Morales & Besa's July 2025 hire of Daniel Weinstein as the new head of the mining practice sees him return to the firm after more than a decade, in which time he has accrued extensive in house and public sector experience – including as legal manager at BHP and a stint at the Ministerio de Minería which culminated with his election as President of the Civil Society Council of said ministry in 2024. He joins a small practice group that nevertheless has experience throughout the entire mining project life cycle, from prospecting and property acquisition through to the development of exploration and exploitation projects; project finance, development and operation; and royalties and streaming agreements. The advisory capacity also includes all relevant corporate, labour, tax and environmental aspects. Weinstein is supported by senior associate Catalina Troncoso, a member of the Compliance Committee of Women in Mining, whose practice focuses on regulatory, energy and natural resources matters. Former practice head Aldo Cardinali departed the firm in May 2024 for an in-house role.
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Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- 'Daniel Weinstein is the best mining lawyer in Chile for strategic matters. He has a unique commercial and legal approach that, combined with his experience in several countries, he makes available to clients, helping them not only resolve legal issues but also make better decisions. He has a strategic vision that other lawyers in Chile lack.'
- 'Daniel Weinstein, who in my opinion is one of the best lawyers in practice today, has solid knowledge of the mining industry, mining business, permittiming, and public policy, something very difficult to find in a single person.'
- 'The main added value provided by Daniel Weinstein lies in his deep knowledge and vast experience in the field, which allows him to anticipate client needs and act with precision and efficiency.'
- 'We work with Daniel, and his services are always very on-point and efficient. He also brought valuable sector contacts that help our business.'
- 'Daniel is an experienced lawyer and negotiator. I know him from his previous jobs and he was always professional and thoughtful. We working with other law firms but for mining we prefer Daniel.'
- 'We usually work with Daniel Weinstein. As our main focus is mining, and regulatory matters, Mr. Weinstein's background and expertise is hugely valuable, and adds instant value to our business operations.'
Key clients
- SLB (Schlumberger)
- EnergyX
- Ptolemy Mining
- Bechtel
- CMC Lithium
- Metco Suisse
- Fitzroy Minerals
- Monumental Energy
- Greenfield Exporation
- Small Mining National Association
- Soldesp
- Imerys
Lawyers
Next Generation Partners
Junior partners with significant recognition from clients and peers in the market and key roles on multiple matters.
Practice head
Daniel Weinstein