Brigard Urrutia > Bogota, Colombia > Firm Profile

Brigard Urrutia > The Legal 500 Rankings

Colombia > Banking and finance Tier 1

According to satisfied clients, Brigard Urrutia ‘focuses on providing a quality service‘. A longstanding heavyweight in the banking and finance arena, the firm houses one of the most comprehensive practices in the market and routinely advises on the full spread of related issues, from syndicated loans and project financings, through to fintech and regulatory-related matters. Among the names to note, infrastructure specialist César Felipe Rodríguez is commended for his ‘exceptional knowledge in project financing‘. Rodríguez also shines in acquisition finance; he notably acted as Colombian deal counsel to AT&T Services, Open Plaza Corp and the guarantor subsidiaries on a $506.1m financing from AT&T to Open Plaza, as part of the LBO of AT&T-owned Vrio Corp. High-profile name Carlos Fradique-Méndez handles a mix of transactional and regulatory matters, with strong skill sets in banking, finance, capital markets and private equity. Felipe Alarcón, a former Deputy Director at the Financial Superintendence, is particularly sought after for his expertise in financial regulation. Dual-qualified (Colombia/New York) María Fernanda Diago is well versed in advising both borrowers and lenders on cross-border transactions — as is senior partner Carlos Urrutia, who enjoys a strong international profile both due to his premier banking experience and his background as a former Ambassador of Colombia to the US. At the associate level, María Fernanda Sánchez and Juan Eduardo Gómez are recommended.

Colombia > Capital markets Tier 1

Brigard Urrutia is ‘unbeatable in the capital market space’, according to some. A consistent performer in debt and equity mandates, the group also strikes a balance between acting for issuers and underwriters. Carlos Fradique-Méndez is recognised for his experience in cutting-edge capital markets matters, where he combines strong transactional and regulatory expertise. Fradique-Méndez co-heads the department alongside corporate finance specialist Luis Gabriel Morcillo; together they represented the underwriters (Citigroup Global Markets, BofA Securities and JP Morgan Securities) on Banco Davivienda’s $500m issuance of perpetual bonds in the international market — which represented the first offering of its kind by a Colombian institution. Among its issuer-side highlights, the same team acted as Colombian counsel to AI Candelaria (Spain) on its $600m bond offering. In September 2021, senior associate Felipe Calderón left for Citibank, while two months later Luis Alejandro León joined as a senior associate from the Ministry of Finance and Public Credit.

City focus > Cali Tier 1

‘An expert firm with excellent service‘, Brigard Urrutia continues to be the only full-service national heavyweight with an on-the-ground presence in Cali. More than this, the firm remains fully committed to expanding its offering in the city and the wider region, with the team recently swelling to five lawyers following several new hires into the office including: international trade-focused of counsel Maria Eugenia Lloreda, who joined in April 2021 and is a former regional manager at ANDI; senior associate Jimena Rincon , who has an emphasis on corporate and M&A matters and arrived in April 2022 from Fanalca; and intermediate associate Rafael Reyes, who advises on labour and employment law and was formerly a clerk for specialised labour judges — he joined in 2021. The office is now equipped to  provide standalone advice on a wide range of corporate and M&A, international trade, labour and employment and antitrust law— it can also parachute in teams from the wider firm as required. Competition and antitrust expert Alejandro Garcia de Brigard continues to head the local practice and recently provided training to 18 companies in Valle del Cauca on technological prototyping, data management and intellectual property.

Colombia > Competition and antitrust Tier 1

Brigard Urrutia‘s competition team leverages the firm’s top-tier corporate practice to pack a punch in merger filings. However, the group is more than just a transactional support practice, as demonstrated by its recent strong performance in competition litigation and complex behavioural matters. Dual-qualified (Colombia/New York) department head Alejandro Garcia de Brigard brings to bear an impressive record in advising on the local leg of major cross-border merger reviews; notably, he and his team handle nearly a quarter of the country’s total merger filings — he also advises on investigations and enforcement matters. García’s recent highlights include advising AstraZeneca on merger control matters related to its acquisition of Alexion Pharmaceutical and also representing Suzuki Motor de Colombia in the Competition Authority’s antitrust investigation into alleged anti-competitive conduct in the public procurement of motorcycles. Senior associate, and practice coordinator, Nicolás Cardona is also a key contact and brings significant hands-on expertise earned during a three-year stint at the Competition Authority.

Colombia > Corporate and M&A Tier 1

According to satisfied clients, Brigard Urrutia is distinguished by ‘its quality of work, efficiency and agility‘. A transactional powerhouse, the firm leverages its full-service model to pack a punch in advising major national and multinational companies on the full spread of corporate and M&A matters — across all business sectors. The group demonstrates adroit handling of headline-grabbing deals for both sellers and acquirers, and it is also well-equipped to advise on compliance and non-transactional matters. High-profile M&A co-head Sergio Michelsen Jaramillo is an instantly recognisable name for corporate deals and brings to bear over three decades of experience on sophisticated transactions. Michelsen recently teamed up with dual-qualified (Colombia/New York) corporate heavyweight Jaime Robledo and up-and-coming specialist Tomás Holguín to advise former shareholders of Productos Familia (including Valores Industriales, Reforestadora y Manufacturera los Retiros and members of the Gómez family) on one of the year’s marquee deals: Essity’s $1.5bn acquisition of approximately 44% of Productos Familia through a tender offer. In another cross-border highlight, Darío Laguado Giraldo teamed up with corporate finance expert Carlos Fradique-Méndez to act as local counsel to Alpha Capital CFG on its acquisition, out of bankruptcy, of the payroll loan portfolio of Alpha Latam Management and its subsidiaries in Colombia. Other key partners include Álvaro Cala, who specialises in the aviation and real estate sectors, Fernando Alfredo Castillo, who has a good record in cross-border work, as well as managing partner Carlos Umaña and senior partner Carlos Urrutia. The department also benefits from a deep bench of associates, including dual-qualified Paola Ordoñez (M&A), Laura Ricardo Ayerbe (M&A, corporate and commercial) and Barranquilla-based Andrea Camila Cruz (M&A, corporate and commercial). Two changes in September 2021 saw Ángela García Páez promoted to director within the corporate and M&A team, while former senior associate Daniel Moncaleano left to join Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP in the US.

Dispute resolution > Litigation Tier 1

Standing out for the ‘analysis and depth with which it deals with the issues‘, Brigard Urrutia‘s team is comprised of lawyers who ‘understand the needs of clients‘. The combined litigation, arbitration and insolvency group covers the waterfront on contentious matters, with strong skill sets in civil and commercial proceedings, administrative actions, mass litigation and judicial bankruptcy cases. Department head Irma Rivera Ramírez brings to bear over 25 years of experience and routinely leads on major national and cross-border litigation and arbitration proceedings. Among Rivera’s recent highlights, she has represented clients in unfair competition cases, constitutional actions and contentious bankruptcy proceedings, as well as commercial litigation. The department can now calls upon the specialist expertise of two partners, following the February-2022 promotion of former associate director Felipe Mutis, who sources single out for his ‘ability to analyse and search for solutions‘. Mutis is widely recognised for his emphasis on disputes concerning the infrastructure, energy, M&A and telecoms sectors. The team also benefits from an impressive second line of senior associates, including dual-qualified (Colombia/New York) María Munevar Torrado, who handles a mix of litigation and arbitration cases; Carlos Mauricio Cerrato, who has a focus on civil and commercial matters; insolvency head Paola Guerrero Yemail; and Ana Carolina Abreo, who specialises in public procurement and administrative law matters. The group also recently welcomed new senior associate Camilo Valenzuela, who joined the firm in September 2021 from Lloreda Camacho & Co. and has experience in all core areas of dispute resolution. Intermediate associate Melissa Fonseca left the firm in February 2022.

Colombia > Energy and natural resources Tier 1

Brigard Urrutia finds favour for its ability to ‘very effectively integrate the different disciplines that can contribute to the solution of a particular problem‘, with sources attesting that this ensures ‘decisions always have the benefit of having been built holistically’. The firm houses a deep and broad energy and natural resources practice, which routinely advises key industry participants on the full life cycle of matters, from regulatory issues, through to finance and corporate transactions. Among the names to note, managing partner Carlos Umaña is recognised for his specialist focus on infrastructure, procurement, utility and natural resources law, while senior partner Carlos Urrutia is sought after for his broad commercial practice that spans regulatory, contentious and transactional work. The department also draws on the senior experience of energy regulation expert Claudia Navarro, who is well versed in both the electric and natural gas spheres, transactional specialist Jaime Robledo and associate director Marianna Boza, who spearheads the firm’s mining and oil and gas group. The practice also leans on a talented band of more junior lawyers, including senior associate Juan Carlos Padilla, who joined in June 2021 from Transportadora de Gas Internacional.

Colombia > Insurance Tier 1

‘An excellent multidisciplinary team‘, Brigard Urrutia‘s insurance and reinsurance group is composed of lawyers, ‘who are really dedicated to their clients‘, according to sources. The firm acts for an impressive roster of major insurers, which it advises on the full gamut of corporate, regulatory and contentious matters — it is notably sought after by foreign companies looking to register before the Financial Superintendence and is currently representing 56 such clients. Director Lucas Fajardo ‘knows the industry like nobody else‘ and is recommended for his specialist focus on advising insurers and reinsurers on regulatory, corporate and contractual matters. Contentious specialist Irma Rivera Ramírez routinely represents insurance companies in major judicial and arbitral disputes, while managing partner Carlos Umaña is noted for his experience in non-contentious insurance; together they co-head the practice alongside Fajardo. In May 2021, insurance-focused associate Iván Montenegro re-joined the firm from JMalucelli Travelers Seguros, where he was legal director.

Colombia > Projects Tier 1

Brigard Urrutia's multidisciplinary practice draws on partners from across the full-service firm to provide comprehensive coverage of projects law in Colombia. A particularly strong performer in project finance, the group routinely represents lenders and sponsors on major deals in the energy, social infrastructure and economic infrastructure spheres. Among the names to note, managing partner Carlos Umaña is recognised for his broad expertise in public procurement, infrastructure and energy law. Carlos Fradique-Méndez's corporate finance prowess positions him as a key contact for project finance transactions, particularly cross-border mandates. Claudia Navarro has a distinct regulatory angle to her practice and is noted for energy projects. Other key names include banking and finance partners César Felipe Rodríguez, María Fernanda Diago and Felipe Alarcón. The team also benefits from a strong second line of associates, including Julián Parra and Juan Pablo Canaval (who both focus on public law and infrastructure), and Juan Carlos Padilla, who joined the team in August 2021 from Transportadora de Gas Internacional.

Colombia > Public law Tier 1

Brigard Urrutia's group has an enviable track record in linking the public and private sectors in the context of significant public interest projects. The multidisciplinary practice combines strong skill sets in regulatory and financial planning matters and routinely advises on PPPs in the transport, utilities and other areas. In a strong example of its reputation in this space, managing partner and department co-head Carlos Umaña recently led the firm’s advice to Pfizer on one of the first vaccine purchase-and-supply agreements to be reached by the National Government. The group is co-led by infrastructure and public utilities partner Claudia Navarro and associate Julián Parra, who co-ordinates the practice.

Colombia > Tax Tier 1

The tax department at Brigard Urrutia is held up by sources as ‘an interdisciplinary team that provides all the services associated with tax law‘. With its extensive experience spanning tax structuring, day-to-day advisory, transfer pricing and contentious matters, the group stands as a full-spectrum standalone offering that brings together lawyers, accountants and economists to provide comprehensive advice. The group was recently bolstered at top level by the January-2022 hire of all-round corporate tax specialist Adrián Rodríguez from Lewin & Wills, Abogados. Rodríguez -elected President of the Colombian Tax Law Institute in July 2022- now co-heads the practice alongside increasingly prominent tax litigator Catalina Jaramillo and tax planning partner Andrés Hernández, who demonstrates ‘excellent handling of complex issues‘. Among the group’s associates, director Daniel Duque and senior Zaira Cortés are both noted for tax consulting and planning matters. Senior associate Pablo Ángel left in June 2021 to join Ernst & Young Asesores Ltda.

Colombia > TMT Tier 1

Widely acknowledged as a market leader for TMT law in Colombia, Brigard Urrutia scores highly for its intrinsic understanding that ‘industry dynamics require quick, concrete and concise answers, not endless memorandums‘. The group excels across the full spread of technology, media and entertainment law, and is routinely engaged by leading national, regional and global clients to advise on strategic regulatory matters and major transactions. Department head Sergio Michelsen Jaramillo is a go-to specialist in the field and recently advised SpaceX on its entrance into the Colombian market. Key support is provided by practice director Juan Nicolás Laverde, who is ‘always available and clear in his answers‘; and senior associate Andrea Bonnet, whose practice spans IP, technology, data protection and telecoms.

Dispute resolution > Arbitration Tier 2

Brigard Urrutia houses a comprehensive arbitration practice, which plugs into the wider firm’s full-service offering to advise on domestic and international arbitrations across all core industry sectors. That said, the team’s busy caseload reflects its particularly strong record in the construction, energy and public sector arenas, where it routinely acts for both major Colombian and multinational clients. Department head Irma Rivera Ramírez has a broad disputes practice and spearheads both the litigation, arbitration and insolvency group and the insurance and reinsurance team. On the arbitration front, Rivera has notched up key roles in major arbitrations for both national and foreign clients. The group also benefits from the experience of newly made-up partner Felipe Mutis, who has supported on several construction and concession-related arbitration cases of late. Key associates include María Victoria Munevar, Camilo Valenzuela (who joined from Lloreda Camacho & Co. in September 2021) and Ana Carolina Abreo — all advise on a mix of litigation and arbitration proceedings.

Colombia > Environment Tier 2

The environmental law team at Brigard Urrutia ‘covers many areas' and is ‘able to intertwine relationships between them in a very efficient way', according to sources. The firm’s interdisciplinary approach sees the practice bring together specialists from across its energy, projects and corporate departments, who advise a broad mix of industry clients on regulatory, contentious and transactional matters. Senior associate Guillermo Tejeiro spearheads the environmental and sustainable business development group and brings to bear 15 years' experience representing domestic and multinational clients on environmental regulation, tax issues and litigation. Corporate partner Jaime Robledo is also a key contact and provides support on commercial, administrative and strategic matters.

Colombia > International trade and customs Tier 2

Brigard Urrutia‘s international trade practice strikes the right note with its ability to ‘simplify complex issues‘ as well as for its provision of recommendations that are ‘on point and easy to implement‘. A prominent player in trade remedy cases, the firm is significantly involved in five of the six anti-dumping investigations that are currently being conducted by the Ministry of Trade. Customs disputes, free trade zones and free trade agreements are also areas of experience. Jose Francisco Mafla, who is admitted to practice in Colombia, New York and before the US Court of International Trade, is an increasingly prominent name in the market; he handles an array of customs issues, trade remedies, WTO regulation, free trade agreements and dispute resolution. Mafla co-leads the department alongside associate director Camilo Castrillón, who is particularly noted for his focus on foreign investment and free trade zones. Intermediate associate Gerardo Chadid provides specialist support.

Colombia > Labour and employment Tier 2

Brigard Urrutia‘s department is divided into two distinct standalone offerings, with the labour and employment team and the immigration group routinely working hand-in-hand to provide comprehensive coverage of human resources law. The strength of the firm’s combined capability is evidenced by its status as the sole Colombian member of the Ius Laboris network. Catalina Santos spearheads the department and is equipped to advise on the full range of consultancy, collective bargaining, transactional support and contentious matters. At associate level, José Alejandro Sierra (who focuses on litigation and pensions), and Camilo Mutis (who specialises in contentious work) are the key names.

Colombia > Real estate Tier 3

Brigard Urrutia‘s ‘extensive knowledge in real estate law‘ is evidenced through its increasingly even split between transactional real estate mandates and urban planning. Other practice sweet spots include tourism and hospitality, real estate finance, and regulatory issues, including expropriations and urban licensing. Francisco Uribe heads the practice and is well versed across a broad array of real estate matters, including hotel-related projects, urban operations and REITs. The department also has recourse to a pool of talented younger lawyers, including director and urban planning specialist Wilben Palacios, and associates Juanita Bermúdez and Nathalia Arias.

Colombia > Compliance and white-collar crime Tier 4

Brigard Urrutia‘s compliance team finds favour for its ability to ‘successfully simplify complex issues‘. The multidisciplinary practice enjoys closes relationships with raft of global corporations, which it advises on risk management systems, through to sensitive criminal investigations. Director and practice head Ricardo Forero is singled out as a ‘well-trained, experienced and creative lawyer‘ and brings to bear over 16 years’ experience; he is well versed in criminal proceedings, compliance and FCPA-related matters. Since the practice’s formation in 2020, the firm continues to invest in building up its compliance offering and in July 2021 it welcomed new associate María Camila Sarria, who joined from the in-house legal team at Casa Editorial El Tiempo. Associate Andrea Plazas left to study in the UK.