Ustáriz & Abogados Estudio Jurídico > Bogota, Colombia > Firm Profile

Ustáriz & Abogados Estudio Jurídico > The Legal 500 Rankings

Colombia > Banking and finance Tier 3

Lauded for its knowledge of the sector, its participants, products and services, Ustáriz & Abogados Estudio Jurídico is an established boutique with a close -although not exclusive- focus on banking, finance and insurance-related matters. Acting primarily for a range of banks, finance and credit agencies, insurance companies and state entities, it stands out for its regulatory know-how and extensive experience of banking responsibility and fraud, as well as its knowledge of blockchain and fintech matters. Clients also highlight both its use of technology and reputation for training on banking and finance issues. Recent matters include counselling a financial institution on data and electronic fraud in relation to financial operations; acting as special legal counsel in various multi-hundred-million-dollar finance agreements, legal opinions on structuring matters and capital markets work (particularly in relation to ISDA Master Agreements). Partners Luis Humberto Ustáriz ('conceptual clarity and the ability to structure novel solutions to problems') and Jose Federico Ustáriz ('permanent availability' and 'high quality deliverables') co-lead an eight strong team boosted by the September 2020 hire of Adriana Rivera, who, with a decade's relevant experience both in house (Credicorp Capital, Banco Mundo Mujer Alianza Fiduciaria) and in the public sector (Superintendencia Financiera), arrives in private practice as head of the firm's capital markets practice. Effectively a senior counsel at the firm, Pablo Valencia can draw on over 30 years' experience (he too has been in house at various financial institutions including Banco de Colombia -now Bancolombia-, Fiduciaria Alianza and the Superintendencia Financiera). Completing the senior team Manuel Antonio García Cuello is an industrial engineer specialised in financial institutions, risk analysis and compliance.

Colombia > Capital markets Tier 3

With a particularly noteworthy list of stockbrokers among its clients, longstanding finance boutique Ustáriz & Abogados Estudio Jurídico is lauded for its specialised capital markets knowledge, particularly as regards regulation and products. Luis Humberto Ustáriz's extensive in-house experience includes roles at the Bogotá stock market's self-regulating body; while José Federico Ustáriz, formerly in house at Corporación Financiera Colombiana, has extensive experience as legal controller in financial institutions and a postgraduate capital markets qualification. The pair co-head an eight-strong team which acts for international investment banks, brokerage firms and trust companies. Its advisory ranges from consultancy regarding securities issuance and the legal risk of potential investments, to securities compliance services, all of which is overseen by new practice director Adriana Rivera, a September-2020 hire from Alianza Fiduciaria - Alianza Valores. The team also includes Pablo Valencia, a senior figure with over 30 years' finance-sector experience, both in house and in private practice. Recent matters include advisory to Fondo Nacional de Garantías to ensure its guarantees cover the bonds issues by real estate companies in the secondary market; and elaborating of ISDA Master Agreements for both local and foreign financial entities. The team has also been particularly active in the regulatory compliance segment - where (non-lawyer) risk specialist Manuel Antonio García C comes to the fore - advising clients Itaú Comisionista de Bolsa, Skandia Valores, Casa de Bolsa, BBVA Valores and Fiduciaria de Occidente, among others.

Dispute resolution > Litigation Tier 3

'There is no firm with the experience in financial litigation', that Ustáriz & Abogados Estudio Jurídico has, according to clients who note the firm's 'percentage of effectiveness in winning litigation is unsurpassed'. Moreover, 'it is a law firm that is applying state-of-the-art technology, legal tech, predictive analytics and jurisprudence analysis engines' to prospective cases, giving clients -predominantly drawn from the banking, finance and insurance segments-even greater certainty as regards probable outcomes; it is particularly active in proceedings before the financial regulators. 'A senior lawyer with in-depth knowledge of commercial and financial law, the securities market and procedural law', some regard Luís Humberto Ustáriz as 'the most experienced lawyer in financial litigation in his country'; highly experienced in derivatives, credit issues and wider capital markets related matters, he leads an eight-strong practice whose client roster contains many of the most important fiduciary companies in the country. Key support comes from commercial specialist Angela Restrepo ('analytical, studious, and expert in financial and commercial law'), who is currently undertaking an LLM in procedural law. Fellow founding partner Jose Federico Ustáriz is primarily corporate and finance-focused, but also handles litigation matters; The firm also regularly represents clients in domestic arbitration procedures and has capability in ICC arbitration and NASD dispute resolution.