Profile
We are a young and dynamic Law Firm composed of lawyers with great experience and skill in their respective areas. We specialize in business law, and essentially provide legal services to companies. We are able to service with excellence the diverse legal needs of domestic companies inside and outside Chile, and to foreign companies with interests in Chile.
Mission
To identify the real legal needs of clients, and provide the service that each client specifically requires at a reasonable cost and in a reasonable amount of time. We believe that quality work demands proximity and a special trusting relationship with the client, as well as specific knowledge of their line of business. We want to implement a work-style of excellence that is more personalized and less bureaucratic in order for our clients to feel privileged to have us as their attorneys. For our Law Firm, all clients are equally important.
Work Style
We are available to our clients 100% of the time and work with enthusiasm and dedication. Nevertheless, we believe in working to live and not living to work. We believe in having a limited number of good clients and offering them excellent service.
We are absolutely against bureaucracy and wasting time. We are exclusively dedicated to practicing law. We do not sell commodity-style legal services. We do not compete on the basis of price, but rather with our fast, customized, quality service.
Industries and areas
We provide our services to companies in all types of areas and lines of business, but we are especially experienced in the following areas:
- Banks and Investment Funds
- Casinos and Gaming
- Construction
- International Commerce
- Education
- Food Industry
- Pharmaceutical Industry
- NGOs, Foundations and Corporations
- Services
- Television, Media and Show Business
- Vineyards
- Internet
- Telephony
- Telecommunications
Pro Bono
Pro Bono work is essential for the development of our law firm, since to help individuals, small enterprises and nonprofit institutions that cannot afford legal advice motivates us and gives more meaning to our work, contributing to the development of people and our country. We try to select cases and processes that allow us to depart from our day-to-day work and learn new things. In Chirgwin Recart, Pro Bono work has the same priority in respect of commitment of time and effort as paid work.
Contact
Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Where to find us
Our offices are located in the heart of the financial district of Santiago de Chile, at the top floor of the World Trade Center building.
Email: info@c-r.cl
Tel: (56 2) 429 0850
Fax: (56 2) 429 0860
Chirgwin Recart Abogados
Av. Nueva Tajamar 481, 21st floor
Torre Sur Edificio WTC,
Las Condes, Santiago, Chile.
Andrés Chirgwin
Partner
Spanish - English - Portuguese.
Profile and experience
Andrés has focused mainly on local and international commercial law, particularly on corporate and contractual law, mergers and acquisitions, and foreign investment, providing legal advice to local and foreign companies of various fields, structures and sizes. Among other matters, he specializes in the legal design and implementation of businesses and transactions, including restructuring of corporate groups and the negotiation of joint ventures and shareholders agreements. He has also conducted due diligence processes and participated in the negotiation and implementation of several acquisition processes.
Andrés has also successfully litigated in commercial, civil and competition law and in complex matters of diverse topics, having also been an expert in Chilean contractual law before the London Court of International Arbitration.
History
• Senior Associate Counsel - Alvarez, Hinzpeter, Jana Abogados, 2003-2004 / 2006-2009.
• International Associate Counsel - Souza, Cescon, Barrieu e Flesch - São Paulo, Brazil, 2005.
• Associate Counsel - Toro y Cia., 2000-2003.
Studies and other background
• Attorney at Law, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, 1999.
• Diploma in Remedy for Protection, Universidad Diego Portales, 2002.
• Master in International Business Law (LLM), University of Durham, UK, 2005.
• Member of the Chilean Bar Association and member, ex-fellow and consultant to the International Bar Association (IBA).
• Chairman of Legal Committee of the Chilean-British Chamber of Commerce of Chile.
• Regular contributor to the World Bank.
Juan Cristóbal Recart
Partner
Spanish - English.
Profile and experience
Juan Cristóbal is a lawyer with a thorough knowledge of tax law. He has great capacity for teamwork, as well as creativity, perspective and a highly developed legal criterion. Juan Cristóbal provides advisory assistance to local and foreign companies in the field of tax law and general corporate law, emphasizing mainly the permanent tax advice in important and complex issues of his specialty.
History
• Lawyer-Consultant, Estudio Cruz y Compañía Abogados, 2009-2010.
• Head Lawyer of the Tax Department - Alvarez, Hinzpeter, Jana Abogados, 2007 - 2009.
• Associate Lawyer - Carey y Compañía Abogados, 2006-2007.
• Associate Lawyer - Bascuñán Allende Abogados, 2005-2006.
• Senior Lawyer of the Tax and Legal Department - Ernst & Young Chile, 2004 - 2005.
• Associate Lawyer - Montt y Compañía Abogados, 1998-2004.
• Member of the Chilean Bar Association, the International Fiscal Association (IFA Chile) and the Chilean Institute of Taxation.
Studies and Academic Activities
• School of Law, Universidad de los Andes, graduated in 2002.
• Post Degree in Tax Law and Master in Tax Management and Planning, Faculty of Economics, Universidad de Santiago de Chile, 2003 and 2004.
• Chair Professor of Tax Law - Universidad Andrés Bello, 2004 - 2007 and Universidad de los Andes, 2011.
Claudia Paz Escobar
Associate
Spanish - English.
Profile
Claudia Paz graduated with the highest distinction, which adds to other accolades earned for her academic and practical performance throughout her life.
An always outstanding student and advocate, of investigative spirit, she characterizes for being proactive, diligent and methodical, and for having a broad sense of social justice.
Claudia Paz specializes in the areas of National and International Corporate, Litigation, Labor and Pro Bono.
Studies and Experience
• Associate Lawyer, Chirgwin Recart, since 2010.
• Bachelor of Law and Social Sciences - School of Law, Universidad de Chile, 2008.
• Judicial Clinic of Universidad of Chile conducted by the Minister of the Supreme Court, Mr Héctor Carreño, assistantship in charge of Judge Rodrigo Carrasco Meza, 10th Guarantee Court, 2007.
Academic Activities
• Assistant to Professor Juan Feliú in the subject Study of Title Deeds, School of Law, University of Chile, 2006.
Federico McKay
Partner
Spanish - English.
Profile
Federico is a highly experienced lawyer, who in his years of practice has excelled in the areas of Mining Law, Civil Law and Tax Law. He is characterized by being extremely meticulous, orderly and proactive, capable of in-depth legal analysis, resulting in a rigorous and assertive work. His professional and academic excellence makes him an important part of Chirgwin Recart.
Studies
• Post-degree in Tax Law, Faculty of Law, Universidad de los Andes, 2008.
• Lawyer, graduated from Universidad de Chile, 1992.
Experience
• Law Firm Pérez de Arce, De La Fuente, Salazar y Cia., now Allende Bascuñán & Cia. Ltda., 2003-2010.
• Academic Secretary, Faculty of Law, Universidad de los Andes, 1993-1996.
Academic Activities
• Professor of Civil Law I through IV, Faculty of Law, Universidad de los Andes, 1996, 2003-2007.
Publications
• "Entrepreneur’s Liability” (editor), Extension Booklet, n. 1, Faculty of Law, Universidad de los Andes, 1997.
Alejandra Guerra
Associate
Spanish - English.
Profile and experience
Alejandra is a graduate of law from the Universidad of Chile, where she passed with distinction. Her early interest in corporate and international matters led her to work while studying, which has meant that at her young age she already has a significant labor and academic experience, particularly in the field of free competition and civil law.
Alejandra is characterized by being dedicated and organized in her work, having also an academic and investigative profile.
Studies and Experience
• Associate Attorney-in-fact, Chirgwin Recart, since 2010.
• Corporate and judicial Attorney-in-fact, Carey y Cia., 2007-2008.
• Graduated from the School of Law, Universidad de Chile, passed with distinction, 2009.
Academic Activities
• Assistant, Chair of Civil Law I, Professor Joaquin Polit Corvalán. Faculty of Law, Universidad de Chile, second semester 2010.
• First Student Congress of Law and Constitutional Theory, organized by the Center for Law Students, Universidad de Chile, August 2005.
Nicolás Maturana
Associate
Spanish - English.
Profile
Nicolás was a student of academic excellence, which earned him several awards and scholarships throughout his academic history, including award for best student of his class both in Civil Law and in Labor and Social Security Law.
Nicolás is also a prominent triathlete, a discipline that has taught him to be methodical, persevering and industrious, features that have quickly led him to become an important part of our team.
Studies
• Attorney-in-fact, graduated from Universidad de los Andes, 2010, with grade 7.0.
• Universidad de los Andes School of Law, 2005 - 2009.
Academic Activities
• Support in systematization of texts and quotes from the book The Primacy of the Individual (La Primacía de la Persona). Studies in Tribute to Professor Eduardo Soto Kloss, coordinated by Professors Jaime Arancibia Mattar and Jose Ignacio Martinez Estay.
• Assistant to Professor Luis Alejandro Silva Irarrázaval in Fundamentals of Positive Law, Universidad de los Andes, 2006 - 2007.
Rodrigo Salamanca
Associate
Spanish-English.
Profile
Rodrigo is a responsible, judicious and proactive lawyer, committed to his work. Constantly seeking to improve and offer customers the best possible service, Rodrigo is permanently training in the areas of his specialty.
Rodrigo has been in charge of corporate consulting, implementation of tax planning, real estate projects, as well as civil and commercial contracts. For his excellent work performance and human qualities he has become a mainstay in Chirgwin Recart.
History
• Associate Lawyer, Chirgwin Recart, since 2010.
• Associate Lawyer, Cruz & Cia. Abogados, 2009-2010.
• Professional practice carried out in the Judicial Assistance Corporation, Bureau La Florida, 2008, approved with grade 6.7.
• Judicial Attorney-in-fact, Roman y Salamanca Abogados Asociados, 2004-2006.
Studies
• Diploma in Customs Law issued by Universidad Finis Terrae, 2010.
• Graduated from Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, majoring in Public Law, 2006. Lawyer degree, 2009.
Jana Moreira
Brazilian Desk Collaborator
Portuguese - Spanish - English.
Profile
Jana is a Brazilian lawyer. She currently lives in Chile, where she has joined Chirgwin Recart Abogados as permanent member of her Brazilian Desk, strengthening our ability to provide an even more personalized service to our Brazilian clients.
She has several years of experience in advising internal and external clients in the various places where she has worked. Perfectionist, she values efficiency in communication so that she is always willing to listen to the clients and work to make that our communication with them is as clear and efficient as possible.
Studies
• Post Degree in Public Law at the JusPodivm, 2008.
• Law Degree - Faculdade de Direito da Universidade Católica do Salvador, 2005.
Professional Experience
• Analyst in Purchase, Bid and Management Contracts of the Caixa Econômica Federal – Brazil, 2007 – 2010.
• Professional practice in TRANSALVADOR, 2004 – 2005.
• Professional practice in Serviço de Orientação e Assistência Judiciária - SOAJ - OAB / BA. 2002-2003.
• Professional practice with Fernando Neves Advogados Associados, 2001-2002.
Enrique Toledo
Of Counsel
Spanish - English - Portuguese.
Profile and experience
Enrique is focused exclusively on labor law matters, being a very organized, studious and prepared lawyer. Enrique has developed his professional practice in areas such as the preventive labor law and social security law counseling to companies, and the judicial defense in labor disputes of various types. Additionally, he has conducted collective bargaining processes for major domestic and foreign companies, and participated in the handling of labor crisis involving public disorders, among other subjects.
History
• Associate Lawyer, subsequently Head of the Labor Department, Alvarez, Hinzpeter, Jana Abogados, 2005-2009.
Studies and Academic Activities
• Lawyer, graduated from Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, 2003.
• Diploma in Subcontracting, Transitory Services and New Labor Procedure, Universidad de Chile, obtaining the second best grade in the final examination, 2008.
• Professor of Labor Law and Social Security, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, 2009.
• Professor of Labor Law for the career of Legal Technician, DuocUC, 2009.
Further Information
• Member of the Chilean Labor Law Society.
Alfredo Larreta
Partner
Spanish - English - Portuguese.
Profile and experience
Alfredo specializes in financial and international matters, participating as a litigant on behalf of the State of Chile in processes of great national and international importance. Alfredo served as chief of the Money Laundering Control Division of the State Defense Council. He has also participated as legal counsel for various national and foreign companies in litigations of civil, contractual and extra-contractual liability filed before courts of justice and arbitral tribunals, both domestic and foreign. Alfredo has also a vast experience litigating before the U.S. Federal Courts.
History
• Lawyer – State Defense Council, 2003 - 2010.
• Associate Lawyer –Alvarez, Hinzpeter, Jana Abogados, 2006 - 2008.
• Head Corporate Counsel, Socofar (Cruz Verde Pharmacies), 2010 - 2011.
Studies and Academic Activities
• Lawyer, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile, 1993.
• Master of Laws in Finance (LL.M.), Master of Laws in the Financial Markets. Distinction: Outstanding grade. Pontificia Universidad Comillas de Madrid – ICADE, Madrid – Spain, 2001.
• Chair Professor of Commercial Law, Universidad Mayor, since 2008.
• Chair Professor of State and Financial Regulations, Universidad Alberto Hurtado, 2009.
• Chile’s Judicial Academy speaker on matters of Corporate Fraud and Money Laundering.
International and Local Corporate
Our law firm specializes in providing a flexible and dynamic consulting service in all areas of corporate law, having been involved as key players in successful acquisition and merger deals, among other processes. We provide corporate services covering all areas of business law. Our practice is truly global, and we have significant expertise in matters involving multiple jurisdictions. We also provide a proactive and comprehensive service assisting clients deal with their day-to-day general corporate legal needs.
Compliance
Companies are exposed to legal, regulatory and reputational risks. Moreover, globalization of business demands the implementation of effective mechanisms to prevent money laundering and fraud. In this regard, staff training and implementing adequate corporate policies translate into savings for the companies. Our Compliance division helps companies to achieve these savings and prevent legal liabilities, including especially the recently established criminal liability of legal persons.
Tax
Our tax area works closely with other specialist areas of our firm to provide comprehensive and specific tax law advice. In Chirgwin Recart we are prepared to meet the needs of domestic and foreign firms in all their tax requirements, including the proper application of double taxation treaties signed by Chile with other countries. Our office has extensive experience in the tax design of corporate structures in both the national and international scopes, as well as in the defense of taxpayers before all administrative and judicial bodies.
Labor
Mindful of the frequent changes in labor law, in Chirgwin Recart we have developed an area specialized in labor matters, which in a fast, efficient and straightforward way is able to meet the needs of our clients in all types of labor conflicts which may arise in their firms. However, our preferred approach is to prevent and limit the companies' labor contingencies. Our specialists have extensive experience in the review and drafting of contracts and other labor instruments, handle successfully actions under labor laws, and participate actively in collective bargaining processes.
Litigation
Our litigation experience covers all areas of law in which a company can be involved. In Chirgwin Recart we work to design the most appropriate strategy to resolve conflicts in which our clients may become involved and thus ensure the defense of their interests in the most appropriate and ethical way. We also provide advice on alternative resolution of disputes, including, in particular, domestic and international arbitration processes.
Competition
Being the Chilean market so concentrated, to comply with the rules on free competition and unfair competition and to seek that competitors also do it, are strategic elements in the life of any business. We provide permanent competition law advisory assistance to companies, in matters such as the analysis of corporate structures and business policies and the terms and execution of contracts. Our firm also participates actively in both contentious and non-contentious processes involving free competition and unfair competition.
Mining
In Chirgwin Recart we advise our clients on the development and operation of all types of mining projects of national or foreign capital, providing the necessary legal support either to start from scratch a new project in the country by handling petitions of mining concessions or by acquiring pre-existing concessions. We also provide assistance to negotiate and draft all types of contracts aimed at the exploitation of mineral deposits in association with local or foreign mine owners.
Civil
Civil law is the backbone of the whole Chilean legal system. In our law firm, such backbone is very solid, because our lawyers have an outstanding professional and academic experience in the area, and are authors of several publications on civil law. In this area, we draft and review all types of sophisticated contracts, and constantly issue legal opinions on topics, matters and complex disputes in the scope of the civil law.
Brazilian Area
We have staff specially dedicated to serving the needs of Brazilian companies developing business in Chile, including Brazilian professionals and Chilean lawyers who have worked in Brazil. The training and experience, as well as the knowledge and relational, cultural and linguistic capacity of the lawyers forming part of this area allow us to provide an outstanding service to our Brazilian neighbors.
International Institutional Advisory Assistance
Our law firm has an active international participation as institutional advisors. We are required and provide regular advisory assistance to several international institutions such as the World Bank and the International Bar Association (IBA), evaluating of the rule of law in Chile, assisting in analysis workshops, and collaborating with articles and reports for their publications in various areas of business law.