Ms Natalia Ponce De León > Baker McKenzie S.A.S. > BOGOTÁ, D.C, Colombia > Lawyer Profile

During 2023/24, the capital markets team at Baker McKenzie S.A.S. kept busy advising on matters concerning private equity funds, which are notably subject to capital markets regulation in Colombia. Historically, the group is also recognised for its activity on the debt capital markets front, where it benefits from its ability to leverage the wider firm’s extensive international platform to support clients on multi-jurisdictional offerings and regulatory issues. Next-generation partner Ricardo Trejos is a key contact for structured finance, debt capital markets and private equity funds; he recently advised Transportadora de Gas Internacional on a $547.6m derivative transaction. Rounding out the key partners are private equity and M&A head Andrés Crump; and Natalia Ponce de León, who was promoted to partner in January 2024 and specialises in private equity, M&A and corporate law. Corporate and commercial-focused senior associate Juliana Gómez is also noted.

Baker McKenzie S.A.S.’s corporate and M&A practice in Bogotá forms a key part of the global firm’s wider Latin America offering, serving as a strategic hub for cross-border work across the region. Commended for its ability to provide ‘solutions from a practical and legal point of view’, the sizeable group handles the full range of corporate, M&A and restructuring work, with particular experience in multi-jurisdictional transactions involving multiple countries and regulatory issues. In a recent example, go-to corporate heavyweight Jaime Trujillo acted together with Clare Montgomery (who fronts the companies, restructuring and investment practice) and the New York office to advise Sanofi on the sale of Genfar — its generics business in Colombia, Peru and Ecuador — to Eurofarma Laboratorios. The ‘outstanding’ Andrés Crump spearheads the M&A and private equity practices and teamed up with the Palo Alto office to advise Snowflake on its indirect acquisition of the Colombian subsidiary of Mobilize.Net. Rounding out the senior names is dual-qualified (Colombia/New York) partner Natalia Ponce de León, who had leading roles on a string of matters during 2023/24, with a focus on the healthcare and energy industries. The department additionally draws on a deep pool of associates including senior Alexandra Montealegre, who has strong international experience gained during an earlier career stint at a New York firm; and intermediates Karen Santamaría, Paola Gonzalez and Juliana Gómez. Senior associate Adriana Combatt moved in house at Altra Investments in March 2023, while senior associate Isabel Torres departed for Geopark in October 2023.