Proudly continuing our coverage from the 2025 recognitions, the 2026 editions of The Best Lawyers awards in Chile, Colombia and Puerto Rico highlight top legal professionals across these countries. Chile and Colombia mark their 16th editions, while Puerto Rico reaches its 13th.
These recognitions are part of a long-standing program based on rigorous peer review and verified data. Inclusion remains rare, with only a small fraction of candidates awarded. These honors reinforce professional credibility across Latin America and the Caribbean.
Measuring Legal Excellence Across the Two Regions
These editions are based on more than 100,000 peer evaluations across all three countries. Chile contributed the largest share, followed by Colombia and Puerto Rico. This growing body of peer feedback, now exceeding half a million cumulative evaluations, reflects a broad and sustained commitment to professional excellence throughout the jurisdictions.
All recognitions follow Best Lawyers’ Purely Peer Review® methodology. Evaluations are submitted confidentially by recognized peers in the same practice area and jurisdiction, ensuring fairness across practice areas and providing a trusted measure of expertise. Best Lawyers® research staff also verifies that honorees are in good standing.
The 2026 Edition of The Best Lawyers in Chile™
In Chile, 1,332 lawyers have been honored, representing only 5.8% of the legal profession. The research covered 57 practice areas and included 43 awardees who received the “Lawyer of the Year” distinction. In each practice and metro area, one lawyer receives this award based on the highest overall peer feedback.
The 2026 edition of The Best Lawyers in Chile also highlights where the profession is most represented. Corporate and Mergers and Acquisitions Law draws the largest number of recognized lawyers, followed by Litigation and Arbitration and Mediation. Labor and Employment Law and Tax Law also appear, reflecting a smaller yet essential segment of expertise.
Central Legal Developments Across Chile
The prominence of these practice areas points to where Chilean firms and clients are focusing their expertise and resources:
Corporate and M&A Law
One reason this practice area remains critical is that corporate transactions and mergers continue to require careful legal oversight, even as deal activity has slowed overall. New permitting reforms aim to shorten approval times for infrastructure, energy and industrial projects. Upcoming changes in cybersecurity and the expanded Economic Crimes Law also introduce additional requirements for due diligence and risk assessment.
In addition, a law ensuring greater gender equity on corporate boards was passed, set to take effect in 2026. These reforms demand legal expertise and careful guidance for companies navigating compliance and corporate governance.
Litigation
This practice area is driven by commercial disputes, especially in infrastructure and corporate matters. New Cybersecurity and Data Protection laws are expected to generate additional high-stakes cases and regulatory investigations.
Arbitration and Mediation
Chile is a leading regional hub for alternative dispute resolution. Its legal framework follows the UNCITRAL Model Law and receives strong judicial support for arbitration. Demand is high for resolving complex, high-value disputes, particularly in foreign investment and the energy and mining sectors.
Labor and Employment Law
This sector is changing due to major social and labor reforms. Primary factors include the 40-hour workweek reduction and the new Karin Law, which sets strict rules for preventing and investigating sexual and workplace harassment. Lawyers play an important role in ensuring compliance and handling new labor-related claims.
Tax Law
Tax lawyers are navigating major legislative uncertainty from a new government backed Tax Reform Project. The bill aims to raise fiscal revenue by increasing taxes on high-income individuals and restructuring the taxation of local and foreign investment funds.
Emerging Trends in Chile’s Legal Market
The 2026 Edition of The Best Lawyers in Chile reflects a shift from high-volume corporate transactions toward regulatory and compliance expertise. Lawyers are increasingly advising on governance, technology and compliance matters.
Gender data mirrors this trend. Women now hold equal or majority representation in Trusts and Estates and Immigration Law, practice areas centered on client advisory and trust-based work.
Discover Chile’s leading lawyers on our Find a Lawyer in Chile page.
The 2026 Edition of The Best Lawyers in Colombia™
A total of 704 lawyers were awarded, representing just 0.023% of legal professionals across the country. The awards spanned 49 practice areas, with 34 lawyers receiving “Lawyer of the Year” titles. Corporate and Mergers and Acquisitions Law and Labor and Employment Law lead in recognized lawyers, highlighting the ongoing importance of deal-making and workforce compliance.
Tax Law, Intellectual Property Law and Administrative Law follow, reflecting demand for regulatory and advisory expertise. Meanwhile, Arbitration and Mediation, Energy Law and Natural Resources Law are emerging as notable growth areas, signaling developing priorities.
Corporate and M&A Law Meets Labor Law in Colombia
Lawyers across corporate, M&A and labor practices are working more closely following the enactment of Law 2466 of 2025. This comprehensive labor reform introduces significant changes that redefine the Colombian Labor Code. Key provisions include:
- Hiring Incentives: Through the "Crea Empleo" program, companies receive subsidies of up to 25% of the minimum monthly wage for hiring young people, women, or individuals over 50.
- Apprenticeship Contracts: Apprentices are now hired under special fixed-term agreements. During the learning stage, they earn 75% of the minimum monthly wage, increasing to full pay during the practical training. Companies must provide health, pension and occupational risk coverage throughout this time.
- Inclusion Quotas: Companies with 100 or more employees must hire at least two workers with disabilities per 100 staff. For companies exceeding 500, the requirement rises by one additional hire per 100 workers.
Evolving Legal Priorities in Colombia
The 2026 edition of The Best Lawyers in Colombia highlights a market adapting to change. Companies face new labor regulations and broader compliance obligations, creating a growing demand for skilled legal guidance.
Gender representation spotlights areas of balance and leadership. Family Law shows parity, with an equal number of male and female lawyers. Women outnumber men in Environmental Law, Corporate Governance and Compliance, Employee Benefits Law and Criminal Defense. This pattern reflects how evolving regulatory and advisory needs are shaping both the legal market and professional diversity in Colombia.
Explore the top legal talent recognized in Colombia on our Find a Lawyer in Colombia page.
The 2026 Edition of The Best Lawyers in Puerto Rico™
The latest edition recognized 450 lawyers, representing the top 3% of the profession. The research spanned 46 practice areas and included 27 lawyers who earned the “Lawyer of the Year” distinction.
Litigation has the highest concentration of awarded lawyers, followed by Corporate and Mergers and Acquisitions Law, Labor and Employment Law, Banking and Finance and Tax Law. Administrative Law also shows growth, reflecting emerging demand in government and regulatory matters.
Puerto Rico’s Legal Market in Motion
Litigation continues to shape Puerto Rico’s legal market. Federal civil and criminal filings have increased, with many cases classified as multidistrict litigation. Contributing factors include cuts to federal programs, which have prompted contractual disputes and a rise in immigration-related prosecutions.
A notable civil case involved a federal judge rule that FEMA violated the National Environmental Policy Act by failing to fully consider renewable energy options when rebuilding the electrical grid after Hurricane María.
Technology-related disputes are also growing, particularly around artificial intelligence. In one case, two attorneys were fined for submitting filings containing numerous errors linked to AI-generated content.
Law Practice and Diversity in Puerto Rico
The 2026 edition of The Best Lawyers in Puerto Rico illustrates a legal community navigating both federal oversight and local reform. Lawyers increasingly handle matters that require understanding U.S. regulations alongside Puerto Rico’s unique legal framework.
Gender representation is balanced across practice areas. Immigration Law, Employee Benefits Law and Health Care Law show roughly equal numbers of men and women recognized. This diversity underscores how the territory’s hybrid system shapes both legal practice and the composition of its professionals.
See Puerto Rico’s distinguished attorneys on our Find a Lawyer in Puerto Rico page.
Aligning Legal Expertise Across Hemispheres
The 2026 editions of The Best Lawyers awards in Chile, Colombia and Puerto Rico show that Corporate and M&A Law, Litigation and Labor and Employment Law remain the most prominent practice areas in Latin America and the Caribbean. These priorities closely mirror trends in North America, where the 2026 editions of The Best Lawyers in America® and The Best Lawyers in Canada™ highlight Corporate Law, Commercial Litigation and Labor and Employment Law as leading areas.
This alignment illustrates that legal professionals across regions are focused on similar challenges: business transactions, dispute resolution and workforce matters. Recognition across both hemispheres shows a consistent emphasis on these core areas, reinforcing their central role in today’s global legal practice.
Sustained Standards of Legal Excellence
The 2026 Best Lawyers recognitions for Chile, Colombia and Puerto Rico highlight the leaders shaping the future of law in South America and the Caribbean.
Grounded in peer review and long-term research, these awards continue to identify the lawyers whose professional integrity and expertise set the standard across the region.
Explore this year’s award recipients and their impact on the legal profession. Use our Find a Lawyer directory to search leading attorneys by location and practice area and discover those shaping the future of law across South America and the Caribbean.
