Santiago Benítez

Attorney - Director

PRACTICE

His practice focuses on corporate, financial and regulatory matters, with particular emphasis on complex financing transactions, syndicated loan structures and preferred equity financings, as well as advising the payments industry, technology companies, fintechs and global players. He has led significant transactions and strategic regulatory processes involving structured finance, receivables assignments, digital payments models and regulatory analysis within the financial sector.

Relevant Transactions: (i) Advising on the structuring of financings for Kavak, Dlocal Chile SpA, Ascenty Chile SpA, Sucden Chile SpA and Fudo, including syndicated loans, credit facilities and structured financing with banks and institutional investors (2023–2025); (ii) Advising Ascenty Chile SpA on the negotiation and execution of a syndicated loan granted by BNP Paribas, Natixis, MUFG and The Bank of Nova Scotia (2023–2025); (iii) Advising on intragroup financing and accounts receivable purchase transactions for Huawei (2025); (iv) Advising on financing transactions for the audiovisual industry, including the production of the film Olive House, produced by Fábula (2023); (v) Assisting Dlocal, Bamboo Payments, Payku and Inswitch with their registration before the Chilean Financial Market Commission (CMF) as Sub-Acquirers (2025); (vi) Providing regulatory advice to Mercado Pago, Booking.com and Mastercard on payment models, acquiring structures and financial schemes in Chile (2024–2025).

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Recognized by Best Lawyers 2025 and 2026 in Banking and Finance Law.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Between 2016 and 2020, he worked at Barros & Errázuriz Abogados as part of the Capital Markets Group, advising on corporate and corporate governance matters, structured finance transactions, capital markets operations, and investment funds and fund managers.

He also completed a secondment at LarrainVial Asset Management Administradora General de Fondos, supporting the structuring and operation of investment funds, with focus in real estate and private debt investment funds.

Between 2021 and 2022, he worked at Deloitte Legal, focusing on corporate matters and mergers and acquisitions.

Santiago joined Magliona Abogados in September 2022.

EDUCATION

Law, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Bachelor’s Degree in Law and Social Sciences, approved with double distinction (2015).
Diploma in Fintech Regulation and Contracting, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. (2024).

ACADEMIC ACTIVITIES

Assistant Professor of Constitutional Law, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile (2012-2014).

LANGUAGES

Spanish and English.