María Elena Zantibañez Torres
Senior CounselLanguages: Spanish, English
Practice Areas
Environmental Criminal Law and Compliance
At VGC Abogados, we provide sophisticated and meticulous legal advice in environmental and economic criminal matters. We combine our extensive experience in strategic litigation with exhaustive risk assessments and customized preventive strategies designed specifically for each client.
Lawyer, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. . Master of Laws (LL.M.),Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile.
I joined VGC Abogados as a Senior Counsel, bringing more than 25 years of academic and professional experience in criminal law. My practice focuses on criminal litigation, with a specialization in youth cases, violent crimes, sex crimes, and strategic litigation.
In the academic thheme, I am a professor at the School of Law of the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, where I teach courses in Criminal Law and Criminal Procedure, as well as the Legal Clinic courses in the criminal law section. I am the author of more than 40 academic publications on criminal law, criminal procedure, and sex crimes, and I have directed numerous certificate programs in my areas of expertise.
I currently serve as Director of the Program for Legal Representation of Victims at the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile and as Director of the criminal law division of the university’s Law School Legal Clinic. I have also participated in various legislative reform commissions in areas related to my field.
In 2018, I received the UC Abdón Cifuentes Award, given to those who make a significant impact on society through their academic work.
Experience: Strategic criminal litigation, with a special focus on cases involving children, violent crimes, and sexual offenses.