Find Lawyers in Santiago, Chile for Litigation
Practice Area Overview
When a civil or commercial conflict of legal relevance cannot be resolved amicably by the parties, they are forced to resort to adversarial procedures. In Chile, there are mainly two types: Litigation and Arbitration.
Litigation before the courts comprises two stages: the first before the ordinary courts of justice, and the second before the respective Courts of Appeals. Additionally, it is possible to appeal to the Supreme Court to correct serious infractions of law.
The first stage is initiated by the written presentation of the concerned party before the appropriate court. This procedure consists of three stages: a discussion phase, an evidentiary phase, and decision through a final judgment. The total duration of this procedure is between 2 to 4 years depending on its complexity.
If any of the parties is not in agreement with the decision, they can appeal to the respective Court of Appeals, through the means expressly established in the law. Unlike arbitration, these remedies cannot be waived in advance by the parties. The appeal may refer to both factual and legal aspects and must be defended orally before the court, with the appearances of both parties.
The decision of the Court of Appeals may only be reviewed by the Supreme Court, which addresses exclusively infractions to the law. This latter decision is not subject to appeal. The process before the higher courts takes approximately between one to two years.
Judgments issued as a result of the litigation process are binding to the parties and can be enforced compulsorily, even with the help of the public force. The arbitration tribunals lack this judicial power, having to resort to the ordinary court system to obtain it.
Additionally, to ensure compliance with the judgments, there are precautionary measures (injunctions), which can be decreed before and during the entire trial process, even without prior notification to the affected party.
Litigation before common courts constitutes the general rule of dispute resolution in Chile. The exception is arbitration, which is applied when the parties have agreed to it or is expressly provided for by the law (for example, compulsory arbitration proceedings for company liquidation, disputes between partners, partition of assets, insurance contracts, among others). In practice, almost all complex commercial matters are submitted to arbitration by agreement of the parties.
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Cuando un conflicto civil o comercial de relevancia jurídica no puede ser resuelto amigablemente por las partes, los interesados se ven forzados a recurrir a los procedimientos adversariales. En Chile, existen principalmente dos tipos; la litigación y el arbitraje.
Los litigios ante los tribunales constan de dos instancias; la primera ante los tribunales ordinarios de justicia, y la segunda; ante las Cortes de Apelaciones respectivas. Adicionalmente se contempla la posibilidad de recurrir a la Corte Suprema para corregir infracciones de ley graves.
La primera instancia se inicia por la presentación escrita del interesado ante el Tribunal competente. Este procedimiento consta de tres etapas; una fase de discusión, otra de prueba, y una final de decisión a través de una sentencia definitiva. La duración total de este procedimiento es de 2 a 4 años dependiendo de su complejidad.
Si alguna de las partes no está conforme con esta decisión puede recurrir ante la Corte de Apelaciones respectiva, por medio de los recursos expresamente establecidos en la ley. A diferencia del arbitraje estos recursos no pueden ser renunciados de forma anticipada por las partes. El recurso que se interponga podrá referirse tanto a aspectos de hecho como de derecho y deberá defenderse de forma oral ante la Corte, con la comparecencia de ambas partes.
La decisión de la Corte de Apelaciones sólo podrá ser revisada por la Corte Suprema, quien deberá avocarse a las infracciones de ley. Esta última decisión no será susceptible de recursos.
La tramitación ante los tribunales superiores es de uno a dos años aproximadamente.
Las sentencias que se dicten como resultado del proceso de litigación son vinculantes para las partes, pudiendo hacerse cumplir de forma compulsiva, incluso con auxilio de la fuerza pública. Los tribunales arbitrales carecen de esta facultad de imperio, debiendo recurrirse a la justicia ordinaria para obtenerla.
Adicionalmente, para asegurar el cumplimiento de las sentencias, existen medidas precautorias, que pueden decretarse antes y durante toda la tramitación del juicio, incluso sin previa notificación del afectado.
La litigación ante los tribunales ordinarios constituye la regla general de resolución de controversias en Chile. La excepción es el arbitraje, que se aplica cuando así lo pactaron las partes o lo establece expresamente la ley (por ejemplo son materias de arbitraje forzoso los juicios sobre liquidación de sociedades; disputas entre socios; partición de bienes; contrato de seguros; entre otras). En la práctica, casi todas las materias comerciales complejas son sometidas a arbitraje por acuerdo de las partes.
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Fernando is one of the founding partners of Barros Silva Varela & Vigil. He is in charge of the litigation practice and resolution of civil, commercial, national and international disputes. In addition, he has experience and is actively involved in other practice areas, such as corporate affairs, project financing and the development of corporate structures. PRACTICE AREAS - Litigation and Arbitration. - Dispute Resolution. - Project Financing. EDUCATION - Law, Pontificia Universidad Cat&...
José Manuel has a vast experience and recognition in the Chilean legal market. He has acted as counsel for multiple companies in antitrust matters, litigation and arbitration in the most diverse markets, including the dairy industry, salmon, energy, mining, construction and infrastructure, telecommunications, retail, consumer, medical supplies, supermarkets, cement and steel, among others. He has also represented public companies and industry bodies in litigation matters. His activity ...
Carolina Collantes is partner at Fischer y Cía. Her practice focuses on tax matters for both local and international clients, including entities and individuals, representing their interests through a strong tax litigation practice. She also advices on tax issues related to corporate restructurings, mergers and acquisitions. Prior to founding Fischer y Cía, was aprtner at Baraona Fischer & Cia. She also worked in Arthur Andersen and EY, acknowledging 20 years of experience i...
Partner of Carey and co-head of the firm’s Litigation Group. His practice is primarily focused on the areas of litigation, national and international arbitration, corporate law, securities, and business law. Education Law, Universidad Católica de Chile (admitted with the school’s highest entrance score in 1987). LL.M., Harvard University (Fulbright and Presidente de la República scholarships) (1997). Best Student Award (1987 - 1991). University Merit Award for being ...
Mr. Fischer advises domestic and foreign clients in personal and corporate tax planning, tax litigation, mergers and acquisitions, and foreign investment structuring. He stands out for offering innovative tailored solutions by combining tax expertise with international experience in financing and capital markets. Alex Fischer heads Fischer y Cía’s tax practice and has been consistently ranked in top tier national and international rankings for his practice in Private Wealth and T...
Founding partner at Fleischmann & Román Abogados. Between 1997 and 2004 he worked in the law firm Aldunate y Cia., where he became partner of the firm. In 2005 he joined as a partner at Chadwick & Aldunate Abogados and, since 2012, he remained the main partner of Reymond & Fleischmann Abogados. In 2016 he founded Fleischmann & León Abogados, now Fleischmann & Román Abogados. He has specialized in civil and administrative law, domestic and international...
LLB, Universidad de Valparaíso Law School (2003); Diploma in Administrative & Economic Law, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile (2005); LLM, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso Law School (2007). Partner at VGC since 2010. Previously, Associate of Cariola Diez Pérez-Cotapos & Cía. Professor of environmental law, natural resources and energy law at the Universidad de Valparaíso and Universidad Católica de Valpara&ia...
LLB, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile Law School (1991); Graduate of Master of Law Program, Universidad de Chile Law School. Senior Partner at VGC. Previously, Associate of Cariola Diez Pérez-Cotapos & Cía; Legal Advisor of ARCADIS; Attorney at Legal Office of National Environmental Commission. Professor of environmental law at several graduate and postgraduate programs including programs for the Judicial Academy. Head of the litigation department, responsible...
Partner of Carey and co-head of the firm´s Litigation Group. His practice focuses on civil and commercial litigation and administrative and environmental regulatory litigation. He also has experience in domestic and international commercial and investment arbitration. Education Law, Universidad de Chile (Summa Cum Laude). Outstanding Internship Award, Judicial Assistance Corporation (2000). LL.M., Columbia University (Beca Chile Scholarship) (2013). Pedro Nicolás Montenegro Award...
Experience Partner of Carey and co-head of the firm’s Litigation and Insolvency, Bankruptcy and Restructuring groups. His practice focuses on civil and commercial litigation, arbitration, bankruptcy and insolvency. Education Law, Universidad de Chile (Summa Cum Laude). LL.M., Duke University (Presidente de la República scholarship) (2006). Degree in Corporate Finance, Universidad de Chile (2010). LL.M., Universidad de Chile (candidate). Activities and Memberships Professor of Civ...
Experience Partner of Carey and co-head of the firm's Litigation Group. His practice is focused on civil and commercial litigation, antitrust and regulatory litigation, as well as national and international arbitration. Education Law, Universidad Católica de Chile. Degree on Modern Civil and Commercial Rules for Contracting, Universidad de Chile (2008). LL.M., University of California, Berkeley (2013). Degree on Administrative Litigation, Universidad Católica de Chile (2016). Ac...
Partner at Fleischmann & Román Abogados His professional practice has focused on civil and commercial litigation, insurance and arbitration. Lawyer of the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. Master of Law at the same university (2009-2010). He has published several articles and has taught various classes and exhibitions in subjects of his specialty. Part of his teaching experience includes: Professor of Procedural Law at the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Ch...
Jorge Schenke focuses his practice representing clients in complex negotiations and litigation in civil, commercial, administrative, and constitutional matters with a particular emphasis on contractual and extra-contractual civil liability, stock market, corporation law, directors' liability, shareholders' and company partner rights, liquidations & reorganizations of companies and individuals, conflict resolution between community members, constitutional requirements, and actions, among o...
LLB, Universidad de Chile Law School. Specialization Program “Environmental Policy Development and Implementation”, organized by the Environmental Law Institute, Washington, DC, United States. Senior Partner at Vergara Galindo Correa Abogados. Previously, partner of Urrutia & Cía; Head of the Legal Office National Environmental Commission, Director of National Environmental Commission of Metropolitan Region and Secretary of Decontamination Commission of Metropolitan Reg...
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