Brigard Urrutia > Cali, Colombia > Firm Profile

Brigard Urrutia > The Legal 500 Rankings

Colombia > Banking and finance Tier 1

The banking and finance group at Brigard Urrutia is ‘superior to any Colombian law firm’, according to some. Particularly praised for its ability to handle ‘sophisticated structures with international funders’, the team’s broad cross-border expertise is evidenced by its involvement in many of the market’s marquee cross-border mandates — for both Colombian and global banks and corporate borrowers. As a case in point, dual US- and Colombia-qualified banking specialists Carlos Fradique-Méndez and María Fernanda Diago joined forces to advise CFG Partners on the up-to $150m financing and acquisition of Alpha Capital’s and Vive Créditos’ assets, which involved five jurisdictions. Among its lender-side highlights, go-to expert Fradique-Méndez advised Citibank Colombia on a COP$120bn financing to a newly created debtor trust established by Bayport Colombia. The deep bench also calls upon the senior expertise of César Felipe Rodríguez, who is sought after for infrastructure and project finance-related matters, and seasoned banking, energy and natural resources specialist Carlos Urrutia. The group additionally draws on a capable pool of associates, including seniors Santiago Jaramillo Martínez, who has an emphasis on energy and infrastructure-related work, and Juan Eduardo Gómez, who combines banking and corporate experience. Associate María Fernanda Sánchez moved in house as general counsel at ADL Digital Lab in January 2023; and next generation partner Felipe Alarcón has also subsequently left the firm - effective as of September 2023.

Colombia > Capital markets Tier 1

Brigard Urrutia’s status as a destination practice for capital markets work was reinforced during 2022 through its advice to the underwriters on the Republic of Colombia’s $1.6bn bond issuance. The group, which routinely acts for both issuers and underwriters, also has a strong record in equity offerings. Senior partner Carlos Fradique-Méndez is sought after for his extensive expertise in capital markets and banking transactions and co-heads the department alongside Luis Gabriel Morcillo, who specialises in securities, private equity and corporate issues; together they co-led the capital markets advice to the underwriters on Colombia’s high-profile bond offering. The team was additionally boosted by the arrival of two new senior associates: in June 2022, Viviana Araújo joined from Scotiabank, while Nicolás Arocha Roldán, who was formerly at Esguerra Asesores Jurídicos, arrived in September 2022. Senior associate Luis Alejandro León departed the firm in September 2022.

City focus > Cali Tier 1

Highlighted by satisfied clients as ‘an excellent firm, the best in Colombia’, corporate powerhouse Brigard Urrutia maintains a sizable on-the-ground presence in Cali. Most notably, competition and antitrust head Alejandro Garcia de Brigard is the partner in charge of the Cali practice, which ensures that a significant volume of the firm’s competition and antitrust work is resourced from the office. Aside from its premier competition offering, Cali houses a growing number of other service lines from across the full-service firm, including the most recent addition of corporate and M&A following the arrival of senior associate Jimena Rincon, who joined in April 2022 from Fanalca. Customs and international trade is another pillar of the Cali practice, with of counsel Maria Eugenia Lloreda a key contact for that work. The team is further equipped to provide labour and employment advice, with eight-year associate Rafael Reyes noted in that sphere. The Cali office’s ability to team up with specialists in Barranquilla, Bogotá, and Medellín should also be mentioned; few peers can rival the firm’s national coverage.

Colombia > Competition and antitrust Tier 1

In a figure that demonstrates its formidable strength in merger filings, Brigard Urrutia handled over 35 merger control procedures during 2022. Alongside its dominant merger practice, which is driven by the firm’s top-tier corporate offering, the group also frequently advises on antitrust investigations, leniency agreements and unfair competition disputes, among other matters. Department head Alejandro Garcia de Brigard, who is dual-qualified in Colombia and New York, is particularly sought after for his expertise in complex transactional cases; he is representing Avianca before the Colombian Civil Aviation Authority (Aerocivil) in a merger-review procedure triggered by its acquisition of Viva Colombia. Among its behavioural highlights, Garcia de Brigard represented Bavaria in an antitrust investigation into alleged abuse of dominant position in the beer market; the case was terminated by the SIC without the imposition of any fine as a result of the offering of commitments. The team also includes practice co-ordinator Nicolás Cardona, who was recently promoted from senior associate to director and provides capable support. In December 2022, intermediate associate Natalia Amado Pérez joined from Baker McKenzie S.A.S..

Colombia > Corporate and M&A Tier 1

Few firms in the market can equal Brigard Urrutia’s track record in transformative M&A deals, with the 23-lawyer team routinely involved in many of the most high-profile transactions to hit the Colombian market. The group’s ability to lean on a host of complementary practices from across the wider full-service firm equips its lawyers with a ‘comprehensive vision in consulting’ and ensures that it is sought after for complex mandates that require extensive cross-departmental collaboration. As a case in point, senior M&A expert Sergio Michelsen Jaramillo recently teamed up with next-generation partner Tomás Holguín, as well as the capital markets and competition practices, to advise Votorantim on the sale of its 82.42% stake in Acerías Paz del Rio. In a significant first-of-a-kind investment transaction, Michelsen also paired up with Jaime Robledo to advise Canada’s CPP investments on its $334m acquisition of a 19.3% stake in D1, which notably marked its first direct investment in Colombia. Darío Laguado Giraldo, chairman of the corporate and M&A practice, led on several infrastructure-related transactions over the past year, including advising Telefónica, and its subsidiary Colombia Telecomunicaciones, on the agreements by which Colombia Telecomunicaciones and KKR will establish the country’s first independent wholesale open access digital infrastructure company. Other senior names include corporate finance veteran Carlos Fradique-Méndez; aviation and real estate-focused specialist Álvaro Cala; senior partner Carlos Urrutia; and Fernando Alfredo Castillo. The sizeable department also fields a capable bench of corporate-dedicated non-partners, including director Ángela García Páez, prolific senior associates Paola Ordoñez  and Andrea Camila Cruz, and associate Laura Ricardo Ayerbe. Since publication, Ordóñez and Mónica Gutiérrez Velasco have both been promoted to practice directors.

Dispute resolution > Litigation Tier 1

Brigard Urrutia houses ‘one of the most solid practices in dispute resolution’, according to some. Certainly the firm possesses one of the largest offerings in the market, with its 22-lawyer-strong litigation, arbitration and insolvency group consisting of two partners, one director and six senior associates, among others. Equipped to handle the full spread of civil and commercial cases, the team is routinely engaged to advise on administrative disputes, commercial litigation, contentious competition matters, arbitral proceedings, and insolvency-related work. Irma Rivera Ramírez spearheads the department and is well versed across the full range of contentious issues, with strong recent experience in representing major multinational clients in constitutional law proceedings. Rivera is flanked by two younger partners: Felipe Mutis - identified by sources as an ‘expert litigator’, he advises clients in domestic and multi-jurisdictional disputes, with a focus on administrative and constitutional law litigation and arbitral proceedings; and dual-qualified (Colombia/New York) former practice director María Munevar Torrado, who was raised to the partnership in July 2023. Senior associate Carlos Mauricio Cerrato proovides experienced support - he and Munevar are highlighted for being ‘passionate about the law and the causes they represent’. Other key contacts include Paola Guerrero Yemail, who is an associate director of the insolvency practice; and senior associates Camilo Valenzuela and Carlos Mauricio Cerratto  who both maintain broad dispute resolution practices. The team recently welcomed the arrival of two new senior associates: Paula Juliana Téllez joined in July 2022 from Preciado Abogados; and Monica Alejandra León arrived in October 2022 – she was formerly an in-house lawyer at New Cauca. Senior associate Ana Carolina Abreo left the firm in June 2022. Since publication, Cerratto has been raised to associate practice director - effective as of January 2024.

Colombia > Energy and natural resources Tier 1

A destination practice for energy and natural resources law, Brigard Urrutia’s key attributes include its ‘strong ability to work under pressure’ as well as its ‘rapid co-ordination with other teams within the firm’. The full-service group is equipped to handle the gamut of industry matters, from regulatory and environmental issues, through to project structuring and transactional work. It also stands out for its involvement in both the conventional and renewable energy segments. Claudia Navarro is widely recognised for her renewable energy expertise; she advised Promigas on self-sufficient power generation solutions to be provided to its clients. Very experienced associate director of the oil-and-gas and mining practices, Marianna Boza recently acted alongside senior partner Carlos Urrutia and the M&A department to advise Cordoba Minerals on a strategic agreement with JCHX Mining Management to jointly develop its Alacran copper-gold-silver project. Transactional specialist Jaime Robledo and seasoned energy and infrastructure expert Carlos Umaña are also noted at senior level. The group additionally includes talented senior associate Juan Carlos Padilla, and fellow senior Andrés Felipe Parra who rejoined the team from Ecopetrol in May 2022.

Colombia > Insurance Tier 1

Brigard Urrutia’s insurance group is distinguished by its ‘high-level commitment, quick responses, kindness, and availability’. As part of a full-service firm offering, its ‘ability to call on complementary practice lawyers’ is also a recurring theme among sources. The team acts for a mix of domestic and multinational insurers — and insured companies — on the full gamut of insurance work, with distinct skill sets in regulatory, transactional, and contentious matters. Dispute resolution specialist Irma Rivera Ramírez steers the department and advised Bupa Worldwide on its reinsurance operations in Colombia, including on regulatory and contractual matters concerning health insurance products marketed in Colombia. Practice director Lucas Fajardo - who he focuses exclusively on insurance work, including regulatory, contractual and claims-related issues - was promoted to the partnerhsip in June 2023; he is highlighted (along with associate Iván Montenegro), for ‘delivering requests on time and with a high level of analysis.’

Colombia > Projects Tier 1

Brigard Urrutia’s ability to draw on its premier full-service offering is a key feature of its multidisciplinary projects team, which routinely works alongside other practice groups to provide comprehensive advice. Project finance is a notable sweet spot, in line with the wider firm’s top-tier finance capability, and it shines in representing lenders and sponsors on major energy and infrastructure projects. However, it also handles public procurement, project development, and contentious work. Senior contacts include Carlos Umaña, who maintains a broad practice with a focus on infrastructure, public procurement, utilities, and natural resources; managing partner Carlos Fradique-Méndez, who is sought after for infrastructure financings; and Claudia Navarro, who has extensive expertise in regulatory and commercial matters. The department additionally calls upon the experience of banking and finance specialists César Felipe Rodríguez, María Fernanda Diago and Felipe Alarcón, as well as associate practice director Julián Parra. In July 2022, senior associate Juan Pablo Canaval left to join Uraba Highways.

Colombia > Public law Tier 1

Brigard Urrutia has ranked ‘among the leaders in public law for many years’, according to sources. The team, which acts for the full spread of government agencies, state-owned enterprises and private companies, is often brought in at the structuring stage to help develop major projects, such as its recent appointment by Financiera de Desarrollo Nacional (FDN) to be part of the team responsible for structuring Bogotá’s second metro line project. High-profile figure Carlos Umaña ‘provides confidence and security to his clients’; he led on the FDN work. The group also draws on infrastructure and public utilities partner Claudia Navarro; public law practice director Julián Parra, who ‘constantly looks for solutions and alternatives to overcome obstacles’; and director Mario Forero, who is noted for public procurement and administrative law matters.

Colombia > Tax Tier 1

Brigard Urrutia’s tax team scores highly with sources for its ‘excellent knowledge and mastery of tax legal issues’. Covering the waterfront on tax law, the practice group enjoys a particularly prominent reputation for tax structuring and transactional tax work, where it is routinely engaged by leading domestic and regional companies, including recent mandates for Valores Industriales, Transportadora de Gas Internacional and Linea 2 Metro de Bogotá. The department also houses significant contentious expertise, including on transfer pricing matters. Tax litigator Catalina Jaramillo stands out for her ‘knowledge and experience’ and regularly handles complex constitutional litigation. Sh co-heads the practice in conjunction with tax planning partner Andrés Hernández, who is noted as ‘a leader in the Colombian tax arena’; and the deeply experienced Adrián Rodríguez – a January 2022 hire from Lewin & Wills, Abogados – whose broad practice encompasses international and national corporate taxation, foreign investment ,and transactional tax. Other key contacts include Daniel Duque, who was raised to the partnership in July 2023. Senior associate Zaira Cortés left in August 2022 to study abroad.

Colombia > TMT Tier 1

The dedicated TMT practice at Brigard Urrutia is commended by satisfied clients as ‘the strongest in this area’. Packing a punch across all key pillars of technology, media and telecoms, the group stands out for its ability to advise on a comprehensive spread of transactional, regulatory and contentious matters. Particularly sought after by major global corporations — Meta Platforms, Microsoft and SpaceX all turn to the firm for local advice — it also represents domestic and regional heavyweights, such as Grupo Televisa. Department head and sector specialist Sergio Michelsen Jaramillo provides ‘a perspective far beyond what is strictly legal’. The group also includes highly regarded practice director Juan Nicolás Laverde. Senior associate Andrea Bonnet  became a freelance lawyer in December 2022.

Colombia > Environment Tier 2

The ‘very diligent and attentive’ team at Brigard Urrutia was bolstered in September 2022 with the hire of senior associate Juan Sebastian Panesso, who joined from the environmental authority of Atlántico. The group leverages the wider firm’s top-tier offerings in projects, and energy and natural resources to specialise in environmental matters related to those spheres, but it has also recently handled work for clients in the industrial, real estate, and food & beverage sectors. Associate director and department co-head Guillermo Tejeiro  is highlighted for his ‘extensive knowledge’; he focuses on environmental law, ESG, climate change, energy transition, ethnic law and green business. Corporate and M&A specialist Jaime Robledo co-heads the group. Since publication, Tejeiro has moved in house at Citibank - effective as of October 2023.

Colombia > International trade and customs Tier 2

Brigard Urrutia’s international trade team scores highly for its ‘very unique vision that is focused on the client and finding practical solutions’. The practice encompasses a broad scope of trade and customs matters, with strong recent showings in anti-dumping investigations, customs disputes, free trade zones, and transactional support matters. A ‘benchmark in his field’, key partner Jose Francisco Mafla sits in the corporate and M&A, and international trade and customs teams; he specialises in advising on regulatory and transactional matters intersecting customs and foreign trade law, including trade remedies and WTO regulation. The group also fields two up-and-coming rising stars in associate director Camilo Castrillón (‘extensive knowledge of the law’) and intermediate associate Gerardo Chadid (‘thinks of innovative solutions for different problems’).

Colombia > Labour and employment Tier 2

Brigard Urrutia’s labour and employment practice is noted for its ‘sense of immediacy, willingness, and promptness’. Among its other distinguishing features, the group’s ability to draw on the wider international-facing firm, as well as its membership of global labour and employment law alliance Ius Laboris, ensures that it is a popular choice to advise multinational clients. Department head Catalina Santos handles advisory and contentious work, including restructuring processes, collective bargaining and transactional support matters. The team also draws on director José Alejandro Sierra (sports law, and labour and employment), and senior associates Daniela Caicedo (‘empathic and business oriented’) and Camilo Mutis (‘understands the sense of urgency’). Since publication, both Caicedo and Mutis have been promoted to associate practice directors (effective as sof January 2024), allowing Sierra to focus more fully on sports law and gaming matters.

Dispute resolution > Arbitration Tier 3

Brigard Urrutia’s arbitration practice sits within the firm’s wider litigation, arbitration, and insolvency department. With experience in both domestic and international arbitral proceedings, the team has a focus on cases concerning public law issues, including energy and utilities-related matters. Irma Rivera Ramírez heads the group and is equipped to act as counsel and arbitrator in domestic and international cases. Other key contacts include Felipe Mutis, who is well versed in judicial and arbitral disputes; former practice director María Victoria Munevar, who was raised to the partnership in July 2023; and senior associate Camilo Valenzuela. Senior associate Ana Carolina Abreo left in June 2022.

Colombia > Real estate Tier 3

Brigard Urrutia’s real estate, urban regulation, hotel, and agribusiness practice acts for a diverse client base, which includes developers, investment funds, concessionaires and property owners. Primarily recognised for its transactional work, particularly real estate finance, the team is also equipped to handle regulatory and planning matters. Group head Francisco Uribe’s comprehensive industry experience spans tourism and hotels, urban operations and agribusiness, among other segments. The team also includes director of the urban law department Wilben Palacios, and Juanita Bermúdez, who was promoted to director of the transactional real estate unit in September 2022.

Colombia > Compliance and white-collar crime Tier 4

Global clients of Brigard Urrutia laud it as a ‘one-stop-shop for any subsidiary of a multinational company doing business in Colombia’. On the corporate compliance front, this is evidenced by its ability to provide advice to leading corporations, such as Bayer, H&M Hennes & Mauritz and WeWork, on their local compliance programmes and initiatives. The multidisciplinary team is also well equipped to handle investigations and criminal litigation. Director Ricardo Forero heads the department and is highlighted for his ‘super practical and solid approach to consulting for multinational companies’; he has experience across a range of investigations, compliance and corporate crime-related matters. Associate María Camila Sarria provides dedicated practice support.