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Sofía O´Ryan

Sofía O'Ryan

She/HerCounsel
About

Sofía O'Ryan concentrates her professional practice in competition law. In this context, she advises on merger control procedures, unilateral conducts, and cartels in investigations before the National Economic Prosecutor's Office (FNE) and proceedings before the Tribunal for the Defense of Competition.

In addition, she advises on the design and implementation of commercial policies consistent with the strategic objectives of each client and current regulations, as well as in the development of compliance programs and internal investigations for the timely prevention and detection of potentially risky behaviors, assisting clients in the definition of the most appropriate solutions.

Sofía regularly advises clients on competition matters in day-to-day business, focusing on potential abuses of a dominant position in commercial practices and policies. She has assisted in collaboration between competitors, exclusivity agreements, and the use of competitor information, among others, to clients in various industries such as technology, industrial, and life sciences.

She also advises on consumer protection matters in proceedings before the National Consumer Service (SERNAC) and courts on advertising regulation, including false or misleading advertising and unethical practices.

EXPERIENCE

Antitrust

  • Uber Eats: Advised the client during the investigation initiated by the National Economic Prosecutor’s Office (FNE) in 2021, regarding vertical restraints observed in agreements between digital platforms (Rappi, Pedidos Ya and Uber Eats) and the restaurants associated to them. 
  • Hospitality platform: Advised in the context of a market study on accommodation platforms conducted by  the National Economic Prosecutor’s Office.
  • Pharmaceutical company: Advised throughout the mandatory notification process before  the National Economic Prosecutor’s Office regarding the context of the acquisition by an investment company.
  • A medical devices company: Advising, reviewing, and redrafting its dawn raid routine materials that could be done by local authorities, adjusting them to Chilean law for local businesses in Chile.
  • Inversiones Santa María: Advised the client in the sale of its participation in the information security company Neosecure, with a presence in Chile, Peru, Argentina, Spain, Colombia, and Brazil, to the Brazilian fund Patria. We also advised the client on the termination of the shareholders' agreement and future obligations with The Rohatyn Group, which also sold its participation in Neosecure.
  • Uber: Defense of Uber Chile SpA and Uber International Holding B.V. before the antitrust court in a lawsuit filed by a union of taxi drivers against the clients and other ridesharing app firms.
  • American Tower Corporation: Advised the client on purchasing 30,722 telecommunication towers from Telefónica Group in Europe (Germany and Spain) and Latin America (Brazil, Chile, Argentina, and Peru).

Consumer Protection/Advertising 

  • A worldwide leading cosmetic and beauty company: Advised in a claim against a company specializing in personal care products, in the case followed before the National Board of Ethics on Advertisement (CONAR).
  • Platform: Advised in consumer-related matters. This includes representing the client in legal proceedings before administrative tribunals such as the National Consumer Service (SERNAC) and judicial courts, including small claims and civil courts, as required by law.
  • Cornershop: Defense of the client against a claim presented by SERNAC before the Local Tribunal (Juzgado de Policía Local).
  • L’Oréal: Defense of the client against a class action presented by an association of consumers (CONADECUS) before the Civil Tribunal.
  • Company in the entertainment industry: Advised on the potential effects  that the shutdown of a Platform may have.
  • Uber: Successful representation before the CONAR related to a consumer claim regarding Uber Eats’ advertising. 
  • Other clients: Advised and supported the client by producing security alerts and recall processes.
Languages
  • English
  • Spanish
Education
  • Law, Universidad de Chile, 2011

    Diploma in Regulation and Competition, Faculty of Economics and Business, Universidad de Chile, 2014-2015

    Master of Laws (LL.M), King's College London, United Kingdom, 2016-2017

    Course Competition Economics: Abuse of Dominance, Barcelona School of Economics, 2018

    Course Competition in Digital Markets, Barcelona School of Economics, 2021

    Course on Consumer Law, personal data and new technologies, Universidad Adolfo Ibañez, 2023

Awards

The Legal 500 Latin America

  •  Rising Star, Chile Competition and Antitrust (2022 - 2024)
Additional Awards
  • Leaders League (Merger Control - Highly Recommended (2022-2023), Competition Antitrust & Investigations – Recommended (2021-2022), Competition Antitrust & Investigations –Recommended (2021), Competition Antitrust & Investigations – Recommended (2022)
  • Latin Lawyer 250 Antitrust – competition  – Highly Recommended (2022)
  • Best Lawyers® Competition / Antitrust Law (2023-2024)

Publications

News Overview

Prior Experience

  • Coordinator of the Antitrust Division, National Economic Prosecutor's Office, 2020
  • Coordinator of the Merger Division, National Economic Prosecutor's Office, 2018–2020
  • Intern at the European Commission, Directorate General for Competition, Belgium, 2017
  • Lawyer at the Merger Division, National Economic Prosecutor's Office, 2013–2016

Memberships And Affiliations

  • Chilean Bar Association

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