The team at Fabio Humar Abogados is ‘bold and innovative when making proposals’, say sources. As a dispute resolution boutique exclusively dedicated to economic criminal law, the group handles the full spread of matters, from compliance issues through to criminal investigations and litigation. The firm also stands out for its May 2022 signing of a strategic alliance with Gómez-Pinzón Abogados (GPA), which allows it to lean into the latter’s top-tier corporate practice and significantly expand its service offering. High-profile managing partner Fabio Humar has an impressive 20-year track record in representing individuals and companies in corporate compliance and white-collar crime cases. External lawyer Gloria Liliana Pérez, who was previously with the Attorney General’s Office, is also noted at senior level. The firm additionally fields a specialist band of associate lawyers, including senior Sandra Ramón Saavedra, who possesses 13 years of experience in criminal law.

A three-partner strong criminal law boutique, Prias Cadavid Abogados stands out for its exclusive focus on representing clients in business, economic and financial fraud-related matters. With extensive experience that covers the full spread of compliance, investigations and judicial proceedings, the team is particularly well versed in issues concerning the financial services, telecoms, IP and environmental law spheres. Key contact Paula Cadavid is a criminal law specialist with a strong record in economic criminal cases, where she represents both individuals and corporate entities. Fellow founding partner Juan Carlos Prías is also noted for his robust practical and academic expertise in the criminal defence field. The team additionally includes Viviana Gómez Barbosa, who was promoted to partner in February 2022 after 20 years of practising with the firm, and criminal law-focused associate Emilio Restrepo Villegas.

Cáez Muñoz Mejía Abogados (CMM)’s practice strikes a balance between corporate compliance and contentious matters, with a particularly prominent record in the former sphere. Over the past year, the team assisted a host of multinational clients with their local corporate compliance programmes, including Astara, Central Park System and Pernod Ricard Colombia. Founding partner Alejandro Mejía spearheads the department and advises both individuals and corporations on compliance, criminal investigations and judicial proceedings. Other key contacts include Freddy Navarrete, who sits in the corporate and energy groups and advises on compliance programmes and due diligence-related matters. At associate level, Juan Pablo Pantoja provides dedicated practice support, while Maria Camila González splits her time between the corporate and compliance teams.

The team at USA-headquartered Diaz Reus International Law Firm & Alliance is commended for providing ‘quality, honest, transparent, and close advice’. Distinguished by its robust cross-border expertise, the Bogotá-based group frequently teams up with the wider firm’s Miami office to advise on Colombian, US, and other international compliance regulations. It also handles criminal proceedings and transaction-related issues. Demonstrating the practice’s international-facing approach, ‘exceptional attorney’ Javier Coronado splits his time between Bogotá and Miami. The department also draws on the senior experience of Bogotá managing partner Marcela Blanco, who is dual-qualified in Florida and Colombia and also has a significant multi-jurisdictional dimension to her practice. A former lawyer at the Office of the Attorney General, capable associate Marcelo Buendía Vélez is additionally recommended.

The ‘very dynamic team’ at Philippi Prietocarrizosa Ferrero DU & Uría maintains an interdisciplinary approach to white-collar crime issues, where it benefits from its ability to lean on the wider full-service firm to provide coverage of contentious and non-contentious matters. On the compliance front, the group advises domestic and multinational corporations on the development of internal compliance and risk prevention programmes. On the white-collar crime side, the team is predominantly known for its representation of victims in criminal matters, although it also acts for defendants. Led jointly by Pamela Alarcón, who focuses exclusively on compliance and criminal law matters, and former Attorney General of the Nation Juan Carlos Forero, the group also draws on the specialist support of associate Armando Lacouture. Associate Andrea Succar left in September 2022.

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.

Gómez-Pinzón Abogados (GPA) houses a robust risk and compliance practice that finds favour with sources for its ‘creativity in providing solutions to problems’. The group handles the full spread of corporate compliance issues, from audits and internal investigations, through to due diligence and the design and implementation of compliance programmes. Experienced director Adriana Bueno Buitrago heads the department and brings over 30 years of experience to her role, with strong recent showings in the implementation and management of corporate governance and compliance models. At associate level, Anguie Castro and Nathaly Acero provide specialist support to the risk and compliance team.

Pinilla González & Prieto Abogados fields a full-service practice, with strong recent activity in compliance programmes, administrative investigations and criminal proceedings. Uniquely positioned to advise on real estate sector-specific issues, in line with its firm-wide strength, the team is particularly well versed in criminal processes related to illegal land occupation, fraud, misrepresentation, document forgery, and crimes against public administration, among other matters. Founding partner Felipe Pinilla steers the department and has extensive experience in real estate-related criminal proceedings. The team also includes associate César Augusto Gónzalez, who specialises in advising on the implementation of compliance programmes, criminal litigation cases, and disciplinary processes; and criminal law-focused associate Laura Pinilla De Brigard.

‘Concerned with understanding the real and specific needs of the client’, Posse Herrera Ruiz fields an increasingly broad practice in this sphere. Historically better-known for its robust compliance expertise, the group continues to strengthen its white-collar crime offering. Most notably, in September 2022 it added new associate and former prosecutor at the Attorney General’s Office Camila Páez, who is singled out as ‘an expert in criminal procedure and criminal justice’. Corporate partner Oscar Tutasaura remains the key contact for compliance matters and continues to co-lead the department together with infrastructure and public law head José Alejandro Torres. Other names to note include junior associate Jordi Buitrago, who is highlighted for his ‘excellent work’. Associate Luis Miguel Russi left to join Halliburton in September 2022.