Holland & Knight > Bogota, Colombia > Firm Profile

Holland & Knight > The Legal 500 Rankings

Colombia > Environment Tier 1

‘Great connoisseurs of environmental legislation‘, Holland & Knight‘s environmental law practice attracts strong reviews from sources due to its ‘highly specialised and trained team‘. Mainly —but not exclusively— focused on the energy and natural resources sectors, the team routinely supports clients from the extractive industries on compliance matters, regulatory litigation and project development. Additionally, the team handles a steady stream of transactional due diligence matters. High-profile department head Jose Vicente Zapata is highlighted for his ‘timely design of strategies aimed at safeguarding the company’s interests‘; he counts an impressive roster of electric, oil and gas, mining, agrochemical and industrial companies among his key clients. Additionally, senior counsel Juan Casallas supports on contentious work, while associate Margarita Solorza assists with regulatory and compliance matters. Senior associate Camila Del Villar departed the firm in February 2022. Since publicaton, Casallas has been raised to the partnership - effective as of January 2023.

Dispute resolution > Arbitration Tier 2

Lawyers at Holland & Knight score highly with sources due to their ‘knowledge, dedication, generosity and understanding‘. The Bogotá office of the Florida-headquartered firm has a thriving arbitration practice, which is best known for its reputation in representing multinational clients in commercial and investment arbitrations. Following the March 2022 departure of former department head Alberto Zuleta-Londoño, executive partner Enrique Gómez-Pinzón now steers the team. Gómez-Pinzón, whose practice is split between Bogotá and Washington DC, handles a range of cross-border  transactions and international arbitration cases; notably he has participated in international investor arbitrations against Argentina, Ecuador, Venezuela, Panamá and Honduras. Energy specialist Jose Vicente Zapata is also a key member of the arbitration practice and has a focus on environment, energy and natural resources-related disputes. The group also leans on the experience of senior counsel Juan Casallas, who is recognised for his record in commercial, constitutional and administrative law matters, and associate Estefanny Pardo, who is noted for environmental law and energy disputes. Since publication, Casallas has been raised to the partnership - effective as of February 2023.

Colombia > Energy and natural resources Tier 2

Energy is a core practice globally for Miami-headquartered Holland & Knight and its international prowess is evidenced by its premier client roster, which is comprised of major regional and multinational corporates. Widely recognised for the strength of its oil and gas practice, the group also houses robust offerings in power and mining law. Department head Jose Vicente Zapata enjoys a strong profile in the market for his expertise in the electricity, oil, gas, mining and agrochemical spheres; his broad practice focus spans corporate, commercial and regulatory matters. Ines Elvira Vesga is also a key contact and is particularly recognised for her track record in the oil and gas sector. Senior counsel Juan Casallas provides contentious and regulatory support, while associate Estefanny Pardo has an emphasis on mining, environmental and energy disputes. In a significant development, the group was boosted in August 2022 by the hire of mining specialist Milton Fernando Montoya, who joined as of counsel from his own boutique firm Estudio Juridico Montoya & Asociados, bringing a team of three associates with him. Since publication, Casallas has been raised to the partnership - effective as of 2023.

Colombia > Corporate and M&A Tier 3

The Bogota corporate team at Florida-based Holland & Knight is ‘focused on its clients and the search for solutions‘, according to sources. The group covers the waterfront on corporate issues and routinely advises on company incorporations and joint ventures, right through to M&A transactions and corporate reorganisations. Resident partner Enrique Gómez-Pinzón splits his practice between Bogotá and Washington DC and handles a range of cross-border investment and M&A matters; he is leading the firm’s advice to Cemex Latam Holdings on its attempts to nullify certain corporate decisions that were taken during the capitalisation made in 2015 by Cemex Colombia in the company Zona Franca Especial Cementera del Magdalena Medio. Lucas Saffon-López co-leads the group alongside Gómez-Pinzón and also has an emphasis on international deals, while José Vicente Zapata is noted for his transactional expertise in the natural resources sector. The group also includes newly promoted (January 2022) corporate and tax partner Rafael Lafont Castillo. The firm witnessed a flurry of associate departures in 2021: associate practice director María Isabel Romero de la Torre, senior counsel Daniel Fajardo and associate María Alejandra Cabrera all left the firm.

Colombia > Public law Tier 3

Holland & Knight has an established track record in advising major companies in the mining, energy and infrastructure sectors on public law. Particularly active in contentious work, the team is recognised for its expertise in class actions, public environmental law issues and other constitutional law matters. Group head José Vicente Zapata ‘generates value with his participation’ and is recommended for his regulatory experience in the energy and environmental sectors. Senior counsel Juan Casallas is noted for constitutional and administrative law disputes, both judicial and arbitral. Former practice co-head Alberto Zuleta-Londoño left the firm in March 2022. Since publication, Casallas has bee raised to the partnership - effective as of February 2023.

Colombia > Banking and finance Tier 4

The Bogotá outpost of US-headquartered Holland & Knight ‘strives to build long-term relationships‘, according to clients. A solid performer in cross-border transactions, where it draws on its extensive global network, the team also secures a steady stream of domestic financings. In a significant coup, the firm hired former Garrigues‘ counsel, Camilo Gantiva, as partner and head of the office’s financial-services regulation and capital markets’ practices. The team also includes Bogotá executive partner Enrique Gómez Pinzón, who splits his time between Colombia and Washington DC, as well as international transactions specialist Lucas Saffon-López and recently promoted (August 2021) partner Juliana Saa. Alberto Vergara is an active associate.

Colombia > Competition and antitrust Tier 4

Holland & Knight's competition practice is particularly well versed in unfair competition and IP-related work, with an emphasis on litigation. Litigator Danilo Romero Raad heads the team and combines strength in contentious competition, IP, data privacy and consumer protection matters. Associate Camila López Vigoya is also noted for her experience in administrative law cases.

Dispute resolution > Litigation Tier 4

Holland & Knight‘s litigation offering is now spearheaded by energy specialist Jose Vicente Zapata — who also handles environmental liability and judicial proceedings — following the departure of Alberto Zuleta-Londoño in March 2022. The team additionally draws upon the senior expertise of executive partner Enrique Gómez Pinzón, who splits his time between Bogotá and Washington DC and is active in arbitral disputes, as well as senior counsel Juan Casallas, who routinely advises on commercial, constitutional and administrative law cases. Key associate Estefanny Pardo has an emphasis on environmental litigation but is well versed across a wide scope of energy and natural resources-related matters. Since publication, Casallas has been raised to the partnership - effective as of February 2023.

Colombia > Intellectual property Tier 4

Holland & Knight finds favour with sources for its ‘personalised, prompt and useful advice‘. The group is distinguished by its multidisciplinary approach to the area, which sees it provide integrated support on IP together with competition, consumer protection and data protection law. Department head Danilo Romero Raad is a regulatory specialist, whose practice spans IP, competition, consumer protection and TMT-related matters. Recommended names at associate level include Camila López, who has a broad regulatory focus; and Maria José Pardo, who joined in August 2021 from Brigard Castro. Associate Bettina Sojo, currently on study leave in New York, is also noted. Since publication, the team has been notably strengthened with the October-2022 hire of former director of the National Directorate of Copyright in Colombia, Camila Santamaría, as senior counse; with approaching 20 years’ experience, she has held leadership roles at both ASIPI and INTA – in the latter case serving on the organisation’s Latin America Global Advisory Council.

Colombia > Labour and employment Tier 4

Lawyers at Holland & Knight provide ‘fast and personalised attention', according to sources. The practice has seen some major changes of late, with former department head Vicente Umaña leaving the firm in April 2022, to be replaced by new practice lead Carolina Castro, who was also promoted to senior counsel. The group also draws upon associates Jimena Nieto, who is well versed in collective bargaining, disciplinary procedures and termination plans; and Camilo García, who handles various corporate matters, with a focus on labour law.

Colombia > Projects Tier 4

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.

Colombia > Tax Tier 4

New entry into the tax table for 2023, Holland & Knight has significantly ramped up its tax offering of late. In June 2022, new partner hire Gustavo Pardo Ardila incorporated his practice, Gustavo Pardo y Asociados, into the firm. At associate level, José Alejandro Vivas also joined from Pardo’s former boutique, while associate Juan Pablo Díaz arrived in November 2021 from Brigard Urrutia. The three-partner team also includes Juan Carlos Valencia, who is recognised for his extensive experience in tax litigation, and transactional tax specialist Rafael Lafont, who was promoted to partner in January 2022. The team is now particularly well paced to advise clients on tax litigation, tax planning and investment structuring between Colombia and the US.

Colombia > Capital markets

Latin America: International firms > International arbitration

Holland & Knight LLP covers commercial and investment-treaty disputes under all major arbitration rules and is known for its expertise in infrastructure, energy, mining and construction cases. Experienced international arbitration practitioner Adolfo Jimenez, who acts as both advocate and arbitrator, leads the firm’s international arbitration practice out of Miami, with domestic and international trade attorney Carlos Vejar (in Mexico City), providing senior support. Other key senior names include highly experienced arbitrator Enrique Gómez Pinzón, who divides his time between the firm’s Washington DC and Bogota offices; and New York-based litigation partner Marisa Marinelli. Bogota-based dispute resolution partner Alberto Zuleta left to join Cuatrecasas in late 2021.