Urzúa

Mining and Project Development

Partner

Daniel Weinstein  provides strategic guidance to international companies entering the Chilean market or developing mining projects in the country, encompassing the full spectrum of the mining cycle. He also offers advice to a diverse range of industry players, including metal trading companies, engineering and construction firms, suppliers, and other key stakeholders in the mining sector. Additionally, he serves as President of the Advisory Council of the  Ministry of Mining.

Daniel 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 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; General Counsel at Quantum Pacific Exploration; and finally, as Legal Manager of BHP for five years. 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 and is board member of mining companies. He  is a frequent speaker at national and international seminars and post-graduate courses on the legal aspects of mining. . 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.

INDUSTRY-RELATED ACTIVITIES

President of the Advisory Council  of the Ministry of Mining (2024-Present); Counselor of the Advisory Council of the Ministry of Mining (2023-Present); Counselor of the Council for the modernization of contractual relationships of the Institute of the Construction (Instituto de la Construcción) (2022 – Present); Counselor of the Owner-Contractor working group of the Chilean Chamber of Construction, (2022-Present); Expert on the committees sponsored by the Ministry of Mining to review the amendments to the mining code and to propose a new regulation for the small mining (2022 – 2023); Member of the Expert Panel of the Arbitration and Mediation Center of the Mining Chamber of Chile (2022-Present); Member of the Steering Committee of the Institute of International Mining and Oil & Gas Law, Development, and Investment, organized by the Foundation for Natural Resources and Energy Law (previously called The Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation) (2018- Present).

English (fluent); Spanish (native)

Director and Executive Secretary of the Chilean Mining Chamber. Member of the Foundation for Natural Resources and Energy Law Member of the Chilean Society of Construction Law. Member of the Chilean Bar Association.

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).