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Diego Pena

Diego Peña

Partner
US-LatAm Practice Group Regional Co-Leader, Energy / Infrastructure / P3
Diego Peña’s unparalleled negotiation skills, enhanced by cutting-edge business solutions, enable collaborative conversations with counterparts and, as a result, mutually beneficial agreements. In summary, a key player who deserves admiration
— Legal500 Latin America 2025
Santiago
About

Diego advises local and foreign clients on the acquisition, feasibility assessment, development, and operation of resource projects and major infrastructure projects. He assists clients with negotiating the full range of commercial agreements associated with these projects, identifying and obtaining necessary approvals, and resolving associated contentious matters.

At the project origination stage, Diego is typically engaged by clients early, so he can assist with scoping and feasibility assessment, development strategy, critical path approvals, government liaison, and stakeholder management. Therefore, he is usually involved in the early-stage of the development of projects, including financing, construction, commissioning, and execution of operating and supply agreements.

Diego has relevant experience advising on all matters related to private and public infrastructure projects, such as maritime and terrestrial ports and large-scale industrial facilities, desalination plants, LNG terminals, green hydrogen and renewables (hydro, wind, biomass, and solar energy plants), and transmission infrastructure, including drafting and negotiating EPC, EPCM, BOT, or O&M agreements, among others.
Diego also regularly advises clients, such as financial institutions and private investors, on energy transition matters and PPP and assists underwriters in assessing resource projects.

He has experience developing projects in Chile, Perú, Colombia, Uruguay, Nicaragua, and Australia.

Diego Peña co-leads the Energy and Natural Resources practice group of DLA Piper in Chile.  

 
Areas of FocusEnergy and Natural ResourcesRenewablesInfrastructure, Construction and TransportCorporateLife Sciences
Bar admissionsChile

EXPERIENCE

  • CarbonFree Technology Inc during all stages of development of photovoltaic power plants, from the due diligence processes in a greenfield stage until the acquisition, execution of the EPC and O&M agreement, and the operation stage of the power plants, performing due diligence and advising in the successful acquisition of more than 50 power photovoltaic plants in the last years, most of them now operating
  • SUSI Partners A.G. in the execution of a Framework Agreement with Biwo Renovables S.A. for the purchase, development, construction, operation and maintenance of a portfolio of power plants, including PV solar and wind power plants, for approximately 243.6 MW in total capacity
  • Blue Elephant in the formalization of a joint venture with local developer and EPC contractor oEnergy, for the development, construction, financing, debt structuring, operation and maintenance of 12 PV solar plants totaling approximately 120 MWp
  • Transelec S.A. in the due diligence process and the negotiation and drafting of the SPA for the acquisition of the Ana María substation owned by Total Energies, located in the north of Chile
  • Solarcentury Chile SpA in the bidding process carried out by the Ministry of National Assets to obtain a concession of public lands for the development of three utility-scale solar PV projects
  • American Tower Corporation on the purchase of assets from Entel in Chile and Peru (US$ 772 million)
  • The Coca Cola Company (USA - Chile) - Andina – Embonor on the purchase of 100% of Comercializadora Novaverde S.A.- "Guallarauco" (US$ 80 million)
  • Solar Century SpA on developing a portfolio of photovoltaic projects, including the Doña Carmen Project (Photovoltaic Solar Plant) with Energía Cerro El Morado SA (US$ 40 million)
  • Ecoser S.A. shareholders’ on selling 100% of the company's shares (US$23 million).
 
Languages
  • Spanish
  • English
Education

  • Diploma, Future Electricity Markets and their Regulation, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile - Engineering School, 2021

  • LL.M. (Master of Laws), Northwestern University School of Law, 2012
  • Certificate, Business Administration, IE Business School of Law, 2012

Awards

The Legal500 Latin America

  • Next Generation Partner, Chile, Energy and Natural Resources: Electricity and Hydrocarbons (2025)
  • Next Generation Partner, Chile, Projects and Infrastructure (2023 – 2025)
  • Recommended, Chile, Public Law (2025)
  • Recommended, Latin America: International Firms Projects and Energy (2023 – 2024)
  • Recommended, Chile, Energy and Natural Resources: Electricity and Hydrocarbons (2024)
  • Rising Star, Chile, Projects and Infrastructure (2021 – 2022)
  • Recommended, Chile, Energy and Natural Resources: Electricity and Hydrocarbon, Oil and Gas (2018 – 2019, 2021 – 2022)
  • Recommended, Chile, Corporate and M&A (2019)
  • Next Generation Partner, Chile, Corporate and M&A (2018)
  • Recommended, Chile, Projects and Infrastructure (2018)
Additional Recognitions
  • Named, Energy Law, Best Lawyers, (2020 – 2023)
  • IE Foundation Scholarship
  • Outstanding Practice Award (Corporación de Asistencia Judicial)

Prior Experience

Before joining the firm, Diego worked as an associate at two prominent Chilean law firms. During 20219, he completed a secondment in our Perth office in Australia. 
 

Teaching Experience

  • Professor, Energy Law and Project Development, School of Law of Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez (2014 – present);
  • Professor in Environment and Sustainable Development graduate program (Diploma), Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile (2022 – present)

    Memberships And Affiliations

    • Chilean Bar Association

    My latest insights

    Publication

    Chile amends its Water Code, simplifying communications and sanctioning procedures by the...

    23 April 2025 .5 minute read

    Publication

    Chile approves energy bidding process for regulated customers

    21 April 2025 .7 minute read

    Publication

    Collection of patents for non-use of water use rights

    31 January 2025 .2 minute read

    View All

    Connect

    Phone

    +56-2 2798 2605
    (Work, Santiago)
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