His professional career has led him to become a reputable national arbitrator, being consistently highlighted by the prestigious international publication Chambers & Partners as one of the most-in-demand arbitrators in Chile.

Juan Eduardo Palma J. is an outstanding academic of the Commercial Law Department at the Universidad de Chile, where he has taught generations of lawyers during more than 50 years.

Furthermore, he has served as a member of the Chilean Bar Association, has been and is a member of the board of directors of relevant companies in Chile, such as the former Banco BHIF, Canon Chile S.A. and Itochu Chile S.A. He actively participates of international lawyers’ associations, having served as Regional Secretary for South America and as president of the Law Firm Administration Commission of the Union Internationale des Avocats (UIA).

Education

• Law Degree awarded by the Supreme Court of Justice, 1975.
• Montenegro Award as the best graduate of his class generation, 1973.
• Universidad de Chile, School of Law, 1973.

Memberships

• Member of the Body of Arbitrators, Mediation and Arbitration Center, Santiago Chamber of Commerce.
• Member of the National Arbitration Center.
• Member of the Chilean Bar Association.
• Member of the International Bar Association.
• Former regional secretary of South America, “Union Internationale des Avocats” (UIA), Section IV.
• Former President of the Law Firm Management Commission, “Union Internationale des Avocats” (UIA).
• Member of the Board of the Commercial Law Department of the Universidad de Chile Law School. Currently Director of said Department,

Professional Career

• Former Director of the Chilean-British Chamber of Commerce.
• Former Director, BHIF Bank.
• Former Counsel to the Chilean Bar Association.
• Senior Partner at Palma.
• Director Canon Chile S.A.
• Director Itochu Chile S.A.

Academic Activities and Publications

• Professor of Commercial Law, Universidad de Chile Law School, professor since 1974 to date.
• Director of the Commercial Law Department, Universidad de Chile Law School.
• Awarded with the “Montenegro” award as the best graduate of his generation of the Universidad de Chile Law School.
• Author of national and foreign publications: “Consideraciones sobre el principio de la legalidad administrative”, Anuario de Derecho Administrativo, 1975-1976; “Investment in Chile”, International Investment Review, 2001; “Mergers & Acquisitions in Chile”, Mergers and Acquisitions Yearbook, 2001; International Financial Law Review; “Aspectos legales relativos a información privilegiada en conformidad a la legislación chilena vigente”, Revista de Derecho Comercial, 2010.
• Speaker at multiple seminars, Universidad de Chile.
• Speaker at national and foreign seminars.
• Part of the student exchange program of the James B. Conant High School, Hoffman Estates, Illinois, United States of America, 1968-1969.

Languages

• Spanish and English.

His professional career has led him to become an expert in corporate financings and corporate structures, being recognized by his peers for his negotiating skills and for his great ability to obtain financings and negotiate restructurings.

Juan Eduardo has built his career in the academic field, being one of the few lawyers in Chile who teaches both at Universidad de Chile and Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile.

At the same time, he has served as a member of the Board of Directors of important domestic companies such as LGS Chile, a security, transportation and custody company in Chile, and Brigthtstar Group Chile, having also served as a member of the Chilean Bar Association.

• Advised Banco Santander in international financing granted to Engie Energía Chile S.A.
• Advised Banco Internacional, in financing granted to Superfruta SpA, a subsidiary of the Canadian fund PSP.
• Advised Banco Internacional in financing granted to Grupo Bethia.
• Advised Principal Financial Group in the acquisition of a real estate project, intended for the multifamily business, acquired from Besalco Inmobiliaria.
• Advised the syndicate of banks composed of Banco de Chile, Scotiabank Chile, Itaú Corpbanca and Itaú Unibanco S.A. Nassau Branch in important financing granted to Compañía Sud Americana de Valores.
• Advised Banco Internacional as part of syndicate of banks composed of Scotiabank Chile, Banco de Crédito e Inversiones, Banco BTG Pactual and Banco Internacional in financing granted to the company called DB Terra Holdco SpA in financing granted for the acquisition of the Chilean company Pacífico Cable SpA.
• Advised Banco Santander Chile and the syndicate of lenders composed of Penta Vida and 4Life insurance company, in financing granted to Grupo Anpac for the development of hydroelectric power plants throughout the country.
• Advised Banco Santander Chile, in its capacity as structuring agent of financing granted to the food exporter Empresa de Alimentos y Conservas San Clemente SpA.
• Advised Banco Santander Chile in a mixed financing composed of loans, leasing and leasebacks, to the company Pecket Energy SpA, a subsidiary of Ingeniería Civil Vicente, for the financing of the Cabo Negro and Vientos Patagónicos power plants.
• Advised Itaú Corpbanca in financing granted to Inversiones Santa Bertina S.A., a member of the Marítima Somarco group, for the acquisition of a barge-type vessel and its transportation from its shipyard in Greece to its destination in the city of Puerto Montt, Chile.
• Advised Banco Internacional in financing granted to the Eurocorp group for the financing of the real estate projects for the multifamily industry, Don Pepe, Portugal Cuevas and Décima Avenida.
• Advised Banco Internacional in the financing granted to Larraín Vial, through the company “Carrera Capital SpA”, for the financing of the real estate project called Edificio José Miguel Carrera for the multifamily industry.
• Advised Banco Internacional, and syndicate of banks, as financial creditors in the sale of the company Netglobalis.
• Advised KPMG Chile in the establishment of its current corporate governance structure.
• Advised Banco Itaú Corpbanca in financing granted to NH Hotels Group for the financing of NH Vitacura Hotel.
• Advised Banco Santander Chile and the syndicate of banks composed of Banco de Crédito e Inversiones and Banco Internacional, in financing granted to Grupo Pirazzoli.
• Advised Banco BBVA Chile and the syndicate of banks in the financing granted to Southern Cross Group for the acquisition of Petrobras Chile.
• Advised Banco Internacional and the syndicate of banks composed of Banco Consorcio and China Construction Bank in the financing granted to the Chilean company PSINet Chile S.A. for the financing of the southern fiber optic project that will provide fiber optics to the southern part of Chile.
• Advised the sellers of LGS Chile in the sale of the company to Brinks Group.

Education

• Master in Law (LL.M., with honors), Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A., 2001.
• Law Degree awarded by the Supreme Court of Justice, 1999.
• Universidad de Chile, School of Law, Suma Cum Laude, 1996.

Memberships

• Member of the Chilean Bar Association.
• Member of the International Bar Association, IBA.

Professional Career

• Board member, Casino Gran Los Ángeles S.A. – Enjoy, since may 2025.
• Former National Counselor of the Chilean Bar Association.
• Regular speaker at national and international conferences of the “International Bar Association” and the “New York State Bar Association”.
• Partner at Palma, since 2004.
• Vial y Palma Abogados, today Palma, joined the firm in 1993 and became Partner in 2004.
• Sidley, Austin, Brown & Wood, New York, United States of America, Foreign Associate, 2001-2002.

Academic Activities and Publications

• Professor of Commercial Law, appointed by Public Competition of Backgrounds and Opposition, Universidad de Chile Law School, 2016 to date.
• Professor of Commercial Law, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile Law School, 2006 to date.
• Assistant professor of Commercial Law, Universidad de Chile Law School, 2002-2016.
• Co-author of the Chilean section “Doing Business”, World Bank 2004; 2005; 2006 and 2010.

Languages

• Spanish and English.

• Has participated in multiple complex labor litigations, either in matters concerning fundamental rights, union and work accidents, as well as indemnities for contract termination and personnel restructuring. She has advised on the strategic design of compensation and benefits. She combines extensive legal and jurisprudential knowledge with a strategic and practical approach to labor law.
• Knows the workings of a variety of industries and has actively participated in collective bargaining for major companies in domestic and foreign industries, in health care, warehousing and securities industries, among others.
• Has advised with concrete solutions in immigration and social security matters referred to international treaties.
• Has devised innovative alternative solutions to relevant conflicts between parties.

Education

• Law degree awarded by the Supreme Court of Justice, 2002.
• Gabriela Mistral University, School of Law, 1996.

Professional Career

• Associate attorney at Palma, since 2005, being named Partner in 2015.
• Associate attorney at Vial & Palma Abogados, from 2002 to 2005.
• Associate attorney at Del Río Infante García-Huidobro & Cía., 2000.

Languages

• Spanish and English.

• Has participated in the restructuring and day-to-day management of large organizations and their corporate governance. She has taken part in acquisitions and purchases of companies.
• Advises on the structuring and tax planning in business, corporate, family and personal estates.
• Provides domestic and foreign tax consulting.
• Has provided advice on administrative procedures before the Internal Revenue Service, in proceedings before the tax and customs courts and in the analysis of various tax contingencies for clients with different corporate structures.
• Has advised on the acquisition of large plots of land for the development of real estate projects throughout Chile, working in all stages of the projects, ranging from advice and management in construction, title studies and administrative management, to the sale and post-sale of all units. Project amounts exceed 273,582 UF.

Education

• Diploma in Tax Analysis and Planning, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, 2016.
• Law Degree awarded by the Chilean Supreme Court of Justice, 2014.
• Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, School of Law, 2012.
• Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Bachelor of Humanities and Social Sciences, 2008.

Professional Career

• Associate at Palma since 2013, promoted to Partner in 2022.
• Paralegal, Mergers & Acquisitions area at Carey, 2010-2011.

Languages

• Spanish and English.

• Participated in the team that advised Banco Santander in international financing granted to Engie Energía Chile S.A.
• Participated in the team that advised Banco Internacional in financing granted to Grupo Bethia.
• Participated in the contractual design of the logistics structure of Transportes CCU.
• Advised Principal Financial Group in the acquisition of a real estate project, intended for a multifamily business, acquired from Besalco Inmobiliaria.
• Advised syndicate of banks composed of Banco de Chile, Scotiabank Chile, Itaú Corpbanca and Itaú Unicanbo S.A. Nassau Branch in important financing granted to Compañía Sud Americana de Valores.
• Advised Banco Internacional as part of syndicate of banks composed of Scotiabank Chile, Banco de Crédito e Inversiones, Banco BTG Pactual and Banco Internacional in financing granted to the company called DB Terra Holdco SpA in financing granted for the acquisition of the Chilean company Pacífico Cable SpA.
• Advised Banco Santander Chile and syndicate of creditors composed of Penta Vida and 4Life insurance company, in financing granted to Grupo Anpac for the development of hydroelectric power plants throughout the country.
• Participated in the team that advised Banco Santander Chile in a mixed financing composed of loans, leasing and leasebacks, to the company Pecket Energy SpA, a subsidiary of Ingeniería Civil Vicente, for the financing of the Cabo Negro and Vientos Patagónicos power plants.
• Advised Banco Internacional in financing granted to Eurocorp Group for the financing of the real estate project for the multifamily industry, Don Pepe, through the company “Arrendamientos Don Pepe”.
• Advised Banco Internacional in the financing granted to Eurocorp group for the financing of a real estate project for the multifamily industry, Décima Avenida, through the company “Arrendamientos Décima Avenida”.
• Advised Banco Internacional in the financing granted to Eurocorp group for the financing of a real estate project for the multifamily industry, Portugal Cuevas, through the company “Arrendamientos Portugal Cuevas”.
• Advised Banco Internacional in financing granted to Larraín Vial, through the company “Carrera Capital SpA”, for the financing of the real estate project called Edificio José Miguel Carrera, for the multifamily industry.
• Advised Banco Santander in financing granted to Larrain Vial, through the company “Inmobiliaria Serrano SpA”, for the financing of the real estate project Serrano, for the multifamily industry.
• Advised Banco Itaú Corpbanca in the financing granted to NH Hotels Group for the financing of Hotel NH Vitacura.
• Advised Banco Santander-Chile and a syndicate of banks composed of Banco de Crédito e Inversiones and Banco Internacional, in financing granted to Grupo Pirazzoli.
• Advised Banco Internacional and syndicate of banks, as financial creditors in the sale of Netglobalis company.
• Advised Banco Internacional and syndicate of creditors composed of Penta Vida and Vida Security in the financing of the acquisition of shares of Feeders Funds from BCI Asset Management.
• Advised Banco Internacional in corporate financing to Caja de Compensación de Asignación Familiar La Araucana.
• Advised Banco Internacional in the financing of a real estate project for the multifamily industry, Rodrigo de Araya.
• Advised Energías Pudidi as debtor in obtaining financing for the construction of a hydroelectric power plant with Banco de Chile.
• Advised Banco Internacional and the syndicate of banks composed of Banco Consorcio and China Construction Bank in the financing granted to PSINet Chile S.A. for the financing of the southern fiber optic project for the southern part of Chile.
• Advised Banco Santander and Banco Estado in the financing for the acquisition of Hotel Gavina in Iquique.

Professional Career

• Associate attorney at Palma, since 2018.
• Paralegal at Philippi, Prietocarrizosa, Ferrero DU & Uría, 2014-2015.

Education

• Diploma in Corporations and Companies, Universidad de Los Andes, 2022.
• Law Degree awarded by the Supreme Court of Justice, 2019.
• Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, School of Law, 2017.

Academic Activities and Publications

• Teaching assistant of Commercial Law at Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, 2019 to date.

Languages

• Spanish and English.

Education

• Universidad de los Andes, Law School 2025.

Professional Career

• Associate at Palma, since 2026
• Intern at the Naval Prosecutor’s Office of Valparaíso, 2022

Academic Activities

• Teaching Assistant in Constitutional Law, School of Law, Universidad Finis Terrae, 2025.
• Teaching Assistant in Ethics, School of Medicine, Universidad de los Andes, 2022.
• Teaching Assistant in Anthropology, School of Dentistry, Universidad de los Andes, 2023.
• Teaching Assistant in Theology, Center for General Studies, Universidad de los Andes, 2022-2025.

Languages

• Spanish and English.

Education

• Law degree conferred by the Supreme Court, 2026.
• Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Law School, 2024.

Memberships

• Member of the Union Internationale des Avocats.

Professional Career

• Associate at Palma, since 2025

Academic Activities

• Teaching Assistant in Commercial Law, Faculty of Law, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, 2023–2024.
• Teaching Assistant, Economic Law, School of Law, Universidad Finis Terrae, since 2026.
• Teaching Assistant, Political and Constitutional Law, School of Law, Universidad Finis Terrae, since 2026.

Languages

• Spanish and English.

Ignacio has been part of the process for the design and implementation of complex corporate governance structures restructuring of important external audit company in Chile. He has been part in foreign investment processes in Chile, and in the design and implementation of the corporate structures with which they currently operate. Among others, he has:

• Participated in the syndicated financing of important retail companies.
• Been part of the reorganization of a large company belonging to the distribution industry.
• Participated in important real estate financings, including new projects in different cities in Chile.

Education

• Master of Law (LL.M.) University of Virginia School of Law, Charlottesville, Virginia, 2024.
• Diploma in Law and Business, Universidad de Los Andes, 2021.
• Law Degree awarded by the Supreme Court of Justice, 2018.
• Law Degree, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile School of Law, 2017.

Professional Career

• Associate attorney at Palma, 2018 to date.

Languages

• Spanish and English.

Joaquín has been an associate at Palma since 2022. He advises on constitutional and administrative litigation, competition law disputes, and representation before state authorities.
He served as an advisor to constituent delegates during the development of the Chilean Constitutional Convention from 2021 to 2022, and to the Constitutional Council in 2023.

He currently works as an external compliance officer for several companies, advising their senior management and assisting them in the implementation and oversight of corporate best practices and regulatory compliance, developing policies and procedures to prevent legal risks, and adapting their prevention models to new legal frameworks, such as Law No. 20.393 on corporate criminal liability and Law No. 21.595 on Economic Crimes, among other regulations.

He is a member of the New York State Bar and various courts in the Second Federal Circuit (since 2024), enabling him to practice law in both Chile and the United States. He provides advice on U.S. law matters, also establishing networks with U.S. law firms related to Palma’s practice areas.

Education

• Master of Laws (LL.M.), Columbia University Law School, New York, 2023.
• LL.M. in Constitutional Law, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile Law School, 2022.
• Certificate in Regulation and Public Law, University of Chile Law School, 2021.
• Certificate in Public Economic Law, University of Chile Law School, 2021.
• Certificate in Institutional Development and Constitutional Process, Universidad Autónoma de Chile, 2020.
• Certificate in Competition Law and Policy, University of Chile Law School, 2020.
• Certificate in Canon Law and Matrimonial Procedural Law, University of Navarra Law School, Spain, 2019.
• Admitted to the Supreme Court of Chile, 2019.
• Bachelor of Laws, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Law School, 2018.
• Academic Exchange, University of Melbourne, Australia, 2017.

Memberships

• Colegio de Abogados de Chile A.G.
• New York State Bar (Admitted).
• Member of the New York State Bar and New York State Bar Association.
• Member of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York Bar.
• Member of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York Bar.
• Member of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit Bar.
• Member of the Union Internationale des Avocats.
• Member of the International Society of Public Law ICON-S.
• Member of the Chilean Chapter of the International Society of Public Law ICON-S.
• Member of the Advisory Committee on Corporate Governance and Compliance of AmCham Chile.
• Chilean Association of Canon Law.
• Chilean Association of Constitutional Law.
• Member of the Columbia Law School Alumni Association.
• Member of the Columbia Alumni Association.
• Member of the Columbia Chilean Alumni Association.

Professional Career

• Associate attorney at Palma, 2022 to date.
• Foreign Associate, Fox Horan & Camerini LLP, New York, 2023.
• Advisor to Constitutional Convention of Chile, 2022.
• Lawyer and Chief of Staff of the Legal Division of the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Chile, 2019-2022.
• Associate attorney at Carey y Cía., 2018-2019.
• Paralegal at Carey y Cía., 2014.

Academic Activities

• M. Professor, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile Law School, since 2025.
• Antitrust and Regulation Law Professor, Universidad Finis Terrae Law School, since 2025.
• Editor at Juriste Magazine, Union International des Avocats, since 2025.
• Awarded the “Legado Alejandro Silva Bascuñán” for the best academic performance among graduates of the LL.M. in Constitutional Law, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, 2023.
• Political and Constitutional Law Professor, Universidad Finis Terrae Law School, since 2022.
• Coordinator, UC Program on Competition Law, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile Law School, 2021-2023.
• Awarded the “Monseñor Carlos Casanueva” for academic distinction, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile Law School, 2018.
• Associated Collaborator, UC Center for Law and Religion, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile Law School, since 2015.
• Academic Counselor, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile Law School, 2016.
• Teaching Assistant, Civil Law, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile Law School, 2017-2022.
• Teaching Assistant, Political and Constitutional Law, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile Law School, 2013-2022.
• Teaching Assistant, Procedural Law, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile Law School, 2016-2019.
• Teaching Assistant, Canon Law and Religious Freedom, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile Law School, 2014-2018.
• Teaching Assistant, Economic Law, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile Law School, 2013-2016.
• Teaching Assistant, Roman Law, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile Law School, 2012-2015.

Publications

• “Religion and Supra-Rationality, Teachings of the Chilean Constitutional Process, 2019-2023”. Latin American Journal of Law and Religion, Vol. 10, No. 1, 2024.
• “The Resolution of Antinomies in Bankruptcy Proceedings: Diverging Criteria Between the Chambers of the Supreme Court”. Ius et Praxis Journal, Year 28, No. 3, 2023.
• “Freedom of Worship and Its Collective Scope in Religious Phenomena: Essential Core of Religious Freedom”. Journal of Current Legal Affairs, University of Development, No. 46, 2022.
• “Salmon Industry, Transparency, and Competition Law”. Competition Law Cases – UC Competition Law Program, No. 8, July 2021.
• “Economic Constitution, Competition Law, and the Constitutional Process”. Competition Law in a Few Words – UC Competition Law Program, No. 6, July 2021.
• “Unitary State and Regionalization Challenges”, in Soto Velasco, Sebastián and Hube Portus, Constanza (2021): “Fundamental Concepts for the Constitutional Debate”, Santiago, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile Publishing.
• “Constitutional Duties” in Soto Velasco, Sebastián and Hube Portus, Constanza (2021): “Fundamental Concepts for the Constitutional Debate”, Santiago, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile Publishing.
• Editor in Alcalde Rodríguez, Enrique (2018): “Contractual Liability”, Santiago, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile Publishing.

Languages

• Spanish, English and Italian.

Education

• Universidad de los Andes, Law School 2025.

Professional Career

• Associate at Palma, since 2026
• Law Clerk at Pérez de Arce Abogados, 2024–2025
• Intern at Garrigues, 2025
• Intern at Farren, Forttes & Cia, 2023

Academic Activities

• Bachelor of Laws, with two distinctions
• Teaching Assistant, Administrative Law, Universidad de Los Andes, 2023–2025.

Languages

• Spanish, English and Portuguese.

Estudios Universitarios

• University of Chile, Faculty of Derecho, 2024.
• Academic Exchange, University of Zagreb, Faculty of Law Croatia, 2023.

Career

• Associate at Palma, since 2026.

Languages

• Spanish and English.

Education

• Master in Law (LL.M.) 2024, Northwestern University, Pritzker School of Law.
• Law Degree with minor in Commercial Law, Universidad de Los Andes, School of Law, 2012-2017.
• Law degree awarded by the Supreme Court of Justice.

Professional Career

• Associate attorney at Palma, since 2019

Languages

• Spanish and English.

• Advised Banco Internacional in financing granted to Inversiones Superfrutas SpA, subsidiary of Canadian fund PSP Investments.
• Advised Banco Itaú in the restructuring of the financing granted to the company Centros Comerciales Vecinales Arauco Express S.A., a subsidiary of Parque Arauco S.A.
• Advised Banco Internacional in financing granted to San José Farms SpA in the context of the IPO launched by Hortifrut S.A.
• Advised Encuadrado, a Chilean startup backed by Y Combinator, in seed stage financing round. 
• Advised Banco Internacional and a syndicate of creditors composed of Penta Vida and Principal, in financing granted to Fondo de Inversión Rentas Residenciales Larraín Vial – Eurocorp.
• Advised Banco Internacional in financing granted to subsidiaries of Toesca Avenida Net Lease Chile II Fondo de Inversión.
• Participated in the team that represented Banco Internacional in financing granted to Grupo Bethia.
• Advised Baco International in financing granted to Fondo de Inversión Security Desarrollo Comercial Bicentenario. 
• Participated in the team that advised Banco Internacional, and syndicate of banks, as financial creditors in the sale of Netglobalis company.
• Advised Banco Itaú in the migration of its current foreign currency financing contracts from Libor to its global replacement rate.
• Participated in the team advising Banco Santander-Chile and the syndicate of banks composed of Banco de Crédito e Inversiones and Banco Internacional, in financing granted to Grupo Pirazzoli.

Other practices

• Palma Tech.

Education

• Law degree awarded by the Supreme Court of Justice, 2020.
• Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, School of Law, 2017.

Professional Career

• Associate attorney at Palma, since 2021.
• Associate attorney at Ernst & Young Chile, 2019-2021.

Academic Activities and Publications

• Teaching assitant of Asian Law, Facultad de Derecho Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, 2017-2018.
• Teaching assistant of International Law, Facultad de Derecho Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, 2017-2018.

Languages

• Spanish and English.