Cuatrecasas > Bogotá, Colombia > Firm Profile

Cuatrecasas > The Legal 500 Rankings

Colombia > Banking and finance Tier 2

Maintaining its upward trajectory, Cuatrecasas’ Bogotá office continues to make strides following its 2021 launch. The group enjoys a particularly prominent position for lender-side transactions, where it acts for an impressive raft of major domestic and multinational banks. Project finance is another strong suit and the team is routinely involved in many of the most high-profile transactions in the market — for both lenders and borrowers. Go-to finance expert Manuel Quinche spearheads the department and recently advised a group of international lenders (the Bank of Nova Scotia, BNP Paribas, JPMorgan Chase Bank, SMBC, and Bank of New York Mellon) on a $750m loan to Argos North America Corporation. In another headline-grabbing mandate, Quinche acted alongside the Santiago office to advise the lenders (the Bank of Nova Scotia, Deutsche Bank, JPMorgan Chase Bank and Goldman Sachs Bank USA) on amending a revolving credit facility of up to $120m granted to Andean Telecom Partners. The group also includes structured finance specialist Ana María Sánchez, who advised the lenders on a $50m loan to several of the Vitalis Group companies, and Juan Carlos Puentes, who was elevated to partner in April 2022. Natalia Arango is a capable senior associate.

Colombia > Projects Tier 2

According to sources, the work product of Cuatrecasas‘ projects team ‘is always characterised by high quality’. With a strong orientation towards finance transactions, it acts for a mix of banks, infrastructure companies, concessionaires, and funds on project finance, infrastructure project structuring and public tenders, among other matters. High-profile finance expert Manuel Quinche steers the practice and is highly regarded for project finance transactions. The department also includes dual-qualified (Colombia/New York) project finance and infrastructure partner Ana María Sánchez, who joined in March 2022 from Peruvian firm Rebaza, Alcázar & De Las Casas; project finance-focused Juan Carlos Puentes, who was promoted to partner in April 2022; and senior associate Natalia Arango.

Colombia > Corporate and M&A Tier 3

Cuatrecasas’ team is lauded by sources for its ‘in-depth knowledge and experience’ coupled with its ‘direct and personalised service’. Following the international firm’s Bogotá launch in January 2021, its corporate offering has risen to become a key contender for major deals in Colombia, particularly in the energy and infrastructure spheres. In response to its growing market presence, the team boosted its senior firepower in December 2022 with the hire of Felipe Mariño from Gómez-Pinzón Abogados (GPA); he brings a strong record in real estate, energy, and infrastructure-related work. Juan Felipe Vera continues to lead the department and maintains a broad transactional practice that spans M&A, private equity and real estate; he recently advised Bancolombia Banca de Inversión on its joint venture with Celsia to create an investment platform to develop solar generation projects. The practice also draws on several impressive associates including seniors Carolina Trejos Robledo and Fabio Ardila, as well as intermediate Andrés Felipe Saldarriaga. Principal associate Pablo Martínez left in August 2022 to study abroad.

Colombia > Energy and natural resources Tier 3

Cuatrecasas’ energy team has been on an upward trajectory since the hire of department head and project finance specialist, dual-qualified (Colombia/New York) Ana María Sánchez, who joined in February 2022 from Peruvian firm, Rebaza, Alcázar & De Las Casas. The group was further reinforced in May 2022 with the addition of senior associate Manuel Gómez from Brigard Urrutia, who brings experience in energy, infrastructure, and public law. Project finance is a notable sweet spot for the team and it has also demonstrated strong recent showings in project development, joint ventures, and M&A-related work. Finance specialist Manuel Quinche and energy and infrastructure-focused senior associate Fabio Ardila are also noted.

Dispute resolution > Arbitration Tier 4

Cuatrecasas established an arbitration practice in March 2022 with the hire of high-profile dispute resolution expert Alberto Zuleta, who formerly led the arbitration department at Holland & Knight. With strong recent activity in the energy and infrastructure spheres, the team is well placed to advise on both domestic and international arbitration proceedings. In particular, the firm’s extensive international network — which takes in four offices in Latin America, as well as platforms in Europe, Africa, the US, and the UK — ensures it is a strong choice to co-ordinate multi-jurisdictional cases. Principal associate María Fernanda Díaz, who also joined from Holland & Knight  in March 2022, provides key support.

Dispute resolution > Litigation

Colombia > Public law

Colombia > Real estate

Colombia > Tax

Latin America: International firms > Banking and finance

Cuatrecasas’ multi-office strategy in Latin America continues to pay dividends. The offices in Mexico, Colombia, Chile and Peru advise a range of financial institutions, funds and corporates on acquisition finance, project finance, trade finance, and refinancings and restructurings, among other matters. It is noted for Spanish law-governed financings and has landed a number of major restructuring engagements. Bogota partner Manuel Quinche leads the team and has a fine record in corporate lending, project finance and real estate finance. Santiago’s Roberto Guerrero V has impressed in the restructuring field and Lima partner Aldo Reggiardo is well regarded for project finance. Mexico City partner León López is another important figure in project finance; while Madrid partner Carlos Lasarte regularly advises on Spanish law financings in Latin America, notably advising Bancóldex on its Spanish law bilateral loan agreement with BBVA.

Latin America: International firms > Corporate and M&A

Cuatrecasas is a significant player in Latin America thanks to its offices in Peru, Colombia, Mexico and Chile. Alongside its growing teams in these jurisdictions it has a substantial group of Latin America-facing practitioners in Iberia and New York. It is among the most prolific advisers on Latin America transactions, excluding Brazil. Along with a range of local transactions, the firm has extensive experience in cross-border deals, including private equity investments and exits. In January 2023, the firm absorbed Mexican four-partner firm Rico, Robles, Libenson, S.Cl into its local Mexico office and wider Latin America team – which  remains best known for operations in the energy and infrastructure, healthcare and retail sectors. Alfonso Ugarte transferred from Santiago to New York in 2022 to head the Latin America M&A, finance and special situations practice in North America. He joined an established Latin America-facing M&A team there, including Antonio Baena and Diego Pérez-Yarza; Baena recently advised Patria on the sale of Odata, the local company that operates a network of data centres in Latin America. Alfonso Reina led the launch of the Bogota office before returning to Madrid where he continues to have a strong focus on cross-border M&A in Colombia. Peru-based Oscar Trelles is head of the Latin America M&A and private equity practice and has a fine record in cross-border transactions, including intra-regional deals. Chile’s Roberto Guerrero V, Colombia-based Juan Felipe Vera and Santiago Ferrer in Mexico City are also key partners.

Latin America: International firms > International arbitration

Cuatrecasas’ prominence in Latin America-related international arbitration field stems from its commitment and track record in Spain, coupled with its growing presence in Latin America itself. Unlike many other international firms, it has a sizeable team of international arbitration specialists based in Latin America. With a steady influx of investment and commercial arbitration engagements, the team is best known for energy, infrastructure and construction cases. It has represented parties in a series of headline infrastructure disputes. Madrid partner Alfonso Iglesia leads the international arbitration group and is hugely experienced in Latin America-related arbitrations, including those involving Mexico, Colombia, Peru, Chile, Panama, Ecuador and Dominican Republic; he has acted in a series of recent ICSID and ICC cases. Santiago partner Cristián Conejero is a senior figure in the team and is noted for construction arbitrations. Alberto Zuleta is another experienced arbitration expert in Bogota along with René Irra in Mexico City and Domingo Rivarola in Lima. Madrid partners Alberto Fortún and Manuel Franco are also active in Latin America cases, both noted for construction, infrastructure and energy disputes. Raised to the partnership in April 2022, Uruguay-qualified Juan Manuel Rey (in the Santiago office), is also noted.  

Latin America: International firms > Projects and energy

Cuatrecasas’ projects and energy practice in Latin America is largely driven by its local office in the region, in Mexico, Colombia, Chile and Peru. It has a broad-based practice covering transport infrastructure, social and community infrastructure, and energy (including renewables, oil and gas, and mining). The firm has worked on a series of road and highway projects in Colombia and Mexico, and advises a range of project sponsors and lenders in the wider region. Bogota partner Manuel Quinche is an experienced project finance expert, especially in the transport infrastructure (including roads, railways and metro lines) and renewables segments. Lima’s Aldo Reggiardo is also a recognised project finance specialist in the energy, infrastructure and mining fields. Mexico City partner León López is another key figure.