Best Lawyers® is proud to announce the release of our 2025 editions of The Best Lawyers in Chile, Colombia, Peru and Puerto Rico. These latest editions highlight outstanding legal professionals across South America and the Caribbean, reflecting our ongoing commitment to celebrating excellence in the legal profession.
With each edition based on peer evaluations and a comprehensive review process, these accolades provide clients with a trusted guide to finding top-tier legal expertise in these regions.
Best Lawyers’ Methodology: Ensuring Fair and Transparent Recognition
At the heart of Best Lawyers’ awards lies a rigorous peer-review methodology that sets the standard for awarding legal outstanding performance.
Lawyers are nominated and evaluated by their peers, with questions centered on how likely they would be to refer a case to the nominee. This process ensures that the distinctions are based on professional credibility and expertise.
Best Lawyers also incorporates sophisticated anti-bias measures to enhance the fairness of the process. A proprietary algorithm is used to remove potential biases, ensuring that evaluations reflect the true standing of each nominee within their legal community.
This year, voter participation reached new heights across all four countries, reflecting the growing trust and relevance of Best Lawyers' peer-reviewed awards.
The 2025 Edition of The Best Lawyers in Chile™
The 2025 edition marks the 15th release of The Best Lawyers in Chile and the second edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in Chile™. Santiago remains the core of Chile’s legal scene, with a diverse range of distinguished practice areas reflecting the country’s economic and regulatory developments.
This year, 1,197 lawyers were recognized, representing the top 5.2% of Chile’s legal professionals, with 41 lawyers also earning the prestigious “Lawyer of the Year” title. Meanwhile, the Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch edition highlighted 219 emerging lawyers, representing the top 3.8% of early-career practitioners.
Most Represented Practice Areas in The Best Lawyers in Chile
Corporate and Mergers and Acquisitions Law is once again the most represented practice areas in The Best Lawyers in Chile, driven by the country’s active business environment.
As regulatory changes foster transparency and encourage economic growth, mergers and acquisitions have surged, leading to sustained demand for legal expertise in this area.
Litigation also ranks highly among the awards, reflecting the country’s efforts to address disputes arising from social reforms, increased regulatory enforcement and complex commercial cases.
As businesses pursue cost-effective solutions, many honorees in Arbitration and Mediation Law have emerged as essential advisors for conflict resolution, reflecting their growing importance in legal practice.
Tax Law is the fourth-largest field this year, driven by Chile's push for greater transparency and recent legislative efforts. The recently approved "Tax Compliance" bill aims to modernize tax administration and curb evasion. Meanwhile, discussions continue on new taxes for the super wealthy.
These changes have prompted significant asset transfers abroad, with an estimated US$30 billion leaving the country between 2019 and 2023. As the tax landscape evolves, Chilean tax specialists must adapt quickly to guide clients through these complex shifts.
Finally, Labor and Employment Law remains vital, driven by evolving regulations that emphasize workers’ rights and remote work arrangements. These developments underscore the importance of legal expertise to navigate compliance and policy adaptation in Chile's changing work environment.
The 2025 Edition of The Best Lawyers in Colombia™
The 15th edition of The Best Lawyers in Colombia highlights the country’s legal talent across a diverse range of practice areas. This year’s results reflect Colombia’s rapidly evolving legal landscape, driven by economic expansion, labor reforms and efforts to modernize various sectors. Bogotá continues to be the epicenter of legal expertise, showcasing a significant concentration of awardees.
For the 2025 edition, 663 lawyers have been recognized, representing the top 1.28% of Colombia’s legal experts, while 32 lawyers have also earned the prestigious “Lawyer of the Year” title. This year’s edition emphasizes the legal community’s pivotal role in guiding clients through Colombia’s dynamic business and regulatory environment.
Most Represented Practice Areas in The Best Lawyers in Colombia
Corporate and Mergers and Acquisitions Law leads the 2025 edition of The Best Lawyers in Colombia. Economic growth and incentives for foreign investment continue to drive corporate transactions, keeping legal professionals busy navigating complex deals and compliance requirements.
Labor and Employment Law also ranks high, reflecting the impact of recent reforms and pension adjustments. These changes aim to boost job creation and worker protections, increasing demand for legal expertise to help businesses adapt to new regulations.
Tax Law remains a key field as fiscal reforms create a need for specialized guidance. As Colombia enhances tax collection strategies, legal experts play a crucial role in helping clients manage compliance and tax planning.
Intellectual Property Law has grown due to Colombia’s focus on digital transformation. The expanding tech sector and increased emphasis on IP protection have positioned IP lawyers as essential advisors for startups and established companies alike.
Finally, Administrative Law continues to be significant, supporting businesses as they navigate Colombia’s complex public sector regulations. Legal experts in this field ensure compliance with government requirements, facilitating efficient operations for entities interacting with public agencies.
The 2025 Edition of The Best Lawyers in Peru™
The 11th edition of The Best Lawyers in Peru features the top legal professionals navigating the country's shifting landscape, marked by new labor regulations, tax reforms and efforts to strengthen the financial sector. Lima continues to be the primary hub for legal expertise, reflecting Peru’s diverse legal needs.
This year, 511 lawyers were recognized, representing the top 0.73% of Peru’s legal professionals, with 16 also receiving the prestigious “Lawyer of the Year” honor. The 2025 edition demonstrates how Peru’s legal community is addressing complex challenges driven by evolving policies and economic factors.
Most Represented Practice Areas in The Best Lawyers in Peru
Labor and Employment Law leads this year’s rankings for number of honorees. Recent regulations, including temporary access to Compensation for Time of Services (CTS) funds and mandatory disability hiring quotas, have intensified the need for legal guidance. Legal professionals are pivotal in ensuring compliance with these new requirements and supporting policy adaptation.
Tax Law also plays a central role fueled by Peru’s ongoing fiscal reforms and strategies to enhance transparency. As economic pressures mount, tax lawyers are critical in advising clients on compliance, restructuring and adapting to shifting tax obligations.
Banking and Finance Law remains vital, driven by efforts to stabilize Peru’s financial sector. Legal counsel is essential for navigating complex financial regulations, supporting both lenders and borrowers.
Lastly, Corporate and M&A Law continues to attract interest as Peru seeks to stimulate investment. Administrative Law completes the top fields, focusing on compliance with government measures to improve public sector accountability.
The 2025 Edition of The Best Lawyers in Puerto Rico™
The 12th edition of The Best Lawyers in Puerto Rico showcases the island’s leading legal talent across key practice areas. This year’s results reflect Puerto Rico’s evolving legal landscape, shaped by labor law changes, economic recovery efforts and new business incentives.
San Juan remains the central hub for legal excellence, with many honorees contributing to the island's dynamic legal environment.
This year, 415 lawyers were recognized, representing the top 2.96% of Puerto Rico’s legal professionals, with 26 also earning the prestigious “Lawyer of the Year” title. The 2025 edition demonstrates the critical role of Puerto Rican lawyers in guiding clients through regulatory shifts and economic transitions.
Most Represented Practice Areas in The Best Lawyers in Puerto Rico
Litigation leads the 2025 edition, driven by legal disputes linked to labor law reforms, economic restructuring and ongoing regulatory enforcement. With changes in workplace policies and compliance requirements, lawyers are increasingly engaged in managing conflicts and navigating complex disputes.
Corporate and Mergers and Acquisitions Law is also highly represented, as Puerto Rico’s efforts to attract new investments have spurred business growth. Legal expertise remains essential in facilitating deals and navigating regulatory frameworks that support economic development.
Labor and Employment Law remains a vital field, reflecting the impact of remote work legislation and evolving labor standards. Legal professionals are crucial in ensuring compliance with these new rules and guiding employers through the transition.
Banking and Finance Law continues to play a key role, supporting financial recovery and facilitating investment. Finally, Tax Law holds significant relevance, as recent incentives and fiscal measures aim to boost economic growth and encourage business expansion.
Looking Forward: Honoring Legal Excellence in South America and the Caribbean
The 2025 editions of Best Lawyers celebrate the exceptional talent shaping the legal landscapes of Chile, Colombia, Peru and Puerto Rico. This year’s accolades reflect not only individual achievement but also the evolving nature of the legal profession, as it responds to economic shifts, regulatory developments and the diverse needs of clients.
Best Lawyers remains committed to acknowledging the highest standards across a wide range of practice areas, fostering a legal community that is both innovative and adaptable. By celebrating leading lawyers, we aim to contribute to a more dynamic, transparent and responsive legal environment across these regions.
Discover the 2025 Honorees
We invite you to uncover this year’s award recipients and their contributions to the legal field. Use our Find a Lawyer Tool to search for top legal experts by location and specialty and celebrate the leaders shaping the future of law in South America and the Caribbean.
