Mr Juan Casallas > Holland & Knight > Bogota, Colombia > Lawyer Profile

In May 2023, Holland & Knight’s Bogotá office absorbed 28-lawyer-strong business law firm Cuberos Cortés Gutiérrez. Among the new arrivals is former Cuberos head of litigation José Gutierréz Mestre, who is highlighted for his ‘assertive, effective and intellectual communication’. The team is well versed across a mix of commercial, constitutional and administrative law, while its broad international platform positions it well for multi-jurisdictional disputes. It is also noted for its experience in contentious energy and environmental matters, due to the expertise of high-profile energy specialist Jose Vicente Zapata. Other senior names include newly promoted (January 2023) partner Juan Casallas, who specialises in public law, and constitutional and administrative litigation; and Danilo Romero, who specialises in IP, consumer protection, and media and entertainment law. Estefanny Pardo, who is recommended for contentious environmental law matters, was raised to senior counsel in January 2023.

Considered by some as the benchmark for environmental law in Colombia, Holland & Knight’s expertise encompasses a comprehensive range of sectors, including hydrocarbons, energy, mining, manufacturing, agriculture, and food and beverage-related issues. The team is equipped to handle the full scope of matters, from environmental audits and due diligence procedures, right through to major infrastructure project-related work; it also routinely represents clients before administrative and judiciary authorities. Jose Vicente Zapata spearheads the group and is widely revered as a reference in the market; he is currently advising Carbones del Cerrejón on several constitutional claims arising from consultation controversies with ethnic communities. The group also draws on litigator Juan Casallas, who was raised to the partnership in January 2023, as well as energy and environmental law-focused associate lawyers Margarita Solorza and Estefanny Pardo, who were both promoted to senior counsel in January 2023.

According to satisfied clients, Holland & Knight ‘applies innovative criteria to address the situations to be resolved’. The Tampa-headquartered firm acts for a mix of local and multinational clients, with the local Bogotá office having the ability to plug into a network of 220 energy lawyers across its global platform to resource cross-border matters. Experienced group head José Vicente Zapata maintains a broad energy and natural resources practice, which spans corporate, commercial and regulatory matters — for clients operating in the electricity, oil and gas, mining, agrochemical, and industrial sectors. Other senior names include Ines Elvira Vesga, who has a focus on oil and gas, of counsel Milton Fernando Montoya, who specialises in mining work, and newly promoted (January 2023) public law partner Juan Casallas. Margarita Solorza (energy and environmental) and Estefanny Pardo (dispute resolution and natural resources) were both promoted to senior counsel in January 2023.

Holland & Knight’s May 2023 absorption of Cuberos Cortés Gutiérrez (CCG) reinforces its solid public law offering. The former firm is arguably best known for its strength in public environmental law, where it advises major energy, natural resources and infrastructure clients on regulatory and contentious matters. The arrival of the CCG team provides additional firepower in the transport sector, where the legacy firm was noted for its representation of major public transportation providers and operators. Department head José Vicente Zapata is an expert in public law issues concerning the environment, and the energy and natural resources sectors. The group also includes newly promoted (February 2023) partner Juan Casallas, who focuses on public law, and constitutional and administrative law disputes. Former CCG practice head Edwin Cortés Mejía is particularly noted for his record in the bus rapid transit (BRT) segment.