Carey

Carey is a leading firm in the Chilean environmental law landscape, known for advising high-profile clients from industries including technology, investment management, renewable energy, and real estate on complex regulatory, permitting and litigation matters. The practice group houses deep expertise in conducting environmental impact assessments, waste management strategies, emissions control and indigenous consultations, frequently advising some of the country’s biggest mining companies on the development of their projects. The team also advises clients on compliance with evolving environmental legislation, including defending against fines and license revocations. Recent significant mandates include the team’s representation of major Chilean fishing company Nova Austral in five separate environmental litigation cases before the Supreme Court, including the annulment of the most severe sanctions ever imposed by the Superintendency of the Environment (SMA). With former practice head Rafael Vergara Gutiérrez increasingly stepping back, leadership of the practice has passed to Manuel José Barros and Julio Recordon – both partners since 2022. Barros specialises in indigenous law and territorial planning matters, and also represents the Chilean government at the Commission for Environmental Cooperation between Chile and Canada; while Recordon focuses on the environmental aspects of project development and planning, with specific expertise working on regulatory issues and resolving administrative and contentious environmental litigation. A young associate team includes Pablo Fernández S, Josefina Iglesias (who has just completed her LLM in environmental law), and Joaquín Granados.