The projects team at Arrieta Mantilla & Asociados provides ‘complete and focused advice that generates confidence in the client‘, according to sources. The boutique’s firm-wide focus on infrastructure, public law and public procurement translates into a projects offering that specialises in advising public entities, concessionaires and other key stakeholders on the full range of project structuring, procurement and operational matters. Primarily recognised for its impressive track record in toll-road concession contracts, the team has also recently advised on other flagship economic and social infrastructure projects. Senior partner Álvaro Mantilla is sought after for his extensive experience in the projects space; he is advising Aerocali on the concession contract for the Alfonso Bonilla Aragón airport. Mantilla co-heads the team together with Yady Villaquirán Castro, who combines strength in projects and administrative law, and Álvaro Mantilla Sánchez. Senior associate Ramón Enrique Ramírez directs the infrastructure area and is also noted for his ‘ability to resolve legal challenges‘.

Brigard Urrutia's multidisciplinary practice draws on partners from across the full-service firm to provide comprehensive coverage of projects law in Colombia. A particularly strong performer in project finance, the group routinely represents lenders and sponsors on major deals in the energy, social infrastructure and economic infrastructure spheres. Among the names to note, managing partner Carlos Umaña is recognised for his broad expertise in public procurement, infrastructure and energy law. Carlos Fradique-Méndez's corporate finance prowess positions him as a key contact for project finance transactions, particularly cross-border mandates. Claudia Navarro has a distinct regulatory angle to her practice and is noted for energy projects. Other key names include banking and finance partners César Felipe Rodríguez, María Fernanda Diago and Felipe Alarcón. The team also benefits from a strong second line of associates, including Julián Parra and Juan Pablo Canaval (who both focus on public law and infrastructure), and Juan Carlos Padilla, who joined the team in August 2021 from Transportadora de Gas Internacional.

Highlighted by sources as ‘the best in terms of PPP project structuring’, Durán & Osorio Abogados Asociados also finds favour for its ability to ‘provide the client with comprehensive project advice from all points of view’. The deep and broad team is equally adept at advising private and public sector participants in major projects, with a strong record in the rail, road, public utilities and port sectors. Álvaro Durán is widely revered as a leading light for projects; he recently acted alongside Carlos Andrés Sánchez to advise BID Invest on the structuring of the Magdalena River Waterway Project. Jorge Gabriel Taboada is also a senior name; he paired up with Álvaro Gasca to represent the consortium (formed by Patria Investments and Mercantil Colpatria) responsible for the development of the Malla Vial del Valle road project. The team also draws upon a talented pool of associates, including Felipe Herrera, Gigliana Rivero Ramirez and Edgardo Maya.

‘Unquestionably within the top two firms in this space in Colombia', Philippi Prietocarrizosa Ferrero DU & Uría's projects practice attracts praise from sources for its ‘strong market share and deep bench'. The team covers the waterfront on projects matters, with enviable offerings in public procurement, public law, infrastructure and project finance. A popular choice to represent leading banks and funds, the group also acts for domestic and multinational sponsors, government entities and multilateral credit agencies on the full range of transport, social, public utilities and real estate infrastructure projects. Jorge Di Terlizzi is highly regarded for his infrastructure and public law expertise, while banking specialist Juan Fernando Gaviria is recognised for his strength in project finance; they are highlighted together as ‘outstanding practitioners‘. Corporate finance partner Hernando Padilla and up-and-coming partner Carlos Padilla co-head the department alongside Di Terlizzi and Gaviria. Associate Camilo Forero is noted for his focus on state contracting and litigation.

According to clients of Castro Leiva Rendón Abogados' projects team, ‘the personal attention from the partners is a distinguishing characteristic'. The practice punches above its weight in this sphere, routinely advising on road and airport concessions, public transportation projects, project finance and infrastructure-related disputes. Marcela Castro is well versed across the full life-cycle of projects matters, but is particularly recognised for representing concessionaires and sponsors on financing transactions. José Ignacio Leiva co-heads the group alongside Castro and advises on transactional and contentious work. Natalia Uribe (promoted to partner in May 2021) handles public law, state contracting and dispute resolution.

New entrant to the table for 2023, Cuatrecasas' projects team has hit the ground running following its high-profile hire of new office head and project finance heavyweight Manuel Quinche from Brigard Urrutia in November 2020. He is supported by Juan Carlos Puentes , an April-2022 promotion to the partnership who has a focus on structured finance and project finance work. The group stands out for its enviable balance between lender and borrower-side mandates and its ability to turn its hand to projects in any sphere, including recent deals in the road, rail, healthcare, port and energy segments. However, the group recently endured the departure of infrastructure and renewable energy specialist Alessia Abello (a January 2021 arrival from Financiera de Desarrollo Nacional, where she was Vice President of Legal Affairs), who left to establish her own firm – Abello Galvis Abogados – in August 2022.

Projects lawyers at Dentons Cardenas & Cardenas are commended for their ‘ability to generate consensus at the negotiating table'. The team stands out for its activity in the port sector, where it is representing Puerto Bahía Colombia de Urabá and Puertos Inversiones y Obras on development projects; it also frequently handles energy and other transport infrastructure work. Pablo Jaramillo heads the transactional side of the practice, with support from associate Laura Streubel; together they are highlighted as ‘high-performance professionals'. Other key contacts include project finance specialist Bernardo Cárdenas and Catalina Pinilla, who has strong experience in representing multilateral entities.

Garrigues is lauded by sources for its ‘highly proactive' lawyers, who ‘look for solutions that protect and safeguard the interests of all parties'. The interdisciplinary team combines strength in project finance and corporate transactions with experience in public law, procurement and regulatory matters; it is also noted for its broad industry expertise that spans public transport, toll roads, healthcare, airports, ports and energy. The department is led jointly by Adriana Espinosa, who spearheads the infrastructure practice, and project finance specialist Francisco Noguera, who was promoted to partner in January 2022. Principal associate Iván Fierro is also noted for his ‘effectiveness in obtaining the results expected'.

Gómez-Pinzón Abogados (GPA) houses a broad projects practice, which brings together strong skill sets in finance, public law, energy and corporate matters. The group regularly advises multinational banks, funds and corporations on projects, and also acts for leading domestic and regional players. Paola Larrahondo, who was promoted to partner in January 2022, co-heads the department; she recently led the firm’s advice to road concessionaire, Concesión Santa Marta Paraguachón, on negotiations with the National Agency of Infrastructure regarding compensation claims resulting from the impact of Covid-19 and the measures taken by the National Government to contain the pandemic. José Luis Suárez, noted for his finance expertise, co-heads the team. Other experienced contacts include Ricardo Fandiño and Felipe Mariño, who specialise in banking and finance, and real estate transactions respectively. Senior associate Juan Antonio Ucrós is also recommended for his emphasis on administrative law and infrastructure matters.

Posse Herrera Ruiz‘s projects team is valued by sources for its ‘good experience in the sector‘. Indeed, the multidisciplinary department brings to bear experience across the key pillars of projects work, including financing, development and construction — it also handles litigation. José Alejandro Torres steers the practice and has a strong record in transactional matters, particularly in the energy, infrastructure and hospitality sectors. Other senior names include finance specialist Mariana Posse; energy and natural resources partner Alvaro José Rodríguez; and infrastructure-focused Cristina Vásquez, who was promoted to partner in January 2022. Director Jesús Albarrán and associate Catalina Posada provide support on project finance matters.

DLA Piper Martinez Beltrán had a strong year on the investment side during 2021/2022, evidenced by its advice to major infrastructure funds such as Macquarie and Patria Investments on asset acquisitions. Alongside its corporate work, the group also advised on tender processes, project finance and administrative proceedings. Infrastructure specialist Paola Aldana co-heads the department and has broad sector expertise, honed during in-house roles at Concesión Autopista Bogotá Girardot and Odinsa. Fellow co-head Sebastián Lora is recommended for project finance. Private equity expert Felipe Quintero and managing partner Camilo Martínez are also active in projects-related work.

The projects team at Ariza & Marin is ‘very proactive and very knowledgeable‘, according to sources. A popular choice to represent domestic and multinational construction companies on project development and dispute resolution, the team is primarily recognised for its strength in road-related matters. Other areas of experience include power projects, water storage, sanitation and social infrastructure. Camilo Marín is noted for his broad contentious and non-contentious expertise in the infrastructure sphere; he co-heads the department alongside Carolina Ariza, who specialises in public law.

Over the past year, Gamboa Abogados' projects practice remained busy advising on tender processes, concession renewals, environmental matters and administrative procedures. Particularly noted for its niche strength in seaport infrastructure, the group counts Compañía de Puertos Asociados (Compas) and Sociedad Portuaria Puerto Bahía among its key clients. Ernesto Gamboa heads the team and advises on a range of projects, dispute resolution and corporate matters. Eduardo Gamboa also has a significant projects dimension to his practice.

Noted for its ‘expert lawyers in different areas of law', Goh is valued by sources for its emphasis on providing ‘comprehensive advice'. The team advises infrastructure clients on a range of public and private contracting matters, public and private partnerships, project financings and EPC agreements — it also houses significant arbitration expertise. Jaime Moya combines corporate, commercial and regulatory experience and leads the group with support from corporate and infrastructure-focussed associate Steffany Serebrenik.

Holland & Knight houses a robust project finance capability, which is recognised for its record in representing local and international banks and sponsors on financing transactions. It also acts for infrastructure companies in environmental, contentious and corporate law matters. Office head Enrique Gomez-Pinzon splits his time between Bogotá and Washington DC and specialises in cross-border investment and financing, project financing and international arbitration.

The projects team at Muñoz Tamayo & Asociados ‘combines a dynamic and comprehensive service with personality', according to sources. The group has a well-established history in the area, originating with its advice on large-scale privatisations in the 1990s, and it handles tender processes, project financings, development work and contentious matters. Diego Muñoz Tamayo specialises in transactional work, including project structuring, and co-heads the department alongside Felipe Trías. Senior associate Antonio Rojas Mayol is also noted for his ‘high dedication and technical capacity'.