Description
Diego is a partner in the Corporate/M&A Group at A/C/R focusing his practice on M&A, Venture Capital, Fintech, Private Equity, and corporate law. In mergers and acquisitions, he has advised both domestic and foreign clients on several acquisition transactions, particularly in technology-focused companies, as well as partnership agreements or joint ventures.
Diego is the head of the Venture Capital and Innovation Group at A/C/R. In this capacity, he has been involved in major financing rounds and exits in recent years, advising both companies and VC funds, domestically and internationally. He works with a variety of startups in different stages of growth and across a wide range of industries. Additionally, he serves as a director and strategic advisor in various startups.
In Fintech matters, Diego is recognized for advising his clients on how trends and new legislation can affect their businesses, as well as the opportunities these changes represent. In recent years, he has served as legal counsel to various associations on regulatory and normative issues in this industry, participating in working groups convened by the Financial Market Commission (CMF).
Diego is a professor at the Faculty of Law of Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez, teaching the course "Fintech and Financial Innovation," and at Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, teaching the course "Venture Capital."
Diego is recommended by various legal directories and rankings: Chambers Latin America (Band 1), Chambers Fintech (Band 1), The Legal 500 as Next Generation Partner in Venture Capital, Leaders League as leading lawyer in Fintech and Startups & Innovation, and Best Lawyer in Venture Capital
Practice Areas
Venture Capital and Innovation | Banking, Finance and Fintech | Corporate/M&A
2013 – Master Degree in Corporate Law, New York University
2011 – Law Degree, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile School of Law
Studies
Relevant Experience
• HealthAtom | Advised on the acquisition of Dental Medica in a share deal to combine two different lines of business in the health-tech sector in Chile and Latin America.
• General Catalyst | Advise to this US-based Venture Capital fund in leading the Series A funding round of USD 17 million for Examedi, a Chilean healthtech company offering home medical services.
• Galgo | Advised on the acquisition of Crediorbe (Colombia), a fintech that grants loans for the purchase of motorcycles in a country where 3.2 motorcycles are sold for every car. With this, Galgo added a company with a portfolio of USD 35 million and capital of USD 16 million. We also advised on a financing round for USD 40.8 million granted by a group of investors including Autenco (Colombia), Amerena, Kayyak, Nazca, Copec and Kaufmann, among others, becoming the largest financing round so far in 2023 in Chile and the prelude to a future Series B that they hope to raise next year.
• Pago Fácil | Advised the sale of this Fintech platform to BCI Pagos, a joint venture between BCI and EVO Payments, which included the negotiation of all the transaction terms and conditions, leading the due diligence process, accelerating existing vesting programs and convertible notes, prior to the sale. Our advice also included the design and implementation of the structure required to carry out the operation, considering its tax impact on Pago Fácil’s shareholders.
• BICE | Advised its Corporate VC as investor in the USD 6.3 million Serie A financing for Datamart, a start-up in the fintech sector in which Santander CVC, Moonvalley and Falabella CVC also participate.
• Broota | Permanent advice to this major crowdfunding platform, including financing rounds for its campaign startups, as well as the incorporation and launch of its first and second Venture Capital Funds called Diversifica Startups (DS1) and Diversifica Startups (DS2), which were structured to invest in a total of 15 start-ups each. DS1 successfully raised USD 3 million and was also able to assemble over 200 investors.
