Legal market powerhouse Claro & Cia. fields a sizeable reorganisation and insolvency team that covers the gamut of insolvency matters and is consistently sought out for high-level restructuring work (both domestically and internationally). In what probably constitutes the most high profile matter of recent years, the team is currently co-lead advisor (in conjunction with Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton) on the multibillion-dollar bankruptcy and restructuring process of LATAM Airlines, the first Chapter 11 proceedings of a public company in Chile. More typically, representative work includes advising company clients on the restructuring and rescheduling of their liabilities, along with negotiating payment and creditor agreements, and assisting creditors with insolvency proceedings and reorganisation agreements. Department head Nicolás Luco is a civil and commercial litigation and arbitration specialist; M&A leader José María Eyzaguirre B is notably active in major restructurings; and Rodrigo OchagavíaCristóbal Eyzaguirre and Santiago Bravo all assist with reorganisation and insolvency matters. Also integral to the department are cross-border expert Felipe Larraín; José Miguel Huerta, whose wide-ranging practice covers bankruptcy work; and bankruptcy and restructuring specialist José María Eyzaguirre F. Raised to the partnership in January 2022, Álvaro Vives is also active in the sector.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • 'Claro is the leading firm in bankruptcy and restructuring matters in Chile. They are exceptional in their sophistication and experience in complex restructuring cases.'
  • 'The Claro firm has a deeper bench and highly experienced lawyers, who are on top of the latest legal developments. Jose Maria Eyzaguirre is the senior statesman in Chilean restructuring. He is savvy and creative, and clients look to him as a trusted advisor. Nicolas Luco is excellent. His calm demeanor, sophisticated thinking and commercial solutions make him a delight to work with.'

Key clients

  • LATAM Airlines Group
  • Euroamérica
  • AES Andes
  • Citigroup Latinoamérica
  • Banco Itaú Corpbanca
  • Samsung

Work highlights

  • Represents LATAM Airlines in the reorganisation of its business globally (under Chapter 11 of the US Bankruptcy Code), as well as ancillary proceedings and related matters in every country where its reorganisation will be enforced (including Chile).
  • Advised Euroamérica, the largest non-secured creditor of Enjoy, on restructuring a negotiation agreement.
  • Acted as main Chilean counsel to AES and Alto Maipo in the voluntary petition for relief under Chapter 11 of the US Bankruptcy Code (filed by Alto Maipo before the US Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware).

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Nicolás Luco