the contact information provided above.

Babette Smeets studied Law at the University of Leiden, The Netherlands, specialising in Private Law, Family Law and Inheritance Law. She received an LL.M degree in International Law – Trade, Investments and Arbitration from the University of Chile in Santiago de Chile and the Ruprecht Karls-Universität in Heidelberg, Germany (2011).

Previously, she worked at the Ministry of Finance in Chile as part of the negotiation team for the conclusion of Chilean treaties for the avoidance of double taxation. She also worked in close cooperation with the OECD on the implementation of its established international standards in Chile.

Her special interest in Private and Family Law, and her awareness of a growing need for support and specialised legal advice in the field of family matters –particularly in a global context– led her to focus on this area of expertise. Her multicultural experience and outlook allow her to understand the particular concerns of people from different cultures. Moreover, Babette’s legal experience is not limited to Family Law, so she has a unique understanding of the wider issues associated to family matters.

Babette Smeets is a recognized leader in international succession Law and unclaimed property law and can assist heirs with the legal inheritance and probate process in Chile.  A deceased could also have left assets in Europe, the United States, or elsewhere. She has helped clients with the recognition of their right to inherit and international claims. She also has helped locate heirs and recover assets classified as unclaimed estates in Europe and the United States. Working in a global team provides her the legal ability to handle international claims and get results in even the most complex circumstances.

Areas of Expertise

  • Family Law
  • Private Law
  • Inheritance Law

Education

  • Studied Law – University of Leiden, The Netherlands
  • LL.M degree in International Law – Trade, Investments and Arbitration from the University of Chile in Santiago de Chile & The Ruprecht Karls-Universität in Heidelberg, Germany (2011).

Memberships

International Bar Association.

Firm Description:

SMEETS Family Lawyers provides high quality legal advice and services in the field of Chilean and cross-border family issues. We are dedicated to looking after your personal interests.

We provide specialised expertise in Chilean and international family law for:

  • Private clients, who are looking for an analysis of their juridical situation and to help them in case of disputes or even better; to avoid them;
  • Professionals, such as lawyers, who are looking for cross-border support and rely on our international expertise;
  • All clients who need advice and services concerning settlement in Chile.

We provide legal advice on Chilean and cross-border family matters, such as legalising a foreign marriage, prenuptial agreements, divorces, mediation, alimony, registered partnerships, legal issues involving children (child custody and abduction; the Hague Convention), adoption, inheritances, immigration, relocation or settlement in Chile (we can also assist you with the legal process of buying and selling property in Chile), and others.

We provide our advice and services based on your particular circumstances: quickly, efficiently and effectively with absolute discretion and reliability. If necessary and if you desire it, we can consult and work with law and tax firms (or attorneys), including from abroad.

 

Daniel Weinstein

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Leaders in Law endorses Daniel Weinstein as our exclusively recommended Mining Law expert in Chile. If you wish to get in touch with Daniel, please use the contact information provided above.

Daniel Weinstein has broad experience in the mining sector, leading mining-related transactions for over US$22 billion in recent years, including joint ventures, strategic alliances, farms-in, engineering and construction contracts, and procurement agreements, with experience in mining across five continents.

Additionally, he has led exploration ventures over 2+ million hectares of mining claims, representing both junior and major companies. Furthermore, in the last years, he has advised projects under construction in Chile and abroad worth over US$19 billion, ensuring the delivery of vital infrastructure for mining and desalination.

Daniel joined Urzua Abogados in 2022 after a successful career of nine years  (2004 – 2013) in renowned law firms in Chile and abroad, followed by another nine years leading the legal departments of prestigious companies, as Head of Legal for Chile and Peru at SNC-Lavalin (2013 – 2014); General Counsel at Quantum Pacific Exploration (2014 – 2017); and finally, as Legal Manager of BHP  (2017 – 2021). At BHP, he led the legal teams responsible for Exploration globally, for the Projects and Commercial areas of the Minerals Americas division, and for the Potash business unit.

Daniel has been a director of mining companies and, since 2022, he is a member of the Expert Panel of the Arbitration and Mediation Center of the Mining Chamber of Chile.

He is a frequent speaker at national and international seminars and post-graduate courses on the legal aspects of mining. He is a recurrent interviewee and columnist in national and international mass circulation and specialized media. He is part of the leadership of mining and construction trade associations and, additionally, he regularly advices governmental entities and trade associations on mining-related matters.

Areas of Expertise

  • Mining.
  • Contracts, Procurement, and Supply Chain.
  • Engineering and Construction.
  • Projects.
  • Complex negotiations.

Education

  • Advanced Management Program (AMP), ESE Business School (2019).
  • Master of Laws (LL.M.), University of Chicago (2010).
  • Bachelor of Laws, Universidad de Chile (Summa Cum Laude, 2001).

Admissions

  • Chile.

Languages

  • Spanish.
  • English.

Firm Description:

URZÚA is a niche law firm, specialized in projects, engineering, construction and mining, and within it, its controversies (claims, arbitrations, and litigation).

URZÚA was born from the talent, work and commitment of Cristián Urzúa, who after an intense career in important law firms, decided to create URZÚA, already with five successful years in the industry, and highlighted in  all relevant legal rankings as a key player in engineering and construction law. In August 2022, Daniel Weinstein, who has an outstanding experience working in law firms and in engineering and construction and mining companies, joined the firm as a partner, to create the mining area and deepen the project practice.

What distinguishes URZÚA is that we are an experienced and high standard firm, that not only guides the work, but also thinks, performs and participates directly in its development. In other words, the lawyer who meets with the client in the first meeting is the same professional who will carry out the legal advice.

The hallmark of URZÚA is that we do not leave anything to chance and, especially, we go along with our clients all the time,  always putting them at the center of everything we do.

 

Federico Rodríguez

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Leaders in Law endorses Federico Rodríguez as our exclusively recommended Energy Law expert in Chile. If you wish to get in touch with Federico please use the contact information provided above.

Federico Rodríguez leads the Energy and Natural Resources practice area at Baraona Fischer & Cia and provides advice on corporate business matters to clients from various industries. He has vast experience in regulatory and transactional matters. He has been involved in cross-border transactions in the mining, energy and salmon industrial sectors, venture capital, private placements, IPO, mergers and acquisitions in the main international stockmarkets including Canada, Great Britain, Australia and the United States. During the last years, he has been involved in relevant transactions mainly related to the generation of clean energy, in the first projects of electric mobility in Chile and exploitation of lithium.

Mr. Rodríguez earned his Law Degree from the Diego Portales University, has a Diploma in Tax Planning from the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile and LL.M. of the London School of Economics and Political Science. He has been a partner of Baraona Fischer & Cia since 2013 and previously was Legal and Compliance Director at Asesorías e Inversiones Benjamín S.A.; Director of SalmonChile AG Director; and Chairman of the Board of Australis Seafoods S.A., of Hampton Mining Limited, among many others.

Practice areas

  • Energy and Natural Resources
  • Venture Capital
  • Private Equity
  • General Corporate Practice
  • Mergers and Acquisitions

Firm Description:

Baraona Fischer & Cia offers a unique combination of tax expertise, business experience, creativity and innovation to provide customized solutions for our clients.

Our team stands-out for understanding in detail the needs of each client, to deliver integral solutions through our tax, business and financial practice.

Our clients include national companies, foreign institutional and private investors, family businesses, and their owners. Our portfolio is made up of clients in diverse areas of the industry, such as the financial and banking sector, fishing and aquaculture, mining, production, food, energy, services and commerce, among others, both in the private and public areas.

 

Felipe Larenas

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Leaders in Law endorses Felipe Larenas as our exclusively recommended Audit & Assurance Services expert in Chile. If you wish to get in touch with Felipe please use the contact information provided above.

Felipe is an Accountant-Auditor, graduated from Universidad Andrés Bello in Chile. He received a certificate in Tax Analysis and Planning from Universidad Católica de Chile (Catholic University of Chile) and a certificate in International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) from Universidad de Chile (University of Chile).

Felipe has over 20 years of experience working in tax and accounting working as a Senior Tax Auditor for Price WaterHouse and EY, Tax and Accounting Manager at Chilean utility company, Lípigas, and Corporate Tax Manager at ENAP-Chile (National Petroleum Company-Chile).

Felipe is a father of two and enjoys spending time in nature on his mountain bike or kite surfing.

Firm Description:

Alva Consultores is a boutique consulting firm specializing in accounting, tax, auditing, and back-office services. Since 2009 we have been providing our clients solid results. Our team has over 20 years of combined experience and boasts of professionals who are experts in their field, all holding graduate degrees and MBAs. This valuable financial and business experience allows us to leverage the flexibility required to find high quality, end-to-end solutions consistently.

At Alva Consultores, we believe in the importance of offering and supporting holistic solutions for our clients. In our experience this approach provides value to our clients’ needs now and as we grow together. Our clients range from local small businesses to large multinational enterprises in the software, cultural exchange, mining, and chemicals industries. We have clients from countries all over the globe, including Chile, Germany, the United States, Brasil, Colombia, and Spain.

Let’s connect and chat about how we can add value to your company!

 

Mauricio Cisternas López

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Leaders in Law endorses Mauricio Cisternas López as our exclusively recommended Tax Law expert in the Chile. If you wish to get in touch with Mauricio, please use the contact information provided above.

Lawyer from the University of the Andes, with postgraduate studies in Tax Law from the University of Santiago; Master in Tax Planning and Management from the University of Santiago (2004); Diploma in Real Estate Law from the University of the Andes (2011), and Continuing Education Program in Calgary University, Alberta, Canada (2007).

His professional experience has been cantered in the area of corporate tax consulting to national and foreign clients, preferentially in company reorganisations, merger and acquisition processes; legal reports in tax law; family asset management and/or inheritance; and, fiscal judicial and administrative defences. He has developed his career in diverse law firms and auditing and consulting companies.

Firm Overview:

A Chilean law firm created in the year 2000 with the purpose of dealing with the resolution of conflicts in business. It is formed by professionals specialised in negotiation, litigation and other areas related to business activity.

Our work is focused on the prevention and resolution of conflicts. To this purpose, we have prepared by carefully selecting the specialties, skills and experience of our professionals.

 

José Miguel Huerta

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Leaders in Law endorses José Miguel Huerta as our exclusively recommended Antitrust Law expert in the Chile. If you wish to get in touch with José, please use the contact information provided above.

Practice Areas

  • Administrative Law
  • Administrative Procedural Law
  • Litigation
  • Antitrust and Economic Regulation
  • Arbitration
  • Constitutional
  • Reorganization
  • Insolvency

Industries

  • Transportation
  • Technology
  • Media and Telecommunications
  • Financial Services and Fintech
  • Agribusiness
  • Consumer
  • Retail

Experience

José Miguel Huerta specializes in litigation, antitrust, comercial arbitration and bankruptcy. He has represented clients in Chile and in other jurisdictions, including the United States and Europe, in government proceedings and investigations related, among others, to mergers and cartels.

He teaches civil law at Universidad de Chile. He is the author of several publications, among others, in the areas of antitrust, civil law and civil procedure.

He won the Society’s 2008 Pro Bono Award, New York, for his service to the Legal Aid Society in New York.

He is member of the Chilean Bar and of the American Bar Association.

He is admitted to practice law in Chile and in the United States, in New York State.

He joined Claro & Cía. in 1996. In 2007 and 2008 he was with Shearman & Sterling in New York. He is partner since 2012.

Education

J.S.M., Standford Law School, Fulbright, Scholarship, 2007.

J.D., Universidad de Chile, 2002.

Firm Overview:

Since its founding in 1880, Claro & Cia. is one of the most prestigious law firms in Chile. Our seal is an innovative, reliable and highly qualified style.

With a diverse group of lawyers, Claro & Cia. is prepared to take part in all the areas in which legal advice is required, offering its clients a comprehensive support for the realization of their projects. Its practice in banks and financing, in aspects of corporate, reorganizations and acquisitions (M & A) in securities markets, Chilean and global, as well as its recognized experience in litigation and arbitration, are particularly emblematic and remarkable. In all of them, and in the others that its offers to its clients as part of its integral service, its professionalism, creativity and solidity characterize it.

Claro & Cia. represents clients with interests in very diverse areas, such as: Administrative and Constitutional, Transportation, Free Competition, Litigation and Arbitration, Banking, Project Financing, Mining, Bankruptcy and Restructuring, Mergers and Acquisitions, Capital Markets, Energy and Natural Resources, Environment, Insurance, labor, criminal and administrative sanctions, intellectual property and new technologies, international trade, economic regulation, tax law, telecommunications, sports and entertainment, real estate development, tourism, hotels and casinos, among others.

Claro & Cia. has an undisputed leadership in the Chilean legal market and has stood out for the high legal and ethical standards with which it provides legal services in the most complex commercial transactions and in judicial and arbitration conflicts. The loyalty of our clients, as well as the international recognition obtained by the firm and its lawyers, such as Chambers & Partners “Best Firm of the Year in Chile” granted in 2017, 2015, 2012 and 2010 and Client Service, 2019; Latin Lawyer “Best Transaction of the Year in Corporate Finance, 2013”; Latin Lawyer “Best Transaction of the Year, in the best operation of M & A, 2012”; IFLR “M & A Best Transaction of the Year, 2012”; IFLR “Best National Firm of the Year, 2012”, IFLR “Best Firm of Year in Chile, 2021″, IFLR”Southern cone Banking & Finance Firm of the Year, 2021″, IFLR” Loan Deal of the Year, 2021″, prove it.

Experience, reliability, excellence and leadership are the principles that guide Claro & Cia., within a framework of ethical rigor and social responsibility with its people and the environment in which it operates.

 

Harris Gomez

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Leaders in Law endorses Milko Baiz as our exclusively recommended Administrative Law expert in the Aruba. If you wish to get in touch with Milko, please use the contact information provided above.

Founder and Director

Harris Gomez has been an Australian lawyer for over 25 years and is the Managing Partner of Harris Gómez Group.

Early in his career, Harris was the founder and Principal Partner of ‘Lyon Law Firm’ in Sydney, where he specialised in Property, Finance, Commercial Litigation and International Law with a focus on Latin America & Spain.

In 2001, Harris founded Harris Gomez Group, the first Australian Law firm to have an office in Latin America. Harris now has 25 years of experience conducting business between Australia and Latin America, and providing his clients with practical legal and business advice.

Harris has been the President of both the Australia Chile Chamber of Commerce and the Australia Peru Chamber of Commerce and Industry. He has also acted as a board member of the Australian Latin American Business Council (ALABC) and served as the Corporate Secretary.

Currently based in our Sydney office, Harris regularly travels to our Latin American head office in Santiago, Chile.

Harris specialises in setting up Australian and Latin American businesses and providing support to both regions. His expertise is focused on common law and Latin American cross-border issues in areas including mining and energy, corporate matters, employment, taxation, intellectual property and business ventures. His understanding of both the Australian and Latin American legal and business cultures makes him a priceless link between the two regions.

Firm Description:

HGG opened its doors in 1997 as a legal and commercial firm.  In 2001, we took the step to expand our practice to the international market with the establishment of our office in Santiago, Chile. This international expansion meant we could provide an essential bridge for Australian companies with interests and activities in Latin America, and in so doing, became the first Australian law firm with an office in Latin America.

Over the years, our internationally experienced Spanish and English speaking lawyers have helped hundreds of businesses to grow and succeed in both these regions and beyond. As well as being immersed in the legal and business cultures of Australia and Latin America, we partner with many local companies to provide commercial law, litigation, intellectual property and asset protection.

 

Daniela Horvitz Lennon

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Leaders in Law endorses Daniela Horvitz Lennon as our exclusively recommended Family Law expert in Chile. If you wish to get in touch with Daniela please use the contact information provided above.

Daniela Horvitz has specialized in different subjects: Diploma in “ISL S-DAY” from Harvard University, 2001; Diploma in “Criminal Procedure Reform” of the University of Chile, 2003; Graduated in “Introduction to the Law of the United States” of the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile, year 2004; Graduated in “Oral Litigation” from California Western School of Law, year 2011; among others.

She is a member of Chile bar association, since the year 1999; Of the family commission of the Chilean Bar Association, since 2009; Founder and former president of the Family Lawyers Association of Chile, 2009; Member UIA (International Union of Lawyers), since 2011; Member ABA (American Bar Association), since 2012; Member of International Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, since 2012; Member of honor of IBDFAM (Brazilian Institute of Family Duty), since 2012; And founding member of the Ibero-American Academy of Family Law in 2014.

She has participated in various exhibitions and publications at national and international level: Exhibitor with “Family businesses and insolvencies”, insolvency commission UIA Zaragoza-Spain year 2012; “Compensation for damages in family relations”, family commission UIA and FACA Buenos Aires-Argentina year 2012; “The Economic Compensation”, Congress of the Argentine Nation year 2012; “Children facing the change of domicile and regulations of patrimonial regulation in the old age”, Annual Congress UIA Dresden-Germany year 2012; “Surrogate paternity in Mercosur”, annual IBDFAM Gramado-Brazil year 2012; “The Hague Convention in Chile”, symposium organized by IAML Buenos Aires-Argentina in 2013; “Collaborative Law in Chile”, XXI Day of AEAFA Family Law Madrid-Spain year 2014.

She has been honored to be pro bono as a curator ad litem in cases of children in violation, at the request of the Family Courts. In addition, her activity in the field of Bankruptcy and Insolvency was worth incorporating into the Societé de Legislation Comparee the year 2013.

Areas of Practice:

Appeals, Arbitration, Child Care/Public Law, Child Custody/Residence/Visitation/Contact, Child Support, Cohabitation, Collaborative Law, Divorce, Domestic Abuse/Violence/Protection Orders, Emergency Procedures/Injunctions, Enforcement: Child Custody, Enforcement: Child Support, Enforcement: Property Division, Enforcement: Spousal Support, Finance: Capital Provision, Finance: Insolvency, Finance: Pensions/Superannuation/Retirement and Employment Benefits, Finance: Property Issues, Finance: Trusts, Hague Convention/Child Abduction, Mediation, Modification/Variation: Child Custody, Modification/Variation: Child Support, Modification/Variation: Property Division, Modification/Variation: Spousal Support, Parentage/Paternity, Pre-nuptial/Post-nuptial Agreements, Relocation/Removal from Jurisdiction, Same Sex Partnerships, Spousal Support/Maintenance/Alimony

Firm Description

Horvitz and Company Lawyers was founded in 1964 by Mr. Gustavo Horvitz. Since then, the prestige and reputation gained in the national legal field, are based on our vast experience, high standards in legal services rendered, total adherence to professional ethics and efficiency in fulfilling professional duties.

Thanks to our seriousness, experience, dedication, since we are a multidisciplinary team and of no big size, we can offer and deliver to our clients a personalized and integral service, with due respect for the ethical principles that govern the practice of the profession.

 

Carolina del Rio

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Leaders in Law endorses Carolina del Rio as our exclusively recommended IP Law expert in Chile. If you wish to get in touch with Carolina, please use the contact information provided above.

Carolina Del Río is a member of the Chilean Bar Association.

Under her leadership, Clarke, Modet & Co. Chile, was recognized for the second time with the “IP Enforcement Law Firm of the Year in Chile” award by the magazine Corporate INTL Legal Awards Magazine. Award recognition of the history and experience of the legal team of Clarke, Modet & C ° Chile as well as cases of success they have achieved on behalf of multinational companies in terms of defending their industrial property rights in Chile.

OVERVIEW:

– Degree in Law from Universidad Diego Portales, Chile. With more than 20 years of experience in issues related to Intellectual Property.
– Member of the Chilean Bar Association and INTA.
– Speaker in intellectual property and innovation seminars in China, Spain, USA and Chile.
– Important media columnist such as Diario Financiero, Revista del Campo, El Mercurio newspaper, Poder & Negocios magazine and La Segunda newspaper among others.
– She was elected by “Entrepreneurs Women” as one of the ten entrepreneurs’ women between 35 and 40 years in 2005.
– She is part of Mujeres del Pacifico an organization with the main goal of empowering women to try their own business in the countries of the Pacific Alliance , Chile peru México and Colombia.
– Degree in how to organize and lead projects and important teams and groups of work from IESE. master of full at Universidad de los Andes.

LAW FIRM:

Clarke, Modet & Cº is one of the largest groups specialized in Intellectual Property in Spanish and Portuguese speaking countries, founded in Spain in 1879.

It was created as a company to manage patents and perform Intellectual Property services. Our walls are plastered in framed Industrial Property journals from the SPTO, some of which have changed the face of the industry since the 19th century. We have some real gems, such as Edison’s light bulb and Goodyear’s tire.

Since the 1960s the company has made a bid for expanding internationally by opening subsidiaries in Venezuela, Brazil, Argentina, Portugal and Mexico. Thirty years on, this start-up was completed with openings in Colombia, Chile, Peru and Uruguay, as well as, of course, the new territorial offices which we keep opening in each of the countries where we are present.

Our current presence in the world covers a total of 10 countries with more than 450 professional experts working from our 34 offices, together with a network of carefully selected agents across the world.

The key to our success is constant adaptation to the present and knowing how to anticipate market needs, which has always allowed us to offer ad-hoc customized solutions to accompany our clients throughout the life cycle of their IP rights.

Alfonso Silva

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Leaders in Law endorses Alfonso Silva as our exclusively recommended TMT Law expert in Chile. If you wish to get in touch with Alfonso please use the contact information provided above.

Partner and head of Carey’s Corporate / Telecom Group. His practice areas span from corporate and business law, financing, mergers and acquisitions to the regulatory and transactional aspects related to the telecommunications industry, including the Telecom law and regulations, concessions, licenses and permits, and state contracts. Mr. Silva has been appointed representative and/or board member of several multinational companies operating in Chile, including banks.

 

TMT Law Practice:

After 5 years under discussion in the Chilean Congress, on June 11th, 2012, the long expected bill that regulates the installation of telecommunications antennas and its towers has become a Law in Chile. Law N° 20.599 (the “Antenna Law”) affects not only the new telecommunication antennas and towers to be installed in the future but also some of the infrastructure already installed within the Chilean territory.

One of the most significant innovations contained in the Antenna Law is the new requirement of an installation permit which will be granted by the corresponding local authority: the Municipal Work Department. According to the Antenna Law, the relevant telecoms operators will now have to comply with a complex procedure on which the direct participation of the affected community is considered, before the installation of any antenna and its tower.

Depending on the height of the antenna tower (higher than 12 meters or higher than 3 meters and lower than 12 meters) the documentation and information that will have to be filed before the Municipal Work Department will vary.

Similarly, the applicable procedure for obtaining the installation permit will be different depending not only on the height of the antenna towers to be installed but also on other special situations related to the areas where the antenna towers are intended to be installed, such as “risk areas”, “protection areas” or “touristic interest areas”.

In rural areas and when the antenna tower height is equal or less than 3 meters as well as in some other special cases, an installation notice will be enough requirement for installing an antenna and its tower.

Another important new obligation that the Antenna Law sets forth for the telecoms operators is the requirement to implement one of these 2 alternatives at the moment of installing an antenna and its tower:

  1. i) Camouflage of the antenna and its tower. This mechanism consists in a sort of “costume” for the antenna and its tower in order to prevent the urbanism impact caused by these structures and harmonize them with the corresponding environment. Typical examples of this kind of measure are the antennas and its towers camouflaged in the form of palms, trees, bell towers, etc.
  2. ii) Mitigation measures in favor of the community. According to the Antenna Law the mitigation measures may consist of either (i) the implementation of telecommunication services, or (ii) the improvement of green areas, pavements, bike lanes, luminaries, ornament or other similar measures.

According to the installation procedure established in the Antenna Law, the members of the community affected by the installation of an antenna and its tower will be entitled to participate in the decision for the selection of one of the above mentioned options.

 

Carey Abogados:

In 1905, Francisco Carey (1873-1946) begins to practice law independently in Antofagasta, a major business center in the north of Chile. His law firm grows steadily and his clients include the major mining and nitrate companies of the time. One of such clients, the Antofagasta-Bolivia railway (FCAB), a U.K. corporation whose stock is still traded on the London Stock Exchange, was counseled by three generations of attorneys of the Carey family over the last one hundred years.

Since its foundation, Carey has been committed to professional excellence. It is a core conviction of the firm that the practice of law is an honorable and enriching activity, which carries with it the responsibility of following the highest ethical standards.