Year on year, Carey proves to be the leader in this market. With an impressive number of lawyers and impeccable quality of legal advice, it is no wonder clients queue up to shower praise on the firm for its services and prestige.
Carey has adopted a modern management style that promotes cross-selling via a compensation system aimed at fostering team spirit. The firm prioritises organic growth over senior-level lateral hiring and makes regular promotions to its partnership. It has a strict “up or out” policy, which means all associates strive for top positions. It places huge importance on building cross-disciplinary teams and has other professionals such as accountants, economists and industry experts on its books to provide clients with a broad approach to their legal problems.
Four partner promotions in its M&A, finance, capital markets, energy and antitrust practice areas at the end of 2021 reflected the continued growth the firm saw as the Chilean economy recovered from the economic slump caused by the covid-19 pandemic. Carey also boosted its public law group in 2021 by hiring a prominent constitutional lawyer as practice head, and strengthened its labour and finance departments by promoting two lawyers to partner. Those appointments happened soon after a former tax associate rejoined the firm as partner and co-leader of that practice following a three-year stint as head of tax policy at Chile’s Ministry of Finance. The firm started 2022 by hiring almost 30 associates, proving that growth lies at the heart of Carey’s plans for the future. One recently promoted partner is a woman, demonstrating Carey’s long-term commitment to increasing diversity in its senior rank.
International investors looking to spend capital in Chile have kept Carey’s M&A team busy in the past year. Its life sciences and venture capital have boomed in line with client demand. Meanwhile, the firm took the bold step of opening a representative office in Miami in 2021. The office is focused on venture capital work, particularly helping US clients establish themselves in Chile. The firm also has a strong China desk, with three senior associates working on it, attracting clients in the Chinese lithium and electricity sectors. It added expertise in the form of a project adviser to the group in 2022. Its China desk is also noteworthy.
Carey’s transactional offering lies at its core and is envied locally and internationally – its corporate and M&A, banking and finance, project finance and capital markets practices are highly sought after by clients. There are equally strong non-transactional offerings. Carey has the largest patent practice of any Chilean full-service firm and has established itself as a go-to name for life sciences and pharmaceuticals clients. Its agribusiness, consumer, family business, data protection, fintech and venture capital practice areas also help the firm stand far above many of its competitors.
A large number of companies consistently rely on Carey. The firm’s client list is probably the most extensive of any firm in Chile. According to a recent study, “Who Represents Latin America’s Biggest Companies”, published by the Latin American Corporate Counsel Association, which is affiliated to Latin Lawyer, Carey represents 18% of the region’s largest companies. A few of the firm’s core clients, which sum up its international appeal, are Canadian asset management group Brookfield, US investment giant BlackRock, utility group China State Grid and Qatar Airways. State-owned mining group Codelco is a local regular at the firm. The Chilean government calls upon Carey for advice on public policy, especially on data protection and banking legislation.
Carey is committed to tackling inequality and actively promotes diversity. The firm operates a mentorship programme aimed at supporting the careers of its female associates and enhancing their leadership skills. Towards the end of 2021, Carey implemented a comprehensive paternity leave that allows fathers of newborns to take up to 30 days of paid leave.
Clients routinely praise the lawyers at Carey for their knowledge, speed and consistency. One client lauds the lawyers’ “exceptional ability to adapt to what we need, their deep understanding of the business and the repercussions that measures may have in the future.” A client in the retailer sector praises the firm’s quality and consistency, while another in the mining industry appreciates the team’s knowledge in constitutional matters.
Management
Jaime Carey is the managing partner and one of Chile’s most eminent tax and M&A lawyers. He is supported by four other partners in Carey’s executive committee: Jorge Carey, Pablo Iacobelli, Oscar Aitken and Lorena Pavic.
Alliances & networks
Carey is a member of The Interlex Group, TerraLex, the World Services Group, the Pacific Rim Advisory Council, TalkLaw and the Employment Law Alliance. It is the Chilean member firm of the Brazilian law firm network Aliança de Advocacia Empresarial, which has given the firm greater exposure to Brazilian firms outside the major cities of São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro.