In a move which could shake up the conservative Chilean legal marketplace, Santiago law firm Alessandri has hired 10 infrastructure lawyers, including three partners, from local firm Halpern de la Fuente. Halpern de la Fuente partners Juan Pablo Halpern, Arturo Pino and Rodrigo Urzúa, will join as partners on 1 January. They will be accompanied by seven associates in their move from Halpern de la Fuente. The partners, who specialise in construction law, real estate law and dispute resolution, join the firm as it launches its new consutruction practice.

Strategic

According to Cristián Pérez, partner and general manager of Alessandri, the growth of construction projects is strategic for Chile and goes hand in hand with economic growth, innovation and the creation of new technologies. 'In Europe and the United States this practice area is highly developed and works along with other areas of expertise, such as labour law, environmental law and intellectual property, practice areas already consolidated in the firm. This growth is part of a strategy to strengthen our platform to service our clients interests and their investment decisions.' 

Technology and innovation

Newly hired partner Juan Pablo Halpern said: 'We have been competing with the main local and global firms for years, and it became imperative to look for a platform and scale to make the investments in technology and innovation needed to provide the delivery our clients expects, as well to attract the best talents.' 

Chilean construction companies

The team has advised and represented several of the Chilean biggest engineering and construction companies and currently advises Antofagasta Minerals on the preparation of a set of contracts to support a US$1.1billion pre-expansion works of a mine in Salamanca; as well as the real estate developer Territoria on the negotiation of all construction aspects of the US$270 million office building complex in Apoquindo; and the port company Puertos y Logistica in relation to the development, engineering, procurement and construction of two port facilities in San Antonio and Puerto Lirquén.

Productivity

In addition, partner Juan Pablo Halpern is currently leading the legal discussion of the Construye2025 Programme, a governmental initiative that seeks to improve the productivity of the Chilean construction industry and transform it in an international benchmark.