Cristián Araya

With over 20 years as General Counsel in significant projects and companies, an LLM from the London School of Economics, and postgraduate degree on environmental law from Universidad de Chile, Mr. Araya gained extensive experience during his years at GENER (now AES Andes) a leader power generation company in Latin America. He acted in several international syndicated loans, project and structured finance deals exceeding US$ 1 billion for Gener and its related companies (Central Puerto, Chivor, GasAndes, ESSA, ET&FC, Piedra del Aguila, Norgener, Termoandes-Interandes), including a US$M400 Yankee bonds issuance. Mr. Araya also participated in different M&A transactions in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia and Chile. Before joining the GNL Chile Project, where he acted as CLC including negotiation of EPC, TUA, O&M, Supply, Port Services, OMA, Technical Assistance; NDAs and Land Agreements, and a US$1,3 billion international project finance (deal of the year in Chile 2009) and some other local borrowings (ie. IVA), he acted as CLC to the listed CSAV Shipping Group where he led the implementation of a shipbuilding and asset finance project for over US$ 1 billion, and advise in several revolving credit facilities with European banks. As a member of the law firm Alcaíno he advised LAN Airlines on a US$ 1,3 billion Airbus and Boeing aircraft acquisition and credit facilities transactions; he also participated in the Telex Group debt-restructuring, infrastructure financing (airports) and advised the sellers on the controlling stake takeover of listed BANCO DE CHILE for US$M 540, one of the deals of the year in Chile (2001). After that, he became General Counsel to the international pipeline Gasoducto del Pacifico during the turmoil of the Argentine financial crisis in 2002 where he advised on damage controlling mechanisms. In recent years, Cristián has advised on energy project developments including M&A and financing of natural gas cogeneration and power plants for ENAP; renewable farms and thermos solar fields for GASCO and other independent developers in Chile; the takeover of listed POLPAICO cement group and development and finance of a biomass power plant for a Brazilian developer and fuels maritime terminals for GASMAR and ARROYO ENERGY Over  US$5 billion in developments. Now, he continues to provide consulting services focused on project development, territorial regulatory permits, maritime and governmental concessions, and complex contracting agreements. He is the author of several publications on energy, territorial planning, and regulation. He is a founding partner of Araya-Oyarzun.

 

Email: cam@aolegal.cl

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​Member to Environmental Law Association (ACHIDAM); Chilean Solar Energy Association (ACESOL); CENTER for ENERGY TRANSITION UAI,(CENTRA); Past President of the “LSE Alumni Association Chile” (London School of Economics).