Garrigues adds construction and infrastructure partner in Chile

Rodrigo’s arrival reinforces the firm’s offering in both the public and private sectors. His appointment is subject to ratification at the next Garrigues partners’ meeting.

With a career spanning 20 years, Rodrigo is well-known for his experience in complex contractual relations, particularly in construction contracts, infrastructure projects and public works concessions. He has also had an outstanding career in arbitration and litigation in these fields, representing clients in both national and international disputes. He is head of the Chilean Society of Construction Law and has been recognized as a leader in his areas of expertise by the most prestigious international directories.

He holds a law degree from the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, where he also obtained a master’s degree with special mention in public law. He also holds a postgraduate qualification in administrative law from the Universidad de Salamanca and a diploma in administrative contracts from the Universidad de Los Andes.

Before joining Garrigues, Rodrigo Riquelme was a partner at Chadwick & Reymond and Reymond & Fleischmann and opened Riquelme & Silva in 2021.

In addition to his work as a lawyer, he is also a professor at several Chilean universities on construction law and concessions and forms part of the list of arbitrators at the Santiago Arbitration and Mediation Center.

At an international level, he is a member of the Chilean Steering Committee of the Spanish and Ibero-American Arbitration Club (CEIA), of Association Française Pour le Droit de la Construction (AFDCI), the Society of Construction Law (UK) and the Spanish Construction and Engineering Law Club (CDCI).

In addition to Rodrigo’s arrival, Garrigues has also welcomed Camilo Silva as a principal associate in the same department. He is an expert in the engineering and construction industries, with extensive experience in the negotiation and management of construction contracts, infrastructure, buildings and mining, as well as in dispute resolution. He was a partner at Reymond & Cía. and co-founder of Riquelme & Silva.

Camilo Silva holds a law degree from the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile and has a master’s degree in construction law from the University of Melbourne, where he received a graduate scholarship. Before joining Garrigues, he was the principal legal advisor in the office of the vice president of construction of Salfacorp and is currently a professor on the associate’s degree in construction law at the Universidad de los Andes, as well as a member of the Chilean Society of Construction Law.

Luis Felipe Merino, partner in charge of the Santiago de Chile office, affirmed that the incorporation of Riquelme and Silva “consolidates the firm’s position as a key player in the construction and infrastructure industry in Chile and Latin America, strengthening its presence in a market of constant growth and sustained demand”.

For his part, Rodrigo Riquelme highlighted that his arrival at Garrigues represents the “most significant milestone” in his career.

“We hope to be present in the main transactions and disputes in the industry in the region, bringing from Chile, our experience and leadership in construction, infrastructure and concessions”, he added.