
Joaquín Palma focuses his practice on Corporate, International, Competition Law, Public and Regulatory Law, and Compliance, leading our Public and Regulatory Law and Compliance areas.
Experience 
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.
Credentials 
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.
Career 
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.