Mr Juan Casallas > Holland & Knight > Bogota, Colombia > Lawyer Profile

Holland & Knight continues to make inroads into the market following the absorption of Cuberos Cortés Gutiérrez in May 2023, with an increasingly broad set of contentious offerings. Most notably, consumer law cases are a growing area of activity for the firm, with the team recently handling a high volume of work for clients such as Copa Airlines and iShop Colombia. Department head José Gutierréz Mestre leads on the consumer law cases and also keeps busy advising on infrastructure, transport and corporate disputes. The practice additionally leverages the wider firm’s highly-regarded environmental law offering to excel in energy regulation-related work, with energy specialist Jose Vicente Zapata recommended in this sphere. Next-generation partner Juan Casallas and senior counsels Lorena Martínez and Estefanny Pardo are also noted.

Holland & Knight’s public law practice is well versed across a broad range of infrastructure, constitutional and administrative law matters but it is arguably best known for its focus on public environmental law and energy-related work, where department co-head and natural resources specialist, José Vicente Zapata, is a key contact. The team is additionally co-led by Juan Casallas, who is an up-and-coming partner for dispute resolution involving constitutional and administrative law issues; and Edwin Cortés, who joined in May 2023 — following the firm’s absorption of Cuberos Cortés Gutiérrez — and specialises in infrastructure projects. Associate José Rengifo provides support on energy and infrastructure litigation.

Lawyers at Holland & Knight are ‘always very collaborative and fully available to solve problems’, according to clients. The firm’s May 2023 merger with Cuberos Cortés Gutiérrez Abogados saw the arrival of new contentious team head José Gutiérrez, who possesses broad dispute resolution experience, including in national and international arbitration proceedings. The group also draws on energy and natural resources specialist Jose Vicente Zapata; litigator Juan Casallas, who is noted for commercial and administrative law disputes; and senior counsel Lorena Martínez, who specialises in dispute resolution and real estate.

Environmental law is a marquee practice for Holland & Knight’s Bogotá office and the team is widely revered for its full-spectrum coverage of the area. On the advisory front, the group’s expertise encompasses legal assessment for the construction of energy and natural resources projects, licensing procedures and environmental audits, among other matters. It also handles contentious work, with extensive experience in environmental sanctioning proceedings and constitutional law claims. A foremost expert for environmental law in Colombia, department head Jose Vicente Zapata acts for a broad mix of clients, including domestic and multinational companies in the energy, natural resources, manufacturing, infrastructure, and food and beverage sectors. Zapata was recently engaged by Shell EP Offshore Ventures (Colombia branch) to handle several constitutional claims filed against its offshore projects. Other key contacts include public law litigator Juan Casallas; associate María Camila Aponte, whose practice is dedicated to environmental law; and senior counsel Estefanny Pardo, who is noted for contentious work. Senior counsel Margarita Solorza left the firm in May 2024. Since publication, Aponte has been raised to counsel – effective as of February 2025.

‘An outstanding team with very deep technical competence’, Holland & Knight houses a comprehensive energy and natural resources practice, which is distinguished by its ability to draw on over 220 energy specialists across its global offices. Department head José Vicente Zapata is regarded by many as a ‘national reference in environmental and energy law’; he is recognised for his full-service coverage of energy law, with extensive experience in regulation, transactions, contentious work and associated environmental law issues. Ines Elvira Vesga specialises in both electricity and hydrocarbons work and led on a string of highlights during 2023/24, including advising Emerald Energy, a subsidiary of Sinochem Group, on regulatory and contractual matters. Other key contacts include of counsel Milton Fernando Montoya, whose practice spans the mining, energy and environmental law spheres; and public law partner Juan Casallas. The group also includes a pair of specialised senior counsels: Daniel Fajardo arrived from Engie in June 2023 and has a focus on energy transactions, while Estefanny Pardo specialises in environmental law litigation. Senior counsel Margarita Solorza left the firm in May 2024. Since publication, Claro Manuel Cotes has been promoted to counsel – effective as of February 2025.