Esteban Fresno
Associateefresno@carey.cl
+56 2 2928 2205
His practice focuses on natural resources, mining & decommissioning plans, water & desalination, energy, environment & ESG, indigenous affairs, maritime concessions, infrastructure, and project development & financing, including the areas of corporate, transactional, constitutional, and administrative law.
REPRESENTATIVE EXPERIENCE
- Codelco on the design of the corporate governance for the development of the Llurimagua copper project with ENAMI EP in Ecuador.
- Mainstream Renewable Power, through its subsidiary Cóndor Energía, on a financing for approx. USD580 million granted by CaixaBank, DNB, KfW IPEX-Bank, Natixis, SMBC and Société Generale for the development and construction of the Cóndor portfolio, consisting of four renewable energy projects: Tchamma, Cerro Tigre and Escondido in northern Chile and Alena in the south, including the construction of transmission lines and electrical substations.
- Sierra Gorda SCM on the analysis and renegotiation of agreements with contractors.
- Aftermath Silver on the acquisition of 100% of the Challacollo silver and gold project in Chile, owned by Mandalay Resources, and in obtaining the operation’s approval by the TSX Venture Exchange.
- S-Energy on the review and due diligence of a portfolio of eight solar PMGD projects, their financing process and construction, and on the acquisition of Jahuel project.
- Complejo Portuario Mejillones on the preparation and negotiation of contracts for the construction, financing and operation of port facilities, as well as the modification and lease of maritime concessions, for an investment of over USD2.1 billion.
- A mining company on a debt restructuring for USD60 million in the approval of a pre-insolvency proceeding, including the regularization of its mining closure plan.
- National and international mining companies on judicial, corporate and regulatory matters.
AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS
- Recognized in Mining, The Legal 500.
- Recognized in Energy and Natural Resources, IFLR.
- Recognized in Energy and Natural Resources, Expert Guides-Rising Stars, Legal Media Group.
- Recognized in Indigenous Affairs, Leading Lawyers, Idealis.
ACTIVITIES AND MEMBERSHIPS
- Researcher, Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment (2023).
- Faculty Curriculum Committee Member, Columbia Law School (2022-2023).
- Visiting Professor in Logistics Management of Supply and Acquisitions Program, Business Administration School, Universidad de Santiago de Chile (2016-2022).
- Attorney in Legal-Legislative Division, Ministry of General Secretariat of the Presidency (2013-2014).
- Teaching Assistant of Indigenous Law, Universidad Católica de Chile (since 2010).
- Teaching Assistant and Adjunct Professor of Canon Law, Universidad Católica de Chile (2007-2016).
- Teaching Assistant of Constitutional Law, Universidad Católica de Chile (2006-2009).
- Member of the Chilean Bar Association.
- Member of the American Bar Association.
- Member of the New York Bar Association.
- Member of the Foundation for Natural Resources and Energy Law (formerly Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation).
- Member of the International Institute for Conflict Prevention & Resolution.
PUBLICATIONS
- Co-author of the article "Provisions on Liability for Decommissioning of Upstream Offshore Oil and Gas Infrastructure in Investor-State Contracts”, Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment (2023).
- Co-author of the article "Citizen Participation and Prior Consultation in the Ibero-American Mining Sector", Ibero-American Mining Law Annuary, Volume II, Universidad Externado de Colombia (2022).
RELATED AREAS
EDUCATION
- Law, Universidad Católica de Chile.
- Postgraduate Diploma in Natural Resources and Energy Law, double major in Mining Law and Water Law, Universidad Católica de Chile (2013).
- LL.M., Columbia Law School, New York (2023).
- Jaime Guzmán Errázuriz Award, to the best Constitutional, Politic and Administrative Law student of the class, Universidad Católica de Chile.
- Parker School Certificate of Achievement in International and Comparative Law, Columbia Law School.
- Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar Award, honors granted for superior academic achievement, Columbia Law School.
ADMISSIONS
- Chile (2013).
LANGUAGES
- Spanish.
- English.
