We have advised public institutions, foundations, corporations, trade unions and non-profit social organizations, among others.
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At the request of former President Ricardo Lagos in 2012, Carey begun providing advice to the Chilean government in the international arbitration process known as “Caso Clarín” (Clarín Case). In 1996, Víctor Pey and the President Allende Foundation filed a claim with the International Arbitration Center (ICSID) in connection to the alleged expropriation of goods from El Clarín newspaper during the first days of the military regime in Chile. During her two periods of administration, President Michelle Bachelet, as well as former President Sebastián Piñera, confirmed Carey as governmental legal adviser, work our firm has carried out ad honorem for almost two decades.
Carey represented more than 100 families of the borough of Padre Hurtado that were subjects of a scam perpetrated by the former mayor of the borough and his daughter in the sale of lands for the construction of their homes. The former mayor of the borough promised the neighbours the delivery of parcels for the construction of their houses in 2002. Families, with great effort, raised funds to pay for those lands, but at the time of recording the real estate in the Real Estate Registrar, they were informed that parcels would be auctioned by the National Comptroller General Office as a consequence of unpaid taxes. The debt amounted to CLP 250 million and properties were about to be auctioned. Carey represented the plaintiffs in the legal process and finally convinced the court to sentence the former mayor and his daughter to three years of imprisonment, plus damages compensation for the families affected by this scam.
Carey advised the Volunteers of Valparaíso’s Lifeboats, emblematic institution whose primary mission is to safeguard human life at sea, in a judicial conflict with the current concessionaire of the restaurant “Botes Salvavidas” (Lifeboat) located in Prat pier in Valparaíso, which is owned by the institution. Because of default in rent payments by concessionaire, the Volunteers were close to problems related to underfinancing. With Carey’s support, the parties negotiated an agreement on payments that will allow Volunteers to continue providing their services to the community.
FIS is a private fund that seeks to support social institutions that have financial needs so that they can grow and reach operational self-sustainability. Carey advised FIS in an investment project making a pro bono due diligence for the company ChileRecicla, the first recycling plant for electronic and electric wastes in the South of Chile, located in Chillán, which provides integral management services for recycling of electronic and electric equipment that are no longer in use. Funds granted by FIS after Carey’s legal advice were destined to the automation of ChileRecicla plant and to finance the acquisition of equipment and facility implementation necessary to boost their growth.
B Corporations, which are part of Sistema B, are companies that redefine the meaning of corporate success, using the market strength to provide solutions to social and environmental problems in Chile as well as abroad. Carey advised Sistema B on the protection and registration of the brand Sistema B, and registration of a boardgame called “Granjeros” (Farmers), which promotes values such as collaboration and the common good.
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The following are a few examples of the pro bono work that is performed by our lawyers:
FUNDACIÓN PUENTE
For more than two decades, Fundación Puente has been helping hundreds of vulnerable youth in Santiago de Chile, to realize their dreams of becoming professionals through its Comprehensive Scholarship Program. This program provides economic support, individual accompaniment, academic and socio-emotional guidance to young students. In addition, it generates spaces to help them find their professional vocation, so that they do not abandon higher education and can finish their degrees, thus achieving greater possibilities of accessing a better quality of life and breaking the cycle of poverty. An example of the success of the foundation’s work is that 89% of its beneficiaries are the first generation of their families to access higher education. In the context of the “Constituent Process” in Chile, the Puente Foundation, together with Carey, organized a program to educate program participants so that they can participate effectively in national politics.
SERVICIO JESUITA A MIGRANTES (SJM)
This non-profit organization, founded in 2000, works on issues related to migration, both from a legal and social perspective. As a consequence of the pandemic, many immigrants have not been able to obtain information from the corresponding institutions about the migration process in Chile. As a result, the SJM designed and implemented a platform called “MIGRAPP”, an application that allows immigrants to chat online with volunteer advisers who guide them in their queries about migratory regularization, expulsions, obtaining a visa, among other topics. This has allowed thousands of people to access objective and reliable information. Carey participated as a volunteer member of the platform, advising people through the application, during the years 2020 and 2021.
FUNDACIÓN COLUNGA
The Colunga Foundation Round Table brought together different civil society organizations to promote a new Donations Law, and thus support NGOs affected by the pandemic. In this context, we sought to generate a law proposal to reform the current system and promote donations, through the modification of Decree Law 3,063 (Municipal Revenue Law) and Law 19,885 (Social Purposes Law). Carey participated in a group organized by the Colunga Foundation, in which the bill was reviewed from a legal and tax perspective, in order to eliminate obstacles to donations, improve control, expand the purpose and purposes of donations and make it possible to increase donors. The resulting draft with indications was sent to the Ministry of Finance of Chile.
RED PRO BONO DE LAS AMERICAS
This network promotes voluntary legal work, international collaboration and the defense of human rights. The Pro Bono Institute of Brazil, one of the members of the Pro Bono Network of the Americas, is leading a project to collect legislation and practical experience on incarcerated and convicted persons who have lost their civil and political rights, as well as on those who have been sentenced to pay a criminal fine with an outstanding payment. Carey advised the Pro Bono Network of the Americas and the Pro Bono Institute of Brazil regarding the laws and experience of Chile.
COLLECTING DUST
Carey advised this organization, created by students between the ages of 15 and 17, on its establishment as a non-profit organization. Collecting Dust is dedicated to recovering disused electronic devices, such as cell phones and electronic tablets, which are repaired and refurbished, and then given to low-income students, so they can connect to their classes online. The non-profit organization has not only helped vulnerable children in their educational process during the pandemic, but also helps reduce electronic waste by repairing equipment.
FUNDACIÓN PRO INNOVACIÓN
It is a non-profit organization created in 2005 in order to promote innovation and entrepreneurship in the country. Carey advised the foundation on the implementation of a teleworking system in order to comply with Law No. 21,342 on the gradual and safe return to face-to-face work.
FUNDACIÓN FACTOR CIUDADANO
This organization was born from the idea of three young lawyers from the Catholic University who sought to provide legal advice to low-income people in certain districts of Santiago. Due to the high demand, they decided to formalize the project by establishing the Citizen Factor Foundation, providing free legal advice, support in housing subsidies, and other similar services to people with limited resources, helping them to solve their legal problems or pointing out the information or requirements to carry out certain procedures before all kinds of authorities. To this end, they are currently receiving donations to finance their activities, and Carey advised them on the applicable tax exemptions and the requirements of the donations they receive.
FUNDACIÓN MI PARQUE
This foundation seeks to improve the quality of life in neighborhoods or vulnerable sectors of cities through the improvement and creation of new green areas in public spaces and educational playgrounds in low-income educational establishments, through a participatory process of design, construction and activation of green areas for the meeting. Each green area project is financed by a natural or legal person of private law not related to the foundation, which is linked to the community it will benefit, through corporate volunteering, where they can participate from the beginning in the workshops until the end of the construction day, in which the park or other green area is finished and inaugurated. Once the space is inaugurated, the corresponding municipality takes charge of the maintenance of the place. Carey advised them on the tax effects of a donation they received as a result of a judicial conciliation and on the procedures and requirements to be able to opt for a municipal patent exemption.
TECHO
Organization whose purpose is to overcome the poverty situation that thousands of people undergo in precarious settlements, through the joint action of its inhabitants and young volunteers of Latin America and the Caribbean. Carey has advised them on the analysis of their corporate structure to combine their activities in Chile and Latin America, and also on employment, contractual, legal, tax and industrial property issues, related to their activities in Chile as well as in the rest of Latin America.
FUNDACIÓN INDEPENDÍZATE
NGO that supports entrepreneurs using a model of collaborative education to strengthen their businesses and skills. Carey has advised different women ventures that aim to produce a positive impact in our society, on legal matters such as attainment of permits, brands and intellectual property issues, employment and contractual matters.
HOGAR DE CRISTO
Public charity institution with a tradition of more than 70 years, which is part of the work carried out by the Jesuits in Chile. Jorge Carey is member of its Financial Committee.
FORO INNOVACIÓN
Organization that promotes and communicates the development of innovation by supporting entrepreneurs through different programs of social interest. Carey provided advice in connection with their organization and operation, mainly on corporate, employment and intellectual property matters.
FUNDACIÓN GARRAS Y PATAS
Foundation that promotes a culture of respect, care and well-being of all animals. Carey advised them on different corporate matters.
FUNDACIÓN MIRADAS COMPARTIDAS
Organization whose purpose is to improve the quality of life of people who are intellectually disabled, mainly through entertainment and leisure activities. Carey gave them advice on different corporate matters.
LABORATORIO DE ARTE LÓBULO TEMPORAL
Foundation that encourages the integration and development of deaf people, mainly through activities and cultural projects. Carey provided advice on the incorporation of the institution.
CORPORACIÓN NEOVIDAS
Organization whose purpose is to provide support to preterm babies. Carey gave them advice on corporate matters.
FUNDACIÓN JEAN JACQUES DESSALINES
Organization that aims to provide pedagogical, psychological and social support to non-Spanish speaking immigrants in Chile, creating a Spanish school and enabling cultural inclusion of Haitians. Carey provided advice on the incorporation and preparation of bylaws for the institution.