Barros Silva Varela & Vigil > Santiago, Chile > Firm Profile
Barros Silva Varela & Vigil Offices
El Golf 40, Floor 13
Las Condes
Chile
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Barros Silva Varela & Vigil > The Legal 500 Rankings
Chile > Corporate and M&A Tier 3
The sizeable corporate practice at Barros Silva Varela & Vigil houses industry expert in telecoms, mining, energy, pharma and real estate and whose expertise encompasses corporate governance, family offices, and cross-border transactions. The group is co-led by name partner Jorge Vigil, who specialises in M&A, restructurings, and complex contract negotiations; and M&A, corporate governance, joint venture and corporate law expert, Rodrigo de Alencar (a 2022 partner recruit from Urenda, Rencoret, Orrego y Dörr). At non-partner level, corporate law director Sebastián Barros Campino advises on M&A and investment funds; while senior associate Josefina Castro's recent experience includes serving as legal counsel to Latin America Power. Former senior associate Felipe Valle F departed the firm in August 2022.Practice head(s):
Jorge Vigil; Rodrigo de Alencar
Testimonials
‘We are a Japanese listed company with a wholly owned subsidiary in Chile. A problem arose in the relationship with the minority shareholders of the sub-subsidiary. This firm – BSVV- is a referral from a Japanese corporate law firm; they have come up with an excellent plan, and I trust them.‘
‘Due to the differences in culture and business practices between Chile and Japan, we sometimes have conflicting opinions, but I am very grateful to the lawyers in charge for their polite responses. Rodrigo de Alencar B is the key partner for us.‘
Key clients
Phoenix Tower International
Outsourcing Inc
Papa John’s
Aguas San Pedro
Avenida
Aguas y Riles
Cordada
Autocred
AgrÃcola Huinca
Wherex – SAFE issuance
Martino y Alonso
De Lage Landen Chile
Work highlights
- Advised Phoenix Tower International on the acquisition of a portfolio of over 4000 telecoms towers from WOM.
- Advised Outsourcing Inc on the acquisition of the remaining stake in a target company.
- Advises Papa Johns’ on all of its corporate law requirements.
Chile > Environment Tier 3
Barros Silva Varela & Vigil's public law and environmental department fields experts in environmental assessments, compliance with environmental and sectoral regulations, and sanctioning proceedings before Chile’s Superintendency of the Environment and Environmental Protection Agency. The team is co-led by public and regulatory law specialist, Claudia Ferreiro, whose practice takes in projects’ environmental impact assessments, defences before state agencies, concession-granting procedures and environmental litigation; and Felipe Riesco, whose past experience includes serving as both Ministry of the Environment Undersecretary and legal advisor to the Superintendency of the Environment. At senior associate level, José Ignacio Vial focuses on regulatory and environmental issues, while Esteban Carmona advises on regulatory public law and administrative sanctioning processes.Practice head(s):
Claudia Ferreiro; Felipe Riesco
Key clients
CMPC Maderas
Statkraft
Inversiones Rentas Inmobiliarias
Inversiones PacÃfico Sur
Hot Chili
Club Andino Osorno
Antillanca
Rucalhue EnergÃa
EL Zorro Sociedad Contractual Minera
Putaendo River Supervisory Board
Salmones Blumar
Municipality of Puerto Natales
Work highlights
- Assisting Statkraft with a hydroelectric power plant’s conflict with an indigenous community, further to alleged environmental impacts not foreseen in the environmental assessment.
- Advising CMPC Maderas on the environmental assessment of the modernisation and expansion of a Los Angeles manufacturing plant project.
- Successfully defended Inversiones Rentas Inmobiliarias against a protection action that was filed against several real estate companies claiming that certain projects would destroy a wetland called Sargento Silva.
Chile > Real estate Tier 3
Barros Silva Varela & Vigil fields a five-strong group that advises on the entire lifecycle of real estate projects. Its expertise ranges from project planning to financings, co-ownership contract negotiations, unit sales, and corporate and tax structuring. The team also assists with the legal monitoring of potential construction liabilities; and has notable specialisms in housing, real estate projects for rental purposes and matters involving government housing subsidies. ‘Excellent’ real estate department head José JoaquÃn Silva is experienced in complex real estate work, as well as territorial planning, corporate advice, environmental impact assessments, and negotiations involving communities. Senior associates Marcela Horzella and Soledad MarÃn also both maintain active real estate practices.Practice head(s):
José JoaquÃn Silva
Testimonials
‘Quick responses, availability for the client, and interested in providing a complete diagnosis of the problem and solution options. In addition, the lawyers are very concerned with monitoring and following up with clients.‘
‘Knowledgeable and specialised in the topics it covers, and coordinated teamwork between the different areas of expertise.‘
‘José JoaquÃn Silva is excellent.‘
Key clients
LegrÃa
Fondo de Inversión Renta Residencial – Fondo Renta Capital
Froilán Roa Real Estate
Ingevec Inmobiliaria
Ingevec Constructora
Inmobiliaria Inspira Chile Rural
Inmobiliaria Ecasa
Constructora Cumbre
Inmobiliaria Ilumina
Inmobiliaria Monferrato
Inmobiliaria PatagonLand
Papa John’s
Grupo Avenida Realty – Avenida
Work highlights
- Advising LegrÃa on the creation of the legal structure for the purchase of a portion of property.
- Advised Fondo de Inversión Renta Residencial on the constitution of a large private investment fund for rental purposes.
- Acting for Froilan Roa BSVV, a joint venture between LarraÃnVial and Ingevec, on the development of a mixed housing and commercial project.
Chile > Labour and employment Tier 4
‘Solid and constantly growing’, Barros Silva Varela & Vigil’s six-member labour and employment department covers equity, gender, sexual harassment and discrimination issues, as well as fundamental rights’ violations, and the implementation of policies and best practices. Team leader Roberto Lewin advises on labour-related restructurings, subcontracting, collective bargaining, employment litigation, immigration and compliance. At senior associate level, Paulina Rivera (‘a great professional’) focuses on labour and employment-related litigation, collective labour law issues and labour auditing, but Nicole Lüer left the firm in January 2023.Practice head(s):
Roberto Lewin
Testimonials
‘Responses are very quick and they know Chilean labour law very well.’
‘The BSVV labour law team is solid and constantly growing – it has a bright future.‘
‘They have acquired very good clients who give them a solid presence in the market.‘
‘Roberto Lewin is a great leader, and has impressive business and legal skills.‘
‘Senior associate Paulina Rivero is a great professional.‘
Key clients
Autocred
Cementerio Metropolitano
Glemflow Servicios
Phoenix Tower International Chile
Sika
DLL
Work highlights
- Advised Sika Chile on a collective bargaining with its largest union.
- Assisted Autocred with employment agreement issues.
- Advised Cementerio Metropolitano on a collective bargaining with one of its unions.
Chile > Public law Tier 4
Barros Silva Varela & Vigil’s eight-strong public law department regularly works alongside the firm’s real estate and energy and natural resources groups, particularly in relation to electricity regulations and urban matters. It is also increasingly active in public procurement work. The team is co-led by public and administrative law specialist Felipe Riesco, a former Undersecretary of the Ministry of the Environment; and Claudia Ferreiro, whose practice covers public sanctioning law, as well as administrative and electricity law. At senior associate level, José Ignacio Vial focuses on regulatory and environmental issues, including administrative and judicial proceedings; and Esteban Carmona acts in Constitutional Court cases and contentious administrative matters.Practice head(s):
Felipe Riesco; Claudia Ferreiro
Key clients
Allibera Solar
Fedir Chile
Inmobiliaria Ilumina
Mundo PacÃfico
Asociación Gremial de Loteadores Chile Rural
Municipalidad de Puerto Natales
AgrÃcola El Noviciado
Rucalhue EnergÃa
Work highlights
- Advised 16 senators of the Republic who sought to enact a law via the Constitutional Court, further to the President of the Republic’s non-compliance with his constitutional obligation to enact a National Congress-approved law within the term established by the Constitution.
- Advising Chile Rura Trade Association on its legal strategy before the Authorities, further to a change in how land plot regulations are interpreted.
- Advised Delibest on the terms and conditions for participation in tenders, preparation of bids, formalisation of awards, and challenges to sanctioning processes (arising from public procurement contracts).
Chile > Competition and antitrust
Energy and natural resources > Mining
Chile > Projects and infrastructure
Barros Silva Varela & Vigil > Firm Profile
Barros Silva Varela & Vigil represents a new generation of lawyers committed to providing services at the highest level. In the last ten years they have established themselves as a multi-service law firm, participating in the most relevant transactions and matters in the country They are a new generation of lawyers, with a renewed understanding of legal services and a fresh approach to the challenges of understanding legal services and addressing the challenges ahead.
Barros Silva Varela & Vigil seeks to support its clients in a comprehensive manner, offering them tailor-made legal strategies. The firm carefully selects the assignments that it undertakes in order to ensure the provision of an excellent service, that adapts to the clients’ deadlines and needs.
They are the fastest growing Chilean law firm in the last ten years.
Practice areas: Our practice areas are various and include specialization in corporate matters, mergers and acquisitions, natural resources, mining and energy, the environment, real estate, litigation and arbitration and labour and employment.
Main Contacts
Department | Name | Telephone | |
---|---|---|---|
Corporate Matters / M&A | Jorge Vigil | [email protected] | |
Mining / Tax / Natural Resources | Francisco Varela | [email protected] | |
Litigation and Arbitration / Finance | Fernando Barros | [email protected] | |
Real Estate | Jose Joaquin Silva | [email protected] | |
Labour and Employment | Roberto Lewin | [email protected] | |
Regulatory and Administative | Claudia Ferreiro | [email protected] | |
Enviromental | Felipe Riesco | [email protected] | |
Corporate Matters / M&A | Rodrigo de Alencar | [email protected] | |
Competition/Antitrust | José Manuel Bustamante | [email protected] | |
Tax Law | Pilar González | [email protected] |
Lawyer Profiles
Photo | Name | Position | Profile |
---|---|---|---|
Mr Sebastián Barros | Director of Corporate Law Practice | View Profile | |
Mr Fernando Barros Vial | Partner | View Profile | |
Mr Fernando Barros Vial | Partner | View Profile | |
Mr José Manuel Bustamante | José Manuel has a vast experience and recognition in the Chilean legal… | View Profile | |
Mr Esteban Carmona | Senior Associate | View Profile | |
Ms Josefina Castro | Senior Associate | View Profile | |
Ms Claudia Ferreiro | Partner | View Profile | |
Ms Pilar González | Partner | View Profile | |
Marcela Horzella | Senior Associate | View Profile | |
Mr Roberto Lewin | Partner | View Profile | |
Mr Felipe Riesco | Partner | View Profile | |
Ms Paulina Rivera | Senior Associate | View Profile | |
Mr José JoaquÃn Silva | Partner | View Profile | |
Mr Francisco Varela | Partner | View Profile | |
Mr José Ignacio Vial | José Ignacio is part of the Public, Regulatory and Environmental Law team… | View Profile | |
Mr Jorge Vigil | Partner | View Profile | |
Mr Rodrigo de Alencar | Partner | View Profile |