About us
We live in an ever-changing world. Thus, the ability to recognize and adapt to it is vital. This is especially true in Chilean society today.
Bearing this in mind, we conceive law as a dynamic tool at the service of the interests and businesses of individuals and institutions, who
will find in us a high-quality, committed and warm attention in a variety of areas of law.
We have experience in the academia, in the public sector, in advising institutions and private companies, in the interaction with
international organizations, or participating in the normative design and negotiation of laws and projects related to the incorporation of
the gender perspective and human rights standards in Chilean legislation and in the activity of the State administration.
This enables us to
generate rigorous and cutting-edge regulatory solutions that respond to the social changes taking place in civil society, the private sector
and the public sector, both nationally and internationally.
We place all our professional background and solid academic training at the service of our clients in order to support their activities with
commitment, quality and excellence.
Claudia Sarmiento Ramírez
Main partner
Studies:
Lawyer, University of Chile, 2007.
Graduated with maximum distinction.
Master of Laws (LLM) in Legal Theory, New York University, 2011-2012.
Intensive course on "Justiciability of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights: Theory and Practice". Abo Akademi, Turku, Finland, 2008.
Languages: Spanish and English.
Background:
After finishing her undergraduate, Claudia worked at the Human Rights Center of the University of Chile, where she was a researcher
and editor of the Human Rights Yearbook. After studying her master's degree at New York University School of Law, Claudia worked as
head lawyer of the Legal Reforms Department of the Ministry of Women and Gender Equality and later as legal-legislative advisor of
the Legal Division of the Ministry of the Presidency Secretariat.
Claudia has been a visiting professor at the Department of International Law of the Faculty of Law of the University of Chile and is
currently a Professor of Constitutional Law at the Alberto Hurtado University. Together with Elisa Walker, she is Co-Director of the
Diploma in Strategies for the Management of Diversity and Inclusion at the Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez.
Claudia is author of several publications related to international law, gender theory and constitutional law.
She is a member of the Bar Association.
Member of "Libertades Públicas".
Elisa Walker Echenique
Main partner
Studies:
Lawyer, University of Chile, 2006.
Graduated with maximum distinction.
Master of Laws (LLM) in Innovation, Technology and Law, University of Edinburgh, 2009-2010.
Master of Arts (MA) in Political Philosophy and Law, University College London (UCL), 2011-2012.
Languages: Spanish and English.
Background:
After finishing her undergraduate, Elisa worked as a legal-legislative advisor in the Legal Division of the Ministry of the
Presidency Secretariat. Between 2008-2012 she lived in the United Kingdom, where she completed her postgraduate studies. Between
2014-2017 she worked as a legal advisor in the Ministry of Women and Gender Equality. Between 2017-2018 she worked as an advisor in
the cabinet of the Minister of Labour and Social Security.
Elisa has been a professor of intellectual property and political philosophy at the Faculty of Law of the Adolfo Ibáñez University.
She has also lectured on intellectual property at various universities in the country. Together with Claudia Sarmiento she is
Co-Director of the Diploma Course Strategies for the Management of Diversity and Inclusion at the Adolfo Ibáñez University.
Elisa has several publications on intellectual property, including books and articles in specialized journals.
She is a a counselor of the Bar Association.
Member of “Libertades Públicas”.
William García Machmar
Adviser
Studies:
Lawyer, University of Chile (2007). Graduated with maximum distinction.
Master of Laws, Public Law, Universidad de Chile (2011).
Master of Laws (LLM), New York University (2011-2012)
Languages: Spanish and English.
Background:
William has worked in the Legal-Legislative Division of the Ministry General Secretariat of the Presidency, first as an advisor
(2006-2010) and then as Division Chief (2014-2018). Between 2010 and 2014 he was a clerk to Justice Carlos Carmona at the
Constitutional Court and researcher at the Center for Regulation and Competition at the University of Chile (RegCom). Since 2018 he
has been working as an advisor and consultant.
He is professor of Administrative Law at Universidad Alberto Hurtado and is the author of several publications on civil liability,
competition, administrative sanctions, public service, public goods, subsidies (grants, aid, scholarships, etc.).
Pascual Cortés Carrasco
Associated
Studies:
Lawyer, University of Chile (2015). Graduated with maximum distinction.
Certificate in International Legal Studies Program. American University, Washington D.C., USA (2010).
Master of Laws (LLM), London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE (2019).
Languages: Spanish and English.
Background:
Between 2016 and 2017, Pascual served as content advisor to the Dean of the Universidad de Chile Law School. Between 2017 and 2018,
he was an advisor to the cabinet of the Human Rights Undersecretary, at the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights. He joined Sarmiento
& Walker in 2019, after completing his postgraduate studies at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) Law
Department.
Pascual has been a professor of human rights at the Adolfo Ibáñez University Law School and is currently a professor of public law at
the University of O'Higgins Law School. He has publications related to fundamental rights, international human rights law and the
regulation of police power.
Nicole Lacrampette Polanco
Associated
Studies:
Lawyer, University of Chile (2011).
Master of Laws (LLM) with specialization in International Law, UC Berkeley (2016-2017), Fulbright Scholar.
Languages: Spanish and English
Background:
After graduating from law school, Nicole worked at the Human Rights Center of the University of Chile, where she did research and
teaching. In 2014 she worked as a scholarship holder at the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights and later, between 2015 and
2016, as a legal advisor at the Ministry of Women and Gender Equality. After completing her postgraduate studies, she worked as a
legal adviser in the Legal-Legislative Division of the Ministry of the General Secretariat of the Presidency.
Nicole has several publications in the area of international human rights law.
Fernanda Montero Umbach
Legal Assistant
Studies:
Fernanda is completing her fifth year of undergraduate studies at the Diego Portales University Law School. Among other interests,
she works actively in the migrants rights legal clinic.
Languages: Spanish and English
