Vergara Galindo Correa Abogados

VGC Abogados stands as Chile's pioneering environmental law firm, maintaining its position as the country's preeminent firm in environmental law for over two decades⁠. With a team of more than 60 specialized attorneys, the firm has established itself as an industry leader across multiple practice areas, including environmental impact assessment, litigation, compliance, and natural resources law⁠.

With an exceptional depth of experience and a sophisticated understanding of the regulatory landscape, VGC Abogados offers unparalleled legal counsel to clients facing complex environmental challenges. The firm is a trusted advisor to top-tier corporations providing pragmatic and innovative solutions that address both legal and business needs.

Our distinctly client-centric approach, coupled with decades of industry-specific experience, enables us to deliver innovative solutions that advance our clients' strategic objectives.

Core Areas of Practice

Environmental Law & Regulatory Compliance

VGC Abogados excels in environmental law, guiding clients through Chile's complex regulatory framework. We help navigate all aspects of environmental regulations—from permit acquisition to risk management—in accordance with national and international standards. Our lawyers provide strategic counsel on sustainability initiatives, environmental impact assessments, enforcement procedures, ensuring compliance while advancing clients' business objectives.

• Environmental Litigation & Dispute Resolution

Our environmental litigation team is one of the most experienced in Chile, specializing in representing clients in high-stakes, high-profile environmental disputes. Whether involving government entities, local communities, or competing businesses, we have successfully handled complex litigation in various industries, including mining, energy, infrastructure, and agriculture. VGC Abogados prides itself on delivering both tactical and strategic litigation strategies designed to safeguard our clients’ interests and achieve favorable outcomes.

• Environmental Criminal Law & Compliance

VGC Abogados delivers sophisticated counsel in environmental and economic criminal matters, combining strategic litigation expertise with comprehensive risk assessments and preventive strategies. Our dedicated compliance team excels in developing and implementing robust crime prevention models across industries, while our criminal litigation specialists provide zealous advocacy in environmental criminal proceedings, supported by thorough internal investigations expertise.

• Natural Resources & Energy

VGC Abogados advices small, medium and large domestic and foreign companies on mining, water, energy law and land occupation titles. The knowledge, training and experience of the firm are those required by the clients and their projects in each of its stages. VGC Abogados participates in each phase, being permanently available to the requirements of the projects and their owners.

• Environmental Policy and Public Law

Our deep understanding of Chile's environmental regulatory framework and government relations enables us to provide strategic counsel at the intersection of business and policy. Our team includes former government officials who helped shape Chile's environmental policies and regulations, positioning us uniquely to help clients navigate complex regulatory landscapes. VGC Abogados provides forward-looking regulatory insights that help clients anticipate and adapt to policy and regulatory developments.

• ESG & Corporate Sustainability

VGC Abogados is committed to helping clients embed Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles into their business models. We offer counsel on ESG regulatory compliance, risk management, and corporate sustainability, with the goal of ensuring that our clients not only meet regulatory requirements but also lead their industries in responsible business practices. Our firm is proud to help clients drive sustainable development while maintaining a competitive advantage in a rapidly evolving global market.

Leadership

VGC Abogados is home to a team of highly respected professionals, each recognized as leaders in their fields.

Each of the partners contributes significantly to VGC Abogados' reputation as a top-tier law firm, providing expert advice and representation on the most pressing environmental issues in Chile and beyond. The team’s collective expertise spans a diverse array of industries, ensuring that VGC Abogados remains at the forefront of environmental law and natural resource management.

Currently VGC Abogados has 8 partners: Javier Vergara, Mario Galindo, José Luis Fuenzalida, Cecilia Urbina, Pablo Ortiz, Winston Albuquerque, Ignacio Mujica and María Eugenia Armisén.

Some of the services provided by VGC Abogados are:

• Review and strategic support in the environmental assessment of projects, environmental management instruments, territorial planning instruments and general instructions of the Superintendency of the Environment.
• Advice on preventive environmental compliance, both in the framework of internal evaluations of deviations from environmental or regulatory requirements, as well as in the framework of environmental inspection processes by the Environmental Superintendency.
• Strategic accompaniment, legal advice and defense in sanction proceedings initiated by the Environmental Superintendency.
• Review of the applicability of environmental and sectoral permits for projects, constructions and infrastructure and/or existing activities, as well as support in the periodic updating of permit matrices and in strategic definitions for the processing of these permits.
• Processing and obtaining environmental and sectorial permits.
• Elaboration of environmental due diligence and permits.
• Advice on sanitary, municipal, road, industrial safety, water, electricity, fuels, forestry, aggregates, archeology, maritime, land occupation, use of coastal areas and indigenous issues.
• Advice on negotiation and conflict management processes with stakeholders, communities and community organizations.
• Analysis of environmental and sectorial regulations, as well as updating and analysis of environmental or sectorial jurisprudence applicable to the activity in case.
• Advice and assistance in administrative and judicial litigation.
• Litigation at the Constitutional Court.
• Preliminary analysis of possible risks that could lead to legal and administrative proceedings.
• Integral Advising on the relations generated with the organs of the State administration.
• Legal and strategic support in actions and proceedings with government agencies and the Office of the Comptroller General of the Republic.
• Analysis and strategic planning of water use rights in all types of projects.
• Obtaining and perfecting water use rights before administrative and judicial agencies.
• Legal reports, preparation of title studies and advice in bidding processes and acquisition of water use rights.
• Comprehensive advice on all matters related to mining, from the initial exploration phase, development, project operation, mine closures and related aspects.
• Processing of mining property and mining lawsuits, obtaining and processing of permits and authorizations from regulatory agencies.
• Legal support in the design and execution of real estate projects.
• Support in project management in the institutional, public and private sectors.

Key Clients: BHP Billiton - Compañía Minera Doña Inés de Collahuasi - CODELCO - SQM - Minera Los Pelambres - Antofagasta Minerals - Empresa Portuaria de San Antonio - Empresa Portuaria de Valparaíso - CMPC Celulosa S.A. - SODEXO - Salmones Blumar - Australis Seafoods S.A. - Grupo Aguas - ENEL - AES ANDES.

Some testimonials:

"Always up-to-date on environmental regulations and relevant rulings, which allows us to trust their recommendations and solutions proposed.”

"The best around for environmental and regulatory matters.‘

“Very good relationships with all the client’s stakeholders.”