Santiago firm Alessandri & Compañía has selected a lawyer to lead the firm’s growing tax division. The attorney, formerly an associate at Barros y Errazuriz, is known for his work in tax compliance, litigation, corporate tax advice, and multi-national tax structures.

Cristóbal Riffo (pictured) received his law degree from the Universidad de Chile, a master’s degree in international taxation at the University of Florida, and a master’s in business law from the Universidad Adolfo Ibañez. Early in his career, Riffo worked in the Regulatory Subdirectorate of the Internal Revenue Service in Chile. He was an associate at Barros y Errazuriz from 2006 until earlier this year, when he joined Alessandri & Compañía.

Tax law is a topic of interest in Chile this year, with a new tax bill set to come before the nation’s Congress next week. Although the precise terms have been kept confidential, expectations are high.

“In terms of foreign investment in things like infrastructure projects, the tax models are critical,” said Riffo, “and in most cases tax compliance is the whole issue. It’s very important that our tax laws ensure that the taxation of dividends and of corporations will be treated properly in the future.”

Riffo joins a staff at Alessandri & Compañía that includes 23 other associates, five partners, and three of counsel. The tax division offers services in tax consulting, tax planning, and tax litigation, in addition to supporting the firm’s corporate practice through entity formation, financial structuring, and preparation for mergers and acquisitions.