Brigard Urrutia‘s competition team leverages the firm’s top-tier corporate practice to pack a punch in merger filings. However, the group is more than just a transactional support practice, as demonstrated by its recent strong performance in competition litigation and complex behavioural matters. Dual-qualified (Colombia/New York) department head Alejandro Garcia de Brigard brings to bear an impressive record in advising on the local leg of major cross-border merger reviews; notably, he and his team handle nearly a quarter of the country’s total merger filings — he also advises on investigations and enforcement matters. García’s recent highlights include advising AstraZeneca on merger control matters related to its acquisition of Alexion Pharmaceutical and also representing Suzuki Motor de Colombia in the Competition Authority’s antitrust investigation into alleged anti-competitive conduct in the public procurement of motorcycles. Senior associate, and practice coordinator, Nicolás Cardona is also a key contact and brings significant hands-on expertise earned during a three-year stint at the Competition Authority.

Fielding one of the deepest benches in the competition law space, Esguerra Asesores Jurídicos‘ strength-in-depth is evidenced through its diverse practice scope, which encompasses merger control, investigations, competition litigation and consumer protection-related issues. Alfonso Miranda is held up by many as the ‘dean of the competition bar‘ due to his long-held position at the forefront of the competition area in Colombia. He led on many of the firm’s recent high-profile mandates, including successfully representing Bavaria & Cía in an unfair competition action brought by Central Cervecera de Colombia concerning alleged subscription to exclusive agreements with retailers. Other experienced names include Andrés Jaramillo Hoyos, who is representing the main port of Colombia in an unfair competition case brought by Datacontrol alleging abuse of dominance, and newly promoted (January 2022) partner Daniel Beltrán. The widely respected group also includes associates David Cotrina (competition, M&A and consumer protection) and Jorge Lamo Blanco (competition, commercial and corporate). Associate Andrés Felipe Yáñez left to establish his own firm, Uribe Yáñez Asesores Legales.

Lawyers at Garrigues are roundly praised for their ‘proven experience in competition law'. The team’s commercial approach is also a recurring theme among sources, who assert that its ‘understanding of business helps it to deliver advice that is specific to the needs of the client'. The firm advises on the full spread of merger controls, investigations by the Competition Authority and contentious matters, with particular expertise in advising companies from heavily regulated industries, including telecoms, healthcare and aviation. Group head José Miguel De La Calle is a regulatory stalwart, who combines strength in competition, public law, administrative law and dispute resolution; he recently represented DirecTV on the competition aspects of its alliance with ETB and Telefónica to offer new services to consumers. The practice also fields an impressive band of younger lawyers, including principal associate Alejandro Acevedo, whose advice is ‘always timely and specific', and senior associates Anamaría Rico, noted for her ‘excellent client treatment, great disposition and responsiveness', and Adolfo Enrique Gomez.

Ibarra Abogados Rimon Law — formed through the October 2021 merger between respected boutique Ibarra Abogados and the Bogotá office of international firm Rimon PC — is commended by sources for its ‘great knowledge and handling of competition and antitrust matters'. The firm is widely recognised for its experience in high-profile investigations, complex competition litigation and behavioural work and has a hand in most of the headline-grabbing cases in this field. Most recently, it represented Vía 40 Express in an unfair competition proceeding filed by Conalvías Construcciones concerning the award of an infrastructure project. Experienced specialist Gabriel Ibarra and up-and-coming partner Ana Lucía Parra are the senior contacts and are highlighted together for their ability to ‘listen closely and analyse the concerns of the client with great professionalism’ — together, they led the Vía 40 Express work. The group is also a top choice to advise on merger control and day-to-day competition matters. Other key names include Alejandro Ibarra, who focuses on a mix of competition, international trade and IP matters, and highly active senior associate Felipe Martínez Sánchez.

ECIJA Colombia impresses with its ability to address matters both from an ‘analytical and in-depth' perspective and also in a ‘practical and strategic way'. The team’s ability to link into the global firm’s international network is another significant advantage and positions it as a good choice for multinational matters, evidenced by its recent advice to Discovery on the Colombian competition aspects of its acquisition of AT&T’s WarnerMedia business. It also routinely handles domestic merger reviews, competition litigation and behavioural work. Former SIC antitrust superintendent Pablo Márquez led the Discovery work and co-heads the department alongside Julio Castañeda. The team also includes talented counsel Pablo Onofre — who provided sole support on the Discovery case — as well as associates Diana Lucía Castiblanco and Jorge Mario González.

Arguably best-known for its reputation in merger filings, Gómez-Pinzón Abogados (GPA) handled a string of successful transactional clearances for major domestic and multinational corporations over the past year. The practice also has strong experience in antitrust investigations and unfair competition litigation. Group head Mauricio Jaramillo was at the helm for the department’s key engagements, including advising KKR on obtaining clearance for its acquisition of a 60% controlling stake in ColTel’s existing fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) network, and also advising AT&T on the acquisition of its WarnerMedia business by Discovery. Providing capable support is Biviana Helo, who focuses on IP and competition and was recently promoted to senior associate. The team also includes senior associate Valentina Manrique Gómez, who has an emphasis on contentious work, and associate Paula de la Calle.

Covering the waterfront on competition matters, Philippi Prietocarrizosa Ferrero DU & Uría draws on the wider firm’s full-service offering to advise on advisory and compliance matters, through to administrative procedures and merger reviews. The firm’s activity in the latter sphere is particularly notable and it is routinely engaged by major domestic and multinational corporations to advise on headline-grabbing transactions. Department head Diego Cardona is well versed in both transactional and contentious antitrust issues; he recently led the group’s representation of Arthur G. Gallagher & Co on the merger control aspects of its $3.2bn acquisition of the treaty reinsurance business of Willis Towers Watson. Associate Federica Del Llano left to study in Berlin in June 2021.

‘Always available and attentive‘, Posse Herrera Ruiz‘s competition group is distinguished by its ‘impeccable‘ client service. Noted for his ‘clear and timely‘ advice, department head Jorge De Los Ríos steers a well-rounded team that advises on a mix of merger reviews, antitrust investigations and competition litigation. Recent highlights included advising Grupo Orbis on merger proceedings connected to its acquisition by AkzoNobel Coatings International, and also representing Laboratorio Franco Colombiano Lafrancol in two SIC investigations concerning the alleged violation of the domestic drug price control regime — De los Ríos led both sets of matters. The group also includes newly promoted partner Juan Pablo Bonilla, who has a focus on conflict resolution; as well as associates Laura Torrado and Adriana Otero, who both support on competition, data protection and consumer protection matters.

Dentons Cardenas & Cardenas' strength in advising on the local leg of multi-jurisdictional merger reviews was recently demonstrated by its roles in a clutch of high-profile transactions. Ximena Zuleta has an emphasis on public law, competition and dispute resolution and acted for Groupe Lactalis on the merger control procedure connected to its acquisition of the international cheese business of Kraft Heinz. Senior associate Carlos Arboleda left the firm.

The ‘highly trained multidisciplinary team' at DLA Piper Martinez Beltrán is recognised for its emphasis on investigations and competition litigation. Among its recent highlights, the practice secured key roles in several cases that intersect antitrust and consumer law matters. For example, department head María Claudia Martínez teamed up with antitrust and consumer law partner Julian Solorza to represent Carvajal Educación in two class actions brought by notebook consumers relating to an alleged cartel. Other key names include senior associate Natalia Fernández, who advises on competition, consumer protection and data privacy law.

Lloreda Camacho & Co.'s multidisciplinary practice blends skill sets in competition, consumer law and data protection. The wider firm’s IP prowess lends itself to antitrust matters relating to the life sciences and technology arenas, where it is well equipped to handle a range of merger control, advertising and compliance issues. Enrique Álvarez (competition, data protection, employment and life sciences) co-heads the team alongside newly promoted competition and consumer law specialist Darío Cadena. The team also draws on Maria Alejandra De Los Ríos, who is associate director of the privacy and data protection group.

Life sciences and IP specialist OlarteMoure has a focus on contentious work, including antitrust, unfair competition and consumer law-related litigation. The team additionally advises on risk assessment and compliance matters. A former deputy head of the Office for the Promotion of Competition at the SIC, Juan Guillermo Moure is a 29-year antitrust veteran and combines strength in competition and IP. The group also benefits from the experience of life sciences expert Carlos Olarte and litigation and ADR director Juan Felipe Acosta. Associates Santiago Lombana and Camilo Andrade provide capable support in the antitrust, unfair competition and consumer law areas.

‘A boutique firm with deep expertise‘, Serrano Martínez is valued by sources for its ‘experience in serving foreign companies‘ — notably, recent clients include Uber Technologies and Amazon. Increasingly prominent department head Felipe Serrano is highlighted as a ‘fundamental ally when it comes to defining business strategies‘ and specialises in advising on antitrust, privacy and consumer protection investigations, as well as competition litigation. Serrano can also call on several talented associates including ‘very intelligent lawyer‘ Andrés Jaramillo Sanz, who previously served at the SIC, Juan Felipe Traber, and new arrival Ana María Mesa, who joined from Avante Abogados in October 2021.

New entrant CMS Rodríguez-Azuero continues to record increasing activity in competition and antitrust-related work, with its practice focus encompassing a mix of merger reviews, investigations and regulatory compliance issues. Department head Lorenzo Villegas-Carrasquilla leverages his TMT expertise to pack a punch in technology-related matters. Other key contacts include senior associate María Camila Piedrahita, who supports on antitrust, TMT and international trade law.

Over the past year, Goh advised a string of companies on competition compliance matters. The firm also has experience in representing clients in administrative investigations, judicial proceedings and merger reviews. Corporate and projects specialist Jaime Moya is the key contact, while corporate senior associate Natalia Suárez Sánchez provides support.

Holland & Knight's competition practice is particularly well versed in unfair competition and IP-related work, with an emphasis on litigation. Litigator Danilo Romero Raad heads the team and combines strength in contentious competition, IP, data privacy and consumer protection matters. Associate Camila López Vigoya is also noted for her experience in administrative law cases.