Bárbara Vera is a partner and head of the Labor and Employment practice of Garrigues Chile.

 

She is an expert in employment, social security and immigration law. She focuses mainly on advising local and multinational clients on the hiring of workers, compensation, benefits, strategic advice on HR aspects, contractual terminations, obtainment of visas and work permits for foreign personnel and labor matters associated with M&A transactions, including mergers and acquisitions at national and international level.

 

She has extensive experience in collective bargaining processes, dealings with unions and federations, anti-union practices and unfair practices and has actively participated in collective bargaining processes governed by the new labor legislation in force in Chile regarding collective bargaining and labor relations.

 

Her practice also covers the preparation and conduct of labor litigation in relation to breach of fundamental rights, unjustified dismissal, collection of benefits, dismissal disputes involving the dismissal of protected workers, declarations of sole employer (Multi Rut), occupational accidents and occupational disease, anti-union practices and unfair practices, among others.

 

Bárbara Vera was recognized by Chambers and Partners in 2015 and 2016, with clients highlighting her meticulousness and assertiveness in handling matters under her control (Band 1).

 

She previously worked as a lawyer specializing in employment law at Corporación Nacional del Cobre de Chile - Codelco, where she headed the strategic labor aspects of the Corporation, mainly in the area of collective labor law. In addition, given her experience in labor and social security matters, she was a board member of Isapre Chuquicamata, San Lorenzo Isapre, Isapre Río Blanco and Isapre FUSAT, all private health insurance institutions. 

 

Between 2009 and 2015, she was senior lawyer at law firm Carey y Cía., having led the labor law area between 2012 and 2015. Previously she worked as an associate of the labor and employment law practice of law firm Claro y Cía.

She is currently an international adviser on Chilean employment and labor law for the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).

 

Between 2004 and 2011 she worked as assistant to the chair in Employment and Social Security Law at the Faculty of Law of Universidad de Chile. She has also been a speaker on specialist courses on Employment Law organized by LexisNexis.

 

Bárbara Vera is a member of the Chilean Bar Association.