Garrigues > Bogota, Colombia > Firm Profile

Garrigues > The Legal 500 Rankings

Colombia > Competition and antitrust Tier 1

According to sources, lawyers at Garrigues ‘know the needs of clients and their business’. With strength in all key pillars of competition and antitrust law, the group represents clients in investigations and administrative procedures initiated by the SIC, as well as in judicial unfair competition law proceedings. On the transactional side, the team is well versed in merger control cases spanning all key industries, with a recent strong showing in the transport segment. José Miguel De La Calle spearheads the department and is currently representing Viva Air on the antitrust investigation against Viva and Avianca for alleged gun jumping. Following the departure of principal associate Alejandro Acevedo in March 2023, senior associate Anamaría Rico – who has some 10 years’ experience in antitrust and unfair competition matters – leads the second line. Fellow senior Adolfo Enrique Gómez is currently on study leave. The team also replaced associate Natalia Amado Pérez, who left the firm in April 2022, with the hire of Daniel Fajardo Mendoza (technology/competition and personal data) from Baker McKenzie S.A.S. the same month.  

Colombia > Banking and finance Tier 2

The broad group at Garrigues combines strong skill sets across a range of banking and finance, capital markets, fintech and project finance matters, with extensive expertise in the regulatory space. Most notably, Roberto Borrás is widely considered a pioneer in the terms of the latter sphere, bringing to bear hands-on experience gained during stints as president of the Colombian securities market self-regulatory body and as Chief Financial Superintendent of Colombia, among other high-profile roles. Borrás recently advised global neobank, Nubank, on the creation of a financial institution in Colombia. On the transactional front, project finance specialist Francisco Noguera is a key contact; he recently advised JP Morgan Chase Bank on a $292m financing granted to Colombian state-owned bank, Bancoldex, in order to support micro and small companies in the country. A strong senior associate bench includes recent hires Mónica Rodríguez G (who arrived in February 2022 from Incofin Investment Management), and Lissa Parra Alarcón (who joined in July 2022 from the Colombian stock exchange); and Nicolás Angulo, who -noted for infrastructure financings- is currently a foreign associate with Mattos Filho in Sao Paulo (since March 2023). Former senior Paula Ospina Correa moved in house at Bancolombia in July 2023.

Colombia > Capital markets Tier 2

Garrigues has a prominent reputation for its advice to government agencies, including multilateral organisations, on capital markets issues. In a recent example of its strength in this sphere, regulatory specialist and group head Roberto Borrás advised Fiduciaria Bogotá on the structuring of an exchange-traded fund (ETF) in collaboration with the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development. In July 2022, the group was boosted by the hire of senior associate Lissa Parra Alarcón, who joined from the Colombian Stock Exchange and has extensive experience in advising on the registration and issuance of shares, bonds, ETFs and investment funds units. Principal associate Paula Ospina Correa is also noted for her broad regulatory expertise.

Colombia > Corporate and M&A Tier 2

The Bogotá-based corporate team at international firm Garrigues’ scores highly with sources for its ‘ability to understand the profile and expectations of a large foreign client’. An increasingly prominent player in multi-jurisdictional transactions, the group’s recent work spans deals in the USA, Spain, Mexico, Germany, Brazil, Australia and the Netherlands, among others. Department co-head Ignacio Londoño has over 25 years of experience in corporate transactions and recently paired up with the competition practice to advise Viva Latinamerica shareholders, Viva Air Investments and Pangaea Three Acquisition Holdings I, on the sale of the company to Avianca Group International, a UK-based holding of Colombia-based airline Avianca. Fellow group co-head Andrés Ordóñez has a strong cross-border element to his practice, with a focus on advising strategic investors and private equity funds; he acted in conjunction with the banking and finance team to advise Prosus and PayU on its acquisition of Tecnipagos, a Colombian payment getaway company. Principal Associate Cristina Copete  (‘careful to give precise answers’) is also recommended. In April 2023, the group received a significant boost to its restructuring and insolvency offering with the return of Guillermo León Ramírez as a counsel after five years at the Superintendencia de Sociedades’ insolvency unit. Associate Mateo Gómez Mazuera left to join Banco Itaú in March 2022.

Colombia > Projects Tier 2

Garrigues is distinguished by its ‘great ability to react to requests or changes in strategy in the development of the project’, according to some. Combining specialists in project finance, M&A, public law, public procurement and regulatory law, the projects group is an increasingly prominent player in the infrastructure sphere in Colombia, with its recent experience encompassing roads, airports, rail, healthcare, and ports, among other market segments. Public contracts and infrastructure expert Adriana Espinosa co-heads the practice together with up-and-coming project finance partner Francisco Noguera. The department also includes Iván Fierro (‘strong knowledge of the infrastructure sector’), who was promoted to counsel in January 2023, and senior associate Juan Ospina (‘excellent experience in concession contracts’).

Colombia > Public law Tier 2

The public law team at Garrigues secures praise for its ‘professionalism, respect, and personalised attention’. The thriving practice added six new clients during 2022/23, including Draeger Colombia and CapitalBus, and acts on a wide scope of public procurement, projects, and contentious matters. Highlighted as a ‘lawyer like no other’, department co-head Adriana Espinosa possesses extensive experience in infrastructure projects, tender processes and sanction proceedings. Fellow co-head José Miguel De La Calle is recommended for his litigation expertise and notably serves as an associate judge on the Constitutional Court. The team also includes counsel Iván Fierro; principal associate Melissa Castro; and senior associates Camilo González and Juan Ospina.

Dispute resolution > Litigation Tier 3

Spain-headquartered Garrigues houses a robust dispute resolution group in Bogotá, which is frequently engaged to represent domestic and multinational companies in local and cross-border litigation. The one-partner team is particularly active in disputes concerning heavily regulated industries, such as construction, energy, real estate and healthcare, but it is equipped to handle contentious work across all business sectors. Dual-qualified in New York and Colombia, group head Alberto Acevedo is well-positioned to advise on judicial and arbitral proceedings with an international dimension. The department welcomed two new senior associates in 2022: María Carolina Sarmiento joined in May from a Brazilian international arbitration boutique, while Lina Marcela Moreno arrived in September from the legal department of the Council of State of Colombia. Senior associate Ángela María Rueda left to join Frontera Energy in September 2022, while associate Daniel Quintero left in August 2022 to study abroad.

Colombia > Tax Tier 3

The ‘highly reactive and capable’ tax practice at Garrigues is well weighted between advisory, transactional, and contentious work, while it is particularly active in the financial services, energy, private security and auto distribution sectors. Camilo Zarama spearheads both the tax litigation group and the wider department; he possesses significant experience in M&A transactions and corporate tax matters. In February 2023, the group was strengthened at top-level with the hire of Mónica Bolaños from Deloitte Asesores y Consultores, where she was formerly lead M&A and international tax partner for Colombia and the Andean Region. Senior associate Andrea Méndez  is also recommended. Experienced of counsel Laura Galeano departed in January 2023. Senior associate Oscar Munevar left for KPMG in Colombia in September 2022.

Colombia > Labour and employment Tier 4

Garrigues continues to make inroads into the labour and employment market following the May 2022 hire of labour and employment expert, and new department head, Carolina Camacho Solana from Posse Herrera Ruiz. The group added 16 new clients during 2022/23 — including Pernod Ricard and Syngenta — and has established a robust record in collective bargaining, restructuring matters, litigation proceedings, and compliance issues. The team has also been reinforced at associate level with the hires of principal Andres Felipe Paz, who joined in May 2022 and was formerly a freelance advisor; along with senior Manuel Parra, and associates Jairo Jaller and Daniela Duque, all three also being mid-2022 hires from Posse Herrera Ruiz.

Colombia > Real estate Tier 4

Garrigues’ real estate team is characterised by its ‘strong professionalism, commitment and seriousness’, according to sources. The group strikes a balance between planning and transactional work, with extensive experience in land acquisition and management - particularly in the infrastructure sphere. Principal associate Melissa Castro heads the department and maintains a broad practice spanning administrative law, dispute resolution, and real estate. Senior associate Carolina Pérez Forero stands out for her ‘commitment and quality’.