Chilean firm Carey has promoted three lawyers to counsel positions, two of them women, in its corporate and M&A, IP and technology, and environmental practices.

The firm announced it had promoted corporate lawyer Patricia Silberman, 40, electronic commerce and data protection lawyer Paulina Silva, 40, and environmental practitioner Felipe Meneses, 41, effective 6 September. The promotions come just four months after Carey made three new partners, with the promotions of litigation lawyer Aldo Molinari and M&A attorneys Francisco Guzmán and Jorge Ugarte. At Carey, counsel positions are an alternative to becoming partner.

Managing partner Jaime Carey points to Chile's recent tax reform, new data projection regulations and the increasing demand for sustainable development in line with OECD principles and its effect on environmental law, as reasons for the promotions.

Silberman's promotion reinforces one of Carey's strongest suits, its M&A group. Her practice covers mergers and acquisitions, global finance, securities, capital markets and international trade. She has experience advising on major cross-border transactions, including helping Qatar Airways buy a minority stake in Chilean carrier LATAM for US$613 million earlier this year. Also this year, she worked with Australian packager Amcor on its acquisition of Chilean counterpart Techpack's flexible packaging unit. Silberman is admitted to practise in Chile and New York.

Meanwhile Silva has been visible on several M&A transactions in recent years, including Scotiabank's purchase of a majority stake in Cencosud's financial services arm in 2014.

Meneses focuses his environmental practice on indigenous regulations and regulatory matters, advising on project development and assessments, environmental audits, and litigation. He provided environmental law advice when Carey helped Pattern Energy Group obtain project finance for a solar plant in the Atacama desert last year.

The promotions mean half of Carey's eight counsel positions are occupied by women. Two of that number, recently promoted Alejandra Risso and Mariela Riquelme, are certified accountants in the firm's tax group. "Gender equality is a topic we are very concerned about," says Jaime Carey. The firm already runs an internal mentoring programme for young female lawyers and next month will roll out a flexi-time policy.

Originally published by Latin Lawyer

The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.