The most current iteration of full-service firm Philippi Prietocarrizosa Ferrero DU & Uría, or PPU, was formed in 2015 from the merger between Chilean firms Philippi, Yrarrázaval, Pulido & Brunner, Colombian firm Prietocarrizosa and Peruvian firms Ferrero Abogados and Delmar Ugarte. The Ibero-American firm maintains offices in Chile, Colombia and Peru, with additional offices in Spain, Portugal, New York, London and Brussels thanks to its partnership with Spanish and Portuguese firm Uría Menéndez. The firm is also part of the SCG Legal and World Law Group networks. In Chile, the firm’s office is located in Santiago, and is known for its standout work in the corporate and project development practices. 

Focusses / specialisms  

PPU is equally strong across the banking & finance, capital markets, M&A and project development practice areas. In banking, the firm acts on both the borrower and lender side. It has experience in project, aircraft and corporate financing.  

In capital markets, the firm acts for underwriters and issuers on both the debt and equity side. In debt, the team works on sovereign and investment grade bond issuances. On the equity side, the team has experience working on IPOs.  

The M&A practice acts on both the buy and sell side in mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures and spinoffs across a wide variety of industries.  

In project development, the team acts for developers and sponsors for projects in the mining, energy and infrastructure industries.  

The firm also has a notable restructuring and insolvency practice, where the team represents debtors and creditors in out of court, cross border and domestic insolvency proceedings.  

Key clients  

Key clients for the firm include BNP Paribas, MUFG Bank, Scotiabank Chile, BofA Securities, JP Morgan Securities, Citigroup Global Markets, Sumitomo Chemical Company, Repsol, AD Retail, Ardian, Caixabank and Kinross Gold.  

Research period review: 33rd edition (2022/2023) 

During the research period, the banking team represented lenders in acquisition, project and corporate financing matters including refinancings. 

In capital markets, the team advised issuers and underwriters in debt and equity matters, mostly working on debt matters, which include investment grade and sustainability bond issuances.  

The M&A team worked mostly on the buyer side in private and public acquisitions across numerous industries. It also represented clients in capital increases.  

In the project development practice area, the team represented developers and sponsors largely in the financing aspects of projects in the energy industry, especially related to renewable energy projects such as solar and wind farms.  

Deal highlights: 33rd edition (2022/2023) 

Colbún S.A. $600 million 3.150% green bond issuance 

Innergex $710 million green bond issuance 

PTI Group $2 billion asset purchase financing