• Hosted by Carey and First Law International, the inaugural LATAM Regional Conference brought together senior legal leaders to address the evolving needs of clients operating across jurisdictions.
• The two-day program featured former Chilean Finance Minister Felipe Larraín and Falabella General Counsel Gonzalo Smith, alongside strategic discussions on regional collaboration, innovation and the future of legal services.

First Law International (FLI), a Global Community of independent law firms and professional services providers, held its first LATAM Regional Conference in Santiago, Chile, with Carey as the local host firm. The conference brought together leading independent law firms from across the Americas to discuss the legal, economic and business trends shaping cross-border legal services in the region.

The event brought together senior representatives from FLI member firms across Latin America and North America for two days of strategic discussion, knowledge exchange, and collaboration focused on how independent firms can better support clients navigating increasingly complex cross-border matters.

The conference focused on the key trends shaping Latin America's legal and business environment while exploring how independent firms can continue delivering coordinated legal advice across jurisdictions.

As one of FLI’s longest-standing member firms, Carey has played an active role in the development of the FLI Community and was recently appointed to the FLI Board, represented by Mr. Alberto Cardemil, Partner in the Corporate Practice, further reflecting its commitment to supporting the continued growth and development of the FLI’s Global Community.

"As businesses increasingly operate across multiple jurisdictions, clients expect legal advisers who combine deep local knowledge with seamless international coordination. Bringing together leading independent firms to exchange experience and strengthen those relationships ultimately enhances the quality of advice we provide to clients throughout the region."

says Alberto Cardemil, partner of Carey and member of FLI’s Advisory Board.

The agenda featured a keynote address from Felipe Larrain, Chilean economist, academic and former Minister of Finance of Chile, who provided valuable insights into the region’s economic outlook and economic challenges. Participants also heard directly from Gonzalo Smith, General Counsel of Falabella, who shared the perspective of a leading multinational company on selecting and working with international legal advisers. FLI extends its appreciation to both speakers for their valuable contributions and for enriching the discussions with their experience and expertise.

The conference also included strategic discussions on business development, service innovation, alternative billing models and talent management, enabling FLI members to exchange successful strategies.

Orlando Casares, CEO and founder of FLI, said:

"For 25 years, FLI has been built on the bridges created between our member firms. Today, these relationships are a strategic necessity as businesses navigate a volatile geopolitical and economic landscape, and the Santiago conference a vital forum. It is here that we aim to transform our Community into the LATAM powerhouse that this market demands—but currently lacks—and yet it is finally within a hand's reach."

FLI extends its appreciation to Carey for hosting the conference in Santiago and for its support in bringing together member firms from across the region. The event reinforces FLI’s commitment to connecting independent law firms globally and providing clients with access to trusted legal expertise, local knowledge, and coordinated support across jurisdictions.

The Santiago conference marked the first of three regional events announced during FLI’s most recent Town Hall Meeting, reflecting its continued investment in strengthening collaboration and engagement among member firms worldwide. The regional program will continue throughout the year with upcoming conferences in Singapore and Milan, bringing together FLI members across APAC and Europe.

About First Law International

First Law International is a Brussels-based Elite Global Community of more than 100 leading national law firms known as FLI NET. Together with our local counsels, we have provided legal support to hundreds of clients across many industry sectors for 23 years. Our experts specialize in cross-border legal projects, enabling each of our clients to achieve growth and success on a global scale. We are passionate about helping to connect large and small-scale businesses to expert Legal talent across borders, using the very best in-house technology. Our leadership team shares 100+ years of collective Legal & Legal Tech experience between them and for over two decades, we have built a strong and reliable service Community powered by General Counsels for General Counsels and their in-house legal teams. For more information about FLI’s global practice, please see here and connect with us on LinkedIn

About Carey

Carey is Chile's leading full-service law firm, advising multinational corporations, financial institutions, multilateral organizations and Chilean companies on their most complex legal matters. With more than 120 years of history, the firm brings together lawyers specialized in corporate law, disputes and regulatory matters, offering comprehensive coverage across virtually all areas of legal practice.

Carey combines technical excellence, global perspective and deep knowledge of the Chilean market. Its lawyers work seamlessly with leading law firms worldwide, advising on sophisticated cross-border transactions, investments, disputes and regulatory matters.

The firm is consistently recognized by the world's leading legal directories, including Chambers and Partners, The Legal 500, IFLR1000 and Lexology Index, and has been named Chile Law Firm of the Year multiple times by Chambers, IFLR1000, The Legal 500 and Lexology Index.