For certain clients, Carey's sizeable infrastructure and project development team is ‘undoubtedly the market leader in this practice area’. The group has extensive experience in the development, financing and execution of projects involving energy infrastructure (thermoelectric, hydroelectric, hydrocarbons, wind, photovoltaic and biomass). It also fields specialists in mining, roadways, hospitals, telecoms networks, and ports and airports, as well as concessions, and housing and hospitality services. Recent highlights include advising Aguas Pacifico on the contractual strategy and preparation of tender documents for a desalination plant. The practice group houses various experienced partners, namely: Rafael Vergara, an adviser on mining transactions in Chile; Oscar Aitken, who co-heads the firm’s construction and engineering group alongside ’leading partner for infrastructure projects’, Juan Pablo Stitchkin; and Juan Francisco Mackenna and José Miguel Bustamante, who both advise on a range of energy and infrastructure projects. The practice further includes water rights specialist Alberto Cardemil; project finance practitioners Felipe Moro and Fernando Noriega; and José Tomás Hurley, who focuses on the development of projects involving energy and related infrastructure. The senior associate to note, Juan Pablo Vukasovic, advises on power plants, infrastructure, engineering and construction projects, and mining and fish farming complexes, as well as road, hospital and port infrastructure.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘The Carey team is undoubtedly the market leader in this practice area.’

  • ‘Partners with extensive experience and knowledge of the market, which allows them to advise their clients like few others.’

  • ‘Extensive knowledge of the execution of projects - great agility and pragmatism applied by the team's professionals.’

  • ‘The availability of the entire team, including the partners leading the processes, is always exceptional, which in practice effectively translates into being available 24/7.’

  • ‘When challenges arise to solve various problems, there is always an expert partner who can support clients while providing certainty and solutions. Carey is a firm that seeks to achieve consensus between the parties. In this way, it is not only defending the client's position, but also putting oneself in the counterpart's shoes and creatively finding solutions that serve the client.’

  • ‘Carey’s lawyers stand out for their proactivity and perseverance, and for always being flexible and accommodating to their clients' requirements.’

  • ‘Juan Pablo Stitchkin is a leading partner for infrastructure projects, especially in the world of desalination plants.’

  • ‘Juan Pablo Stitchkin has a very high level of commitment to the client and seeks the best for the client from a contractual and legal point of view.’

Key clients

  • DNB Bank Asa
  • ISA (Interconexión Eléctrica)
  • Alfanar Energía
  • Lima Airport Partners
  • Aguas Pacífico
  • Minera Centinela (Antofagasta Minerals)
  • Minera Pelambres (Antofagasta Minerals)
  • Compañía Minera Arqueros
  • Toyo Engineering Corporation
  • Cermaq Chile
  • HIF Chile
  • Capstone
  • Strabag
  • Windin Capital
  • Codelco

Work highlights

  • Assisting Antofagasta Minerals with the preparation and negotiation of contracts, as well as the project management of several work packages for the development of the expansion of the Centinela project.
  • Advising Aguas Pacifico (Patria Investments) on the contractual strategy and preparation of tender documents and contracts for a new desalination plant.
  • Assisted Codelco with the preparation and negotiation of a new desalination plant under a BOOT structure to serve the water requirements of Codelco’s mines in the northern part of Chile.

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.

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Rafael Vergara, Óscar Aitken, Juan Francisco Mackenna, Alberto Cardemil, Felipe Moro, José Miguel Bustamante, Juan Pablo Stitchkin, Fernando Noriega, José Tomás Hurley