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Criminal Defense

Economic & White-Collar Crime in Chile

Fraud, misappropriation and corporate offenses — where the defense is built as much on the accounting as on the criminal code.

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Overview

What this involves

Economic crime cases are won and lost in the documents. Whether a transfer was a loan or a misappropriation, whether an invoice reflects a real service, whether a director acted within their powers — these are accounting and corporate questions before they are criminal ones.

That is why we run these matters with the audit work alongside the defense. A criminal argument unsupported by the financial record rarely persuades; a reconstruction of what the money actually did, done properly, frequently ends the case.

What we handle

Defense in economic crime

Fraud, misappropriation, breach of trust, corporate and tax-related offenses, from the investigation stage through trial.

Private prosecution

Representing companies and individuals who were the victims — often the more effective route where the prosecutor lacks the accounting resources to advance.

Forensic accounting

Reconstructing the flow of funds and the documentary trail with certified auditors, and translating it into evidence a court can use.

Corporate liability exposure

Assessing the company's own exposure under Law 20.393 when an offense was committed by someone acting for its benefit.

Internal investigation

Establishing what happened inside the organization before regulators or prosecutors do, and deciding on that basis what to disclose.

From anywhere

How we run this for a client abroad

Assessment first

You send the documents you have. We tell you what applies, what it costs and how long it takes — before you commit to anything.

Power of attorney

Granted at a Chilean consulate or apostilled where you live. It lets us act for you in Chile without you travelling.

We file, you get updates

Our attorneys handle the filings and appearances in Chile. You get plain-English updates at every stage.

FAQ

Economic & White-Collar Crime — common questions

What English-speaking clients ask us most about this specific service.

Can a company be criminally liable in Chile?

Yes. Law 20.393 establishes criminal liability for legal entities for a defined and expanding list of offenses committed for the company's benefit. An implemented crime prevention model is the principal defense contemplated by the statute, which is why these cases so often become compliance cases as well.

Is a commercial dispute the same as fraud?

No, and the distinction matters enormously. A breach of contract, an unpaid debt or a failed business is not a crime. Criminal complaints are sometimes filed to pressure the other side in what is really a civil dispute — and identifying that early is often the fastest route to ending the criminal exposure.

What does forensic accounting add?

It converts assertions into evidence. Rather than arguing about intent in the abstract, a forensic reconstruction shows where funds came from, where they went and what documentation supported each step. In both defense and prosecution, that record usually decides the case.

Should we investigate internally before reporting?

Usually yes, and quickly. Knowing what actually happened — the scope, who was involved, what documents exist — determines whether to report, what to report and how to protect the company. Reporting before you know the answer to those questions rarely goes well.

Talk to a Chilean lawyer about an economic crime matter in Chile

Get an initial assessment in English — confidential, with no obligation.

Book your consultation now →

WhatsApp+56 9 5217 5304

Emailhola@oklegal.cl

HoursMon–Sat 09:00–20:00