As Colombia’s second-largest city, both by population (approximately 2.5m in 2018) and GDP (the region accounts for 14.5% of the country’s total economy), Medellín houses a business and legal market on a par with its national importance. Although heavily impacted by the downturn caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, which saw unemployment in Medellín’s metropolitan area rocket to over 15% in 2020, the local economy has bounced back well. In the main, this recovery can be largely attributed to tax incentives aimed at the city’s technology companies. Significantly, Medellín recently became the first Special District of Science, Technology and Innovation in Colombia — an official position which was signed into law in June 2021. The confirmation of the city’s new status was accompanied by announcements from Mayor Daniel Quintero Calle that foreign companies investing in Medellín would see tax incentives and exemption of up to 100% of industry and trade taxes, alongside other support measures to boost growth.

Alongside its booming tech environment, the region is also known for its activity in electricity generation, textiles, tourism and fashion design (notably, Medellín hosts Latin America’s biggest fashion show, Colombiamoda).

The city’s strategic importance to the country is reflected in its dynamic legal market, which is composed of a mix of niche and full-service firms. At the mid-size regional level, Contexto Legal Abogados, Estudio Siete Legal Abogados, Suma Legal, Serrano Martínez CMA and UH Abogados are all significant players — some of which are also represented in Colombia’s national practice rankings.

The market’s generous size and economic diversity ensures it can additionally support a strong band of sector-focused industry specialists such as insurance boutiques Tamayo Jaramillo & Asociados and Londoño & Arango Abogados; dispute resolution firm Arrubla Devis Asociados; and public law outfit Ariza & Marin. Additionally, micro-boutique Alvarez Zuluaga Consultores Legales is recognised for the strong local profile of administrative and constitutional specialist Luis Fernando Alvarez Jaramillo. The city is also gaining traction among national heavyweights looking to build up their local platforms such as Gómez-Pinzón Abogados, OlarteMoure, and Posse Herrera Ruiz; the arrival of Dentons Cardenas & Cardenas —which opened a Medellín office in October 2020 — served to reconfirm the importance of the city (and region) from a business perspective.

Established in 1976, Medellín stalwart Alvarez Zuluaga Consultores Legales has been a feature of the local market for over four decades. The micro-boutique is oriented towards contentious work, including litigation and alternative dispute resolution, with a focus on administrative and public law. The group also possesses extensive experience in corporate transactions, international trade, intellectual property, and data protection law. Founding partner Luis Fernando Álvarez Jaramillo is a former president of the Consejo del Estado and enjoys a strong reputation locally for his record in representing companies and public sector entities on state contracts and contentious administrative matters.

Arrubla Devis Asociados’ key partners are split between its Medellín and Bogotá offices, ensuring that it remains a key player in the former market despite its growing profile. The firm’s sharp focus on dispute resolution —it is ranked nationally for arbitration and litigation— is underpinned by solid offerings in contracts, corporate and M&A, labour and employment, and public law, among others. Acting for a mix of corporate and public sector entities, the group recently added new clients Boston Medical Group and Acción Sociedad Fiduciaria to its books, demonstrating its diverse industry focus. Medellín-based founding partner Jaime Alberto Arrubla Paucar is ‘knowledgeable like few others’; a former President of the Supreme Court of Justice, he possesses more than 40 years of experience as a trial lawyer. Arrubla continues to represent the National State Agency for Judicial Defence (ANDJE) in a major arbitration against the Colombian State, regarding the alleged breach of a concession contract by the National Infrastructure Agency (ANI). Other key names in Medellín include litigation head Gustavo Amaya Yepes and associate director Sebastián Montoya, who handles dispute resolution and corporate work. In Bogotá Jaime Esteban Arrubla Devis and Rafael McCausland are noted for their activity in both transactional and contentious matters, while associate director Carolina Boada specialises in public law.

The ‘very committed and agile’ team at B&O Abogados attracts strong reviews from sources for the ‘creativity and practicality of the solutions it proposes’. Distinguished by its focus on corporate and tax law, the Medellín-based boutique handles a range of corporate and commercial matters, intellectual property (including media and entertainment), foreign exchange issues, and tax planning and structuring work. Firm co-founder Maria Mercedes Bermúdez spearheads the tax and entertainment practices and ‘balances creativity with rigour’. Fellow firm co-founder Juan David Ocampo leads the commercial, real estate, and corporate areas and is highlighted for his ‘understanding of business and negotiating capacity’. The nine-lawyer strong group also includes senior associate Juan David Lalinde, who joined in May 2022 from Echavarría Abogados — he has a focus on corporate, commercial, and tax law. In September 2022, junior partner Andrés Isaza Olarte left to study abroad.

Among CMC Abogados’s key attributes, sources value its ‘quick responses and great attention’. In particular, the team’s personalised service is a recurring theme and one client attests that it ‘provides the highest level of service regardless of how big or small your business’. From its two platforms in Medellín and Bogotá, the firm handles a wide scope of practice areas, including corporate and commercial, labour, tax, real estate, and immigration law, among other practice areas. Traditionally weighted towards advising domestic companies, the group has recorded significant growth in representing multinationals and added several new international names to its roster during 2022/23, including Delta Airlines, Fusion BPO, and Neostella. Key contacts in Medellín include Marcela Palacio Botero, who directs the corporate and tax departments; Mónica Arango Espinal, who directs the foreign exchange law and the consumer rights areas; and Camilo Trujillo Millán, who heads the labour and migration teams. Director of the Bogotá office Alfonso Plana Boden is also recommended for his aviation finance practice. Senior associates Jairo Fierro Garzón (aviation, and corporate and commercial law) and Daniela Acosta Baena (litigation) are also noted.

Founded in 2006, Estudio Siete Legal Abogados is recognised for its emphasis on labour and employment, corporate and commercial, and aviation law. Solely based in Medellín, the sizeable firm counts seven partners, four associates and a deep pool of junior lawyers among its ranks; while its client list is predominantly composed of local and national clients, including Banafrut, Grupo Bios, and Organización Corona. On the transactional side, Carlos Alejandro Duque Restrepo is noted for his deal-making experience in the technology, healthcare, real estate, and agribusiness spheres — he is also well versed in arbitral proceedings. Liliana Velásquez Escobar spearheads the aviation practice, where she is recognised for her expertise in regulatory, finance, and leasing matters, among others. On the labour and employment front, Hernán Montoya Montoya Echeverri and Luis Carlos Jaramillo are the key names, while Maria Clara Saldarriaga Bustamante has a focus on labour advisory, including transactional support matters. Other key contacts include insurance specialist Sergio Yepes Restrepo, and Juan Pablo Molina Álvarez, whose practice spans tax, corporate, and foreign exchange law.

With a 15-year trajectory, Giraldo Angel Asociados has established itself as a key player servicing domestic and multinational companies, with Alpharma, Seguridad Integral Alarmar, and Tronex among its representative clients. The two-site firm is split between platforms in Medellín and Bogotá and offers experience across an increasing broad suite of practices, including transactional, regulatory, and contentious matters. Firm founder Maria Isabel Giraldo Ángel is recommended for corporate and commercial work, as well as dispute resolution, including arbitration. Juliana Montoya Santa specialises in tax, where the team notably enjoys an association with accountancy company Concepto Contable to provide interdisciplinary support to clients on tax-related issues. The group additionally includes Carolina Villa, who is a key contact for labour and employment matters, including litigation; Diana White, whose practice focus encompasses financial services, real estate, and commercial law; and Melissa Jaramillo-Lopera, who covers a range of IP, compliance, real estate, and general commercial matters.

Established in 2009, Medellín-based boutique Londoño & Arango Abogados is widely recognised for its insurance capability, where it specialises in advising on insurance policies and contract structuring. The team also houses a prominent contentious insurance offering, which is well versed in civil, commercial, and administrative litigation, as well as arbitral proceedings. Co-founding partner Daniel Arango enjoys a strong profile in the market for his insurance practice; he handles contentious and non-contentious work, including arbitration. Co-founding partner Maximiliano Londoño also focuses on liability and insurance law; as a dual-qualified (Colombia/New York) lawyer, he is additionally equipped to advise on multi-jurisdictional matters. Rounding out the partners is Agustín Londoño, who is an up-and-coming insurance specialist. The three partner team is supported by five-lawyer band of associates, which includes senior lawyers Cristina Aristizabal Johnson (civil liability, insurance, dispute resolution and legaltech); and Mauricio Moreno (civil liability, insurance and dispute resolution).

With a strong orientation towards international clients, Medellín Legal Partners seeks to position itself as a gateway for foreign investment into Colombia and the wider Latin America region. Among its key skill sets, the firm advises on immigration (Colombian visas and cedulas), real estate investment, corporate law, tax matters, and private wealth-related issues; it also has significant experience in intellectual property. Founding partner Andrés Orlando Durango stands out for his business ties with Asia —including close links with Shanghai-based Joint-Win Partners— but he is also well placed to advise on cross-border investment matters involving a wide range of jurisdictions. Nubia Stella Ocampo specialises in tax law, with an emphasis on national and international tax planning. The group also draws on experienced legal director Dora Cristina Restrepo, who supports on foreign investment matters, including real estate-related work. In February 2022, associate Antonia Vélez left to join the in-house team at Servicios Nutresa.

Established in 2012, Medellín-based boutique VM Legal is a key member of the local legal landscape. Arguably best known for its tax expertise, where it specialises in work connected to the real estate, construction, and road concessions sectors, the two-partner firm is also well versed in commercial, corporate, and foreign exchange law. Firm founders Adriana Melo and Beatriz Villegas are noted for their interdisciplinary expertise; both bring to bear over two decades of experience in handling tax, corporate, commercial and foreign exchange law-related issues. Support is provided by a sizeable band of six associates, including M&A head Laura Sanin, who advises on corporate and tax matters; Ana María Tobón, who has a focus on real estate and the reorganisation of business and family groups; and Sergio Duque, who is noted for tax litigation, as well as tax advisory, commercial and exchange law.