María Fernanda Diago > Brigard Urrutia > Bogota, Colombia > Lawyer Profile

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.

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.