Environment

Moreno Sáez & Avilés

‘Very up to date with what is happening in environmental regulation’, Moreno Sáez & Avilés' 18-strong team covers environmental assessments, environmental sanctioning procedures and environmental litigation. Focused exclusively on environmental law, the boutique firm is consistently sought out by clients from the mining, energy, infrastructure, salmon, real estate, waste management and oil-and-gas industries. The group is co-led by José Adolfo Moreno, who advises on mining, infrastructure and energy projects; environmental permitting expert Andrés Sáez, whose recent experience includes litigation before Chile’s Environmental Tribunals, Courts of Appeal and the Supreme Court; and Sebastián Avilés, who is ’an outstanding lawyer, who really gets involved in cases and provides innovative solutions’. In the firm’s director group, Teresita Chubretovic assists with the public and regulatory law aspects of environmental matters; Paula Gajardo Matthews advises on environmental assessments, citizen participation issues and community relations; Luis Orellana focuses on environmental and administrative law, as well as fishery and aquaculture regulation; Magdalena Prieto Pradenas is an experienced environmental and administrative law practitioner; Paulina Rivera Muñoz maintains a broad environmental law practice; and Doris Sepúlveda Solar has ‘great technical and analytical ability’. In a notable development, Emanuel Ibarra , a specialist in enforcement and sanctioning matters, was hired from the Environmental Superintendence (where he led the judicial team) in August 2023.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

‘The team is well led and maintains direct relationships with clients, with partners always being on the front line and super accessible. Interactions are very productive and efficient and with quick responses.’
‘Great experience and judgment, based on their professional careers at the State administration, as well as their rigorous study of regulations and jurisprudence.’
‘They stay very up to date with what is happening in environmental regulation. High ethical standards and focused on success and the fulfilment of clients’ objectives.’
‘Flexibility regarding the payment format for the services it provides, adapting to clients’ requirements and needs. The team has the characteristic of being young but with a lot of experience in various scenarios, from public service to the judiciary, which is why its vision is fresh, innovative and broad.
‘Sebastián Avilés without a doubt stands out for his judgement and assertiveness in the issues he is entrusted with solving. An outstanding lawyer, who really gets involved in cases and provides innovative solutions. ’
‘José Adolfo Moreno has extensive experience in public law and environmental matters. Emanuel Ibarra also has a lot of experience in this area.’
‘Doris Sepúlveda Solar - great technical and analytical ability that permeates the documents she writes.’
‘Andrés Sáez and Magdalena Prieto provide a first-class service that is very focused on companies’ requirements and feasible solutions that are oriented towards clients’ businesses.’

Key clients

AES Andes
Generadora Metropolitana
Albemarle Corporation
Copec
HIF Global
Compañía Minera Doña Inés de Collahuasi
Colbún
Empresa Portuaria Valparaíso
CAP
Celulosa Arauco y Constitución
Abastible
Molibdenos y Metales
Antofagasta Minerals
Agrosuper
BHP Billiton
Salmones Camanchaca
Inmobiliaria Universa
ENEA Ciudad Aeropuerto
Interchile
Empresas Ariztía
Los Andes Copper
Inmobiliaria Crillón
Ultramar Holding

Work highlights

Assisted AES Andes with obtaining permits for its portfolio transformation from coal thermoelectric energy to renewable energy, as well as its defence of several sanctioning procedures and judicial actions.
Advised HIF Global on the strategic design of the permitting procedure for all stages of a green hydrogen project in Chile.
Assisted Inmobiliaria Crillón, (further to a judicial defeat in the Supreme Court) with complying with the sentence and preparing a new permit submission.