DLA Piper Chile's ‘very complete team’ advises on the full range of venture capital work, including financing rounds, corporate ventures, exits, employee benefit plans, and international expansions. The Santiago office’s recent workload includes advising early and growth-stage investment company Fen Ventures on a series of investments; and assisting Chilean chemical company SQM on the incorporation of its corporate venture capital arm. The seven-strong practice, which is notably active in relation to technology companies, is co-led by office managing partner Matías Zegers, who ’stands out for his knowledge of venture capital’; and Jorge Timmermann, who also serves as the firm’s LatAm emerging growth and venture capital co-head. Zegers routinely advises on complex venture capital funding issues; and Timmermann’s experience includes assisting venture capital firms and entrepreneurs with establishing investment funds and start-up vehicles, and applying for state-driven funding opportunities. In the firm’s associate group, José Ignacio Marín advises companies on financing rounds, as well as the expansion and internationalisation of businesses; and Vicente Sáenz de Santa María assists companies and investors with financings through equity and debt instruments; Pilar Ay, a company and investor-side venture and debt financing expert, is currently on secondment at the firm’s Palo Alto (US) office.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘A very complete team, they have the support of various areas of the office, which is essential to be able to assist with all clients’ needs.’
  • ‘The team is very involved in what clients do and understands their businesses very well, which allows them to deliver very ad hoc solutions.’
  • ‘A very connected team that is capable of providing clients with key connections for the development of their companies.’
  • ‘Lawyers who, in addition to being highly qualified, have a reputation that corresponds to their skills.’
  • ‘Great availability and commitment. They treat clients like any of their other clients, even when they are just starting up.’
  • ‘An accessible team that is always available.’
  • ‘They seek to make clients’ businesses work better and billing is a good balance between quality and price.’
  • ‘Matías Zegers stands out for his knowledge of venture capital and experience in different deals in which he has participated; and José Ignacio Marín stands out for his capacity for work and almost immediate responses.’

Key clients

  • Fen Ventures III Fund LP
  • SQM
  • Fondo de Inversión Privado Vulcano
  • Instacrops
  • SQM Industrial
  • Ramón Eluchans (Grupo Security)
  • Adah
  • The Bridge Social
  • Capitalizarme
  • Vicacorp
  • Pawer
  • Checkeados
  • Wareclouds

Work highlights

  • Advised SQM on an equity investment in Altilium Metals.
  • Advising Fen Ventures, an early and growth-stage investment company focused on tech start-ups, on its ongoing investments.
  • Advising Fondo de Inversión Público Vulcano, an impact investment venture capital firm that focuses on tech start-ups in scaling and global expansion phases, on its ongoing investment transactions.

Lawyers

Hall of Fame
The lawyers at the very top of the profession, widely known and respected by peers and clients for their longstanding involvement in market-leading work.
Leading associates
Leading associates with regular involvement in their team's key work, and recognition from peers or clients as being ones to watch.
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.

Matías Zegers, Jorge Timmermann