Carey

Full-service legal giant Carey fields ‘highly skilled people with high ethical standards’, who consistently act on major mining projects in Chile, including development, financing and M&A transactions. The 11-strong mining department acts for both domestic and international mining (metallic and non-metallic minerals) companies on their exploration, exploitation and processing matters. The group also has longstanding experience in assisting the Chilean Government with preparing amendments to mining law-related regulations. The team’s expertise further extends to mining, water, and land use surface rights, environmental and community issues, and mining litigation. Recent highlights include acting for Marimaca Copper Corp on the implementation of a copper project in the Region of Antofagasta. The practice is co-led by mining law expert Rafael Vergara (’one of the greats in this field’), whose mining law practice covers concessions, environmental regulations, litigation, M&A, project finance and restructuring; and highly-regarded water rights specialist Alberto Cardemil, an adviser on natural resources transactions and litigation, along with agribusiness, corporate issues, and commercial law. In the firm’s associate ranks, senior Maximiliano Urrutia's experience includes assisting Pan American Silver with the $4.8bn acquisition of Yamana Gold. Former counsel Francisco Corona and senior associate Esteban Fresno departed the firm in December 2023 and February 2024, respectively.