Cristóbal Villarino H.

Cristóbal Villarino is a founding partner of VEI.

Cristóbal permanently advises national and foreign clients on M&A transactions, whether in the form of takeovers through public offerings of shares acquisition, minority stakes, and sale of companies or packages of assets. Cristóbal’s M&A experience has shown vital in operations in industries such as insurance, pensions, banking, electric transmission, and retail. He also has great experience in the acquisition and development of real estate projects for commercial development, housing, and equipment. Additionally, he has participated in numerous processes of public and private concessions, project financing, and construction contracts, while also advising clients on energy matters, mainly related to electric transmission.

Cristóbal Villarino has been recognized by different international publications such as Chambers & Partners, Legal500, and Best Lawyers as an outstanding lawyer in the areas of Real Estate, M&A, Corporate Law, and Project Finance.

He was a member of Prieto Abogados for over 15 years, being a partner for the last 5 years. As a partner, he led the M&A and Real Estate practice. Also, he worked as a foreign lawyer at Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP, New York, from 2009 to 2010.

He holds a law degree from Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile and a Master of Laws (LL.M.) degree from Northwestern University, Chicago, IL., in 2009, where he was a scholarship recipient.

He is a professor of Commercial Law at the Universidad de Los Andes since 2011.

Languages: Spanish and English.

Juan Andrés Ilharreborde C.

Juan Andrés Ilharreborde is a founding partner of VEI.

He specializes in commercial matters and M&A, advising both sellers and buyers in takeovers transactions, including bidding processes and public or private takeover bids, acquisition of minority shareholdings stakes, sales of assets or other types of partnerships, such as mergers and joint ventures, as well as private equity and venture capital transactions. On corporate matters, he has extensive experience advising companies on all aspects of their businesses, corporate governance, and relations with counterparties, in industries such as investment, insurance, pensions, energy, family business, agriculture, and fintech among others.

He was an associate at Prieto Abogados for 10 years, where he was part of the Corporate and M&A team. From 2014 to 2015 he worked as a foreign lawyer at Dechert LLP, New York, in the Corporate and Securities team.

From 2017 to 2019, he served as General Counsel for Inversiones La Construcción S.A. (ILC), the investment holding of the Cámara Chilena de la Construcción, with active presence in the financial and health sectors through companies such as AFP Habitat, Compañía de Seguros Confuturo, Banco Internacional, Isapre Consalud, Empresas Red Salud, and Compañía de Seguros Vida Cámara.

He holds a law degree from Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, earning his law degree summa cum laude in 2008. In 2013 he obtained the Beca Chile scholarship to pursue a Master of Laws (LL.M.) at Columbia University, from which he graduated with honors in 2014, receiving the distinction “Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar”.

He is a professor of Commercial Law at the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile.

Languages: Spanish and English.

Trinidad Rojas O.

Trinidad Rojas is a senior associate at VEI.

She specializes in commercial matters, project finance, M&A transactions, as well as private equity and venture capital transactions. In corporate matters, she has extensive experience advising companies in all aspects of their business, corporate governance, client relationships and counterparties, in a diverse variety of industries, such as investments, banking, family businesses, fintech, among others.

In the financial area, she has represented creditors, investors and debtors in banking and financial transactions of all types, bilateral or syndicated loans, with or without securities, liability management, project finance and public and private equity and debt placements, both locally and internationally.

Previously, she was an associate at Claro y Cía. for more than 6 years, where she was part of the Corporate and Financial team.

She is a lawyer from Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, from where she graduated magna cum laude in 2014. At the same University she was assistant teacher of the Natural Law and Procedural Law courses.

Languages: Castellano and English.

Camila Urzúa S.

Camila Urzúa Schwalm is a senior associate at VEI.

Her practice mainly focuses on corporate and real estate matters, including advising companies in all matters related to their business, activities and corporate governance, in different industries such as investment, real estate, construction, agriculture, banking, family businesses, among others, participating in mergers and acquisitions, bidding processes and public offerings of shares acquisition, sales of assets and other types of partnerships. In real estate matters, she has extensive experience in the acquisition and development of real estate projects, including matters related to subdivisions and mergers, title reviews, sale-purchase agreements, leases, easements, among others, as well as in matters related to construction contracts, co-ownership and urban planning.

She was an associate at Prieto Abogados for 10 years, where she was part of the Corporate and Real Estate team.

She is a lawyer from the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, from where she graduated with two votes of distinction in 2010.

In 2015 she earned a Diploma in Real Estate´s Law at the Universidad de Los Andes.

Languages: Castellano, English and German.

Gabriel Valdés P.

Gabriel is a senior associate of VEI since May 2023. He specializes in commercial matters and M&A transactions. He also has vast experience in corporate matters, counseling both domestic and foreign clients in every aspect of their business, corporate governance, client and counterparty relations, in a diverse range of industries, such as family businesses, salmon farming, agriculture, energy companies, among others.

In real estate law, he has experience in the financing, acquisition and development of both real estate and agricultural projects, including, among others, matters of land subdivisions, title reviews, sale-purchase agreements, leases, and easements.

Before joining VEI he spent more than 3 years as an associate in the Corporate Law and M&A team of Philippi, Prietocarrizosa, Ferrero DU & Uría, and 4 years as a senior associate at VLA Abogados.

He is a lawyer from Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, from where he graduated in 2015 receiving two out of three votes of distinction. In 2020 he obtained a diploma in M&A Law at Universidad de Los Andes, earning the academic excellence award.

Languages: Spanish and English.

Macarena Araya C.

Macarena Araya is an associate of VEI. Focuses her practice in the areas of corporate law, corporate governance, compliance, and M&A transactions, specifically advising domestic and foreign companies belonging to various industries, such as family businesses, energy, real estate, investment funds, insurance, among others.

During her years of study, she carried out various internships in law firms such as Guerrero Olivos, Philippi Prietocarrizosa Ferrero Du & Uría and Cariola Díez Pérez-Cotapos, in the areas of Competition Law and Tax Law.

She holds a law degree from the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, where she graduated magna cum laude in in 2020. She is currently an assistant professor of Economic Law and Civil Law at that same University.

Languages: Castellano and English.

Tomás Parada L.

Tomás Parada has been an associate of VEI since June 2022, centering his practice on corporate, real estate and venture capital, advising both national and foreign clients in a wide range of industries. In real estate matters ranging from due diligence to the structuring and develpment of real estate projects.

Previously, he worked as a Cabinet Advisor of the Ministry of National Assets, as well as served as a Lawyer in the Real Estate Constitution Division at the same Ministry.

During 2018, he was procurator of the corporate area of the law firm Grasty Quintana Majlis.

He is a lawyer from Universidad de Chile, from where he graduated in 2021.

Languages: Castellano and English.

María Jesús Torres R.

María Jesús Torres is an associate of VEI since July 2022, focusing her practice in the corporate area, mergers and acquisitions, and venture capital of the office, providing advice to national and foreign clients – in a wide range of industries.

Previously, she was law clerk of the law firm Menichetti, Bolelli & Cremaschi, focusing her practice on the corporate and real estate area of​​said firm.

During the years of study, she developed and participated in a series of social projects and at the beginning of 2020 she carried out an academic exchange at the University of Bologna, Italy.

María Jesús is a lawyer from the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, graduated on 2022 with two votes of distinction. At the same University, she is an assistant teacher in the Commercial Law, Tax Law and Private International Law courses.

She is currently studying a Diploma in “Insurance, mentioning Personal Insurance: life, pensions and health”, in the Pontificia Universidad Católica.

Languages: Castellano, English and Italian.

Juan Andrés Margotta L.

Juan Andrés Margotta has been an associate of VEI since March 2023, centering his practice on corporate, venture capital and M&A, advising both national and foreign clients in a wide range of industries, such as family businesses, energy, real estate, investment funds, insurance, among others.

Previously he was an associate at Chahuán Letelier Lledó, where he was part of the civil and criminal litigation team. Before, he was procurator of the law firm Lathrop & Blanco.

He is a lawyer from Universidad de Chile, from where he graduated in 2020. He is currently an assistant professor of Procedural Law at that same University.

In 2022 he earned a Diploma in White Collar Crimes and Corporative Criminal Law at the Universidad de Chile.

Languages: Castellano and English.

Florencia Gálvez C.

Florencia is an associate of VEI since July 2024, focusing her practice in the corporate area, mergers and acquisitions, and venture capital of the office, providing advice to national and foreign clients in a wide range of industries, such as family-owned companies, real estate, investment funds, among others.

Previously, she carried out an internship at BBGS Abogados, and was law clerk of the law firm Dentons Larraín Rencoret, focusing her practice on the corporate and tax area ofsaid firm..-

During the years of study, she carried out two academic exchanges in England and Germany. During his time at the University, she developed and participated in a series of academic, social and sports projects.

Florencia has a Law Degree from the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, graduated on January 2024. At the same University, she was an assistant professor in the Labor Law and Commercial Law courses and is currently an assistant professor of Tax Law.

Languages: Castellano, English and German.

Sebastián Garcés R.

Sebastián Garcés has been an associate at VEI since October 2024, focusing his practice in the corporate, real estate and venture capital area of the firm, advising clients – domestic and foreign – from a variety of industries.

Previously, he completed an internship at PPU Legal, focusing his practice in the corporate and real estate area of the firm.

Sebastián holds a law degree from Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, obtained with Magna cum laude. At that university, he was also an assistant professor of Criminal Law and Constitutional Law.

Languages: Spanish and English.

Paula Del Villar D.