The six-member banking and finance team at Baker McKenzie Chile is consistently sought out by commercial, merchant and investment banks, as well as corporate users of credit. With ‘absolute availability, quick responses, and in-depth knowledge of local legislation’, the practice has notable expertise in structuring major financial transactions, while clients additionally benefit from the group’s ability to leverage the wider office's experience in regulatory and tax matters, as well as the firm's enviable global network. The practice group’s ’very available lawyers’ are also regularly involved in New York law-governed project and corporate financings. Recent mandates include acting for Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria, as administrative agent and lender, on the full amendment and restatement of a $238m loan to Financiera de Desarrollo Nacional. Specialised in banking regulatory work, derivatives and project financing, Sebastián Vivanco heads up the practice in conjunction with of counsel León Larrain and experienced partner Jaime Munro, both of whom handles banking and finance matters as part of broader practices. July 2023 saw the team further boosted at partner level with the promotion of banking and finance specialist Cristóbal Larrain, who is known for working with the firm’s New York team on corporate and project financings; at associate level, Jose Ignacio Berner handles acquisition finance, banking and finance, and loans and credit facilities, along with private M&A.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘Absolute availability, quick responses, and in-depth knowledge of local legislation.’
  • ‘Clients have a very good experience when working with this firm.’
  • ‘Very available lawyers with detailed and clear explanations.’
  • ‘Working with Sebastian Vivanco and Jose Ignacio Berner is a real pleasure.’

Key clients

  • Standard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong)
  • KBC Bank
  • ING Capital
  • BNP Paribas
  • Société Générale
  • Trafigura PTE
  • PNC Bank
  • China Development Bank
  • Biocartis NV
  • Grupo Security
  • Bitazza, Nium
  • Payoneer
  • PagoNxt
  • PayPal
  • Tadition
  • Mercer
  • Barclays Bank
  • Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria
  • Grupo Vía Central
  • Capstone Copper
  • Natixis
  • Siemens Financial Services
  • MEP Capital Holdings III
  • Aluna Partners

Work highlights

  • Advised Sociéte Generale on the restructuring of a $71m term facility loan entered into by Scania Suministradora de Flota Uno (as borrower) and Sociéte Generale and ING Capital (as lenders), to finance the purchase of buses for the Santiago Public Transportation System.
  • Advised Société Générale, as lender, ona $24.8m refinancing between SUBUS Chile (as lessee) and Arrendamiento Mercantil (as lessor) of 85 Volvo buses.
  • Advised Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria, as administrative agent and lender, on the full amendment and restatement of a $238m loan to Financiera de Desarrollo Nacional.

Lawyers

Leading associates
Leading associates with regular involvement in their team's key work, and recognition from peers or clients as being ones to watch.
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Next Generation Partners
Junior partners with significant recognition from clients and peers in the market and key roles on multiple matters.

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Sebastián Vivanco, Jaime Munro