Juan Pablo Mesías leads the Labor Law and Compliance practices in our office.
In the Labor practice, he focuses his work on taxation of remuneration and labor benefits; social security, general labor consulting; labor audits to companies; labor due diligence; advising companies in complex cases of termination of employment contracts of senior executives; structuring and advising on long-term incentive plans (such as stock options and RSUs), as well as remuneration structures; advising on tax, labor and social security aspects of international assignments of senior management to and from Chile; and advising on corporate welfare services, multi-benefits, fringe benefits and social security benefits in general. In addition, he supervises and is involved in our office’s labor litigation practice.
In Compliance, Juan Pablo provides clients with legal support in risk management, development of Crime Prevention Models and related programs, as well as in the continuous training of their personnel in these matters.
He advises public and private sector companies, as well as non-profit entities.
Representative Experience
Emergent Cold: Advice on labor matters as part of the lead counsel team in the purchase of 100% of Empresas Multifrigo SpA, a cold storage facilities’ company parent of three subsidiaries: Multifrigo Valparaiso SpA, Multifrigo Casablanca SpA and Multifrigo El Olivo SpA.
Graneros SpA: Advice on all labor aspects related to the acquisition of 100% of Sociedad Contractual Minera Bullmine, owner of mining properties and a plant to produce iodine, in Chile.
Waterlogic: Advice on all labor aspects related to the acquisition of Quality Water Services by Waterlogic.
Zurich (Switzerland): 1) Labor advice on acquisition of Euroamerica Seguros de Vida S.A. life insurance portfolio and of 100% of Administradora General de Fondos S.A. shares (US$155 million) ; 2) Labor and tax advice on multi-welfare services.
Waterlogic: 1) Labor advice on the acquisition of 100% of the Aquafree Group business in Chile. 2) Permanent labor advice.
Sodexo: Labor and tax advice on long-term incentive plans (stock options; RSUs and others).
Compass Group: Labor and tax advice on long-term incentive plans.
RSM Chile: Labor and tax advice on long-term incentive plans and on employees’ international assignments.
MSD: Advice on structuring of flexible labor benefit plans.
Globant: Advice on telework and application of Covid-19 labor standards.
Surecomp: Advice on telework and application of Covid-19 labor standards.
SMEC (Surbana Jurong): Permanent labor advice.
Acepta.com: Labor audit.
ADP Payroll: Permanent advice on labor and tax matters.
Hortifrut: Advice on employees’ international assignments.
Instituto Iplacex: Review of labor aspects, as requested by client.
DUOC UC: Advice on social welfare matters, social security benefits and tax aspects related to remuneration and benefits.
Modella Group: Advice on collective bargaining, 2019.
Cía. Industrial El Volcán S.A.: Labor compliance review within the financial statements audit process of KPMG, 2017.
SMU Audit: Labor compliance review within the financial statements audit process of KPMG, 2015 and 2016.
Securitas: Advice on taxation on remuneration.
Virutex Ilko: Internal labor audit (2017).
Sandvik Chile: Internal labor audit (2015).
Metro de Santiago: Labor and tax advice on social security benefits and supplementary benefits (2014).
Empresas Maco: Permanent labor advice (2012-2014).
Bupa Sanitas: Due diligence (labor-buyer) to Cruz Blanca Salud, as part of the KPMG M&A team (Project Time) (2014).
Inversiones La Construcción (ILC): Due diligence (labor-buyer) to Corp Vida – Corp Seguros, as part of the KPMG M&A team (2013).
Inversiones La Construcción (ILC): Due diligence (labor-buyer) to Banco Internacional as part of the KPMG M&A team (2014).
Prudential: Due diligence (labor-buyer) to AFP Habitat as part of the KPMG M&A team (Humita Project) (2014).
Principal: Due diligence (labor-buyer) to AFP Cuprum as part of the KPMG M&A team (2012).
Salfacorp: Due diligence (labor-buyer) to Constructora Tecsa as part of the PwC M&A team (2011).
Walmart USA: Due diligence (labor-buyer) to D&S as part of the PwC M&A team (Destination Project) (2008).
K+S: Due diligence (labor-buyer) to Sal Punta de Lobos as part of the PwC M&A team (2005).
Company linked to Grupo Yuraszeck: Due diligence (labor-buyer) to Viña Undurraga S.A. as part of the PwC M&A team (2005).
Grupo Bimbo: Due diligence (labor-buyer) to Agua Piedra Lobos as part of the PwC M&A team (2006).
Universidad Católica del Norte (UCN): Permanent labor advice (2005-2009).
Credentials
Admission
- Chile (2002)
Recognitions
- The Legal 500 – Labour and Employment
- Best Lawyers – Labour and Employment Law 2020 – 2023 – 2024 – 2025
- Latin Lawyer 250 – Labour
- Leaders League – Litigation
Languages
- Spanish and English.
Education
- LL.B., Universidad Diego Portales, 1998.
- Diploma in Labor Law and Social Security, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, 2005.
- Master in Tax Law, Universidad del Desarrollo, 2015.
Academic Activities
- Lecturer in Tax Law, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, 2012 to date.
Membership
- Chilean Bar Association.
Career
Of Counsel, NLD Abogados, 2024 to date.
Director, NLD Abogados, 2021-2024.
Counsel, DLA Piper BAZ / NLD, 2018-2020.
Director of the Labor and Employment Tax Advisory Practice, KPMG Chile, 2011 – 2017.
Labor and Tax Counsel, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), 2004 – 2011.
Lawyer, Legal Department, Isapre Colmena Golden Cross, 1995 – 2003.