Paulina Toro Reyes
Partner
Lawyer from the Universidad de Chile and Master in Anthropology at the Universidad Academia de Humanismo Cristiano, in addition to having several specialization studies in environmental law. She has more than 20 years of experience in the practice of environmental law and natural resources, having worked, among other activities, at the National Environmental Commission and as Chief Legal Officer of Poch Legal Consulting.
Given her broad expertise in environmental matters and her comprehensive involvement in the tasks she assumes, she has effectively advised public agencies, trade associations and national and foreign companies in environmental assessments, sanctioning procedures and environmental and sectorial due diligence, among other matters.
She has been recognized since 2015 by Chambers and Partners as one of the most outstanding lawyers in environmental law.
The integrity and responsibility with which I face challenges, as well as my human, rigorous and comprehensive approach, have been the essential basis of my professional development for more than 20 years.
I began my career while I was studying law, joining the judicial team of the Executive Directorate of the National Environmental Commission (now the Environmental Evaluation Service), to later join that legal department as a lawyer. This experience, which is the foundation of my professional practice, allowed me to participate in the development of environmental regulations and public policies, as well as in the improvement and implementation of environmental management instruments (such as the electronic SEIA and the entry into force of the administrative procedures law), and to develop an interdisciplinary and multi-interest approach to the execution and enforcement of environmental and natural resources law.
Subsequently, I was head of the legal department of POCH Legal, where I led a team of lawyers in both legal services and the development of projects with their engineering and environmental technical teams of POCH. Then I joined the environmental group of the law firm Philippi, Pietrocarrizosa, Ferrero DU & Uría and later the environmental area of the law firm Carcelén, Desmadryl, Guzmán y Tapia. With this experience in the environmental authority and in private consulting, in addition to the various postgraduate studies I have done, particularly in environmental management and anthropology, my focus has been on the environmental management of projects in their different phases and dimensions, from their design to their implementation.
I have actively participated in the work of interdisciplinary teams, in the environmental evaluation of investment activities, citizen participation and community relations, as well as in project supervision and sanction processes by both the Environmental Superintendence and sectorial authorities.
Within my professional career I have advised the development of projects in different productive sectors, including mining, industrial, transportation, energy, infrastructure and real estate; covering the areas of environmental law, sanitary law, natural resources, energy, water, among others.
In addition, I specialize in legal advice on issues related to the analysis and legal strategies and regulatory compliance of projects, preparation of legal reports, regulatory compliance audits, environmental contingencies, judicial and administrative actions, due diligence processes for financing and purchase and sale of projects, among others.
• Lawyer, Universidad de Chile.
• Master in Anthropology, Faculty of Anthropology, Universidad Academia de Humanismo Cristiano.
• Master’s Degree, Environmental Law, Universidad de Chile.
• Postgraduate Course, Specialization in Economics and Finance for Lawyers, Universidad de Chile.
• Diploma in Environmental and Public Management, Universidad de Chile.
• “Active Subject of an action to protect the right to life and the right to live in a pollution-free environment”. Corporate Law, Annotated Jurisprudence, Abeledo Perrot Legal Publishing Chile (2013).
• “Application of the Aarhus Convention and Directive 85/337/CEE on access to information, participation and access to justice, in environmental matters. Court of Justice of the European Union, October 18, 2011.”, Corporate Law, Annotated Jurisprudence, Abeledo Perrot Legal Publishing Chile (2012).
• “Territorial Law, and strategic environmental evaluation of Territorial Planning Instruments” (2006).
• “Training and recursive procedures in the Administration”, Government and State Administration Magazine, Legal Editorial CONOSUR LTDA. Nº81, edited text of Memory to opt for the title of lawyer (2000).
• Chambers & Partners. Environment (since 2015).
• The Best Lawyers in Chile, Environment.
• The Legal 500 Latin America: Chile. Environment.
• Chambers & Partners, Rising Star Environment, 2021: “Paulina Toro is well regarded by market sources for her expertise in the environmental field.” An interviewee points out: “Paulina is very insightful and always goes into detail.”
• Chambers & Partners, Rising Star Environment, 2020: “He is highly recommended for his regulatory prowess, with clients supporting his handling of impact reports and interactions with authorities.”