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

A destination practice for banking and finance work, Brigard Urrutia’s strong relationships with domestic and international lenders — including banks and alternative lenders — is a particular hallmark. That being said, the group also represents corporate borrowers in high-profile financings, with notable recent activity in the energy, transport and infrastructure spheres. Alongside its transactional expertise, the team stands out for its robust regulatory offering, where it routinely advises financial institutions, fintechs and others on compliance matters and proceedings before the Superintendence of Finance. Managing partner Carlos Fradique-Méndez is widely recognised as a foremost specialist in financial law, with extensive experience in lending transactions, structured finance, project finance and funds. Among his recent highlights, Fradique-Méndez paired up with prominent next-generation partner María Fernanda Diago to advise leading Colombian corporation, Ecopetrol, on the structuring and negotiation of a credit agreement of up to $1bn. In a key lender-side mandate, César Felipe Rodríguez demonstrated his unique infrastructure credentials through his advice to Financiera de Desarrollo Nacional, Bancolombia and Itaú Colombia on a COP$210bn financing to KMA Construcciones. The group additionally draws on the experience of firm senior partner Carlos Urrutia at top level, while at associate level seniors Santiago Jaramillo Martínez and Nicolás Alonso are noted for project finance and fintech respectively. In September 2023, senior associate Juan Eduardo Gómez left to join A&O Shearman in Washington DC; partner Felipe Alarcón also departed the team. Since publication, the firm has strengthned the firm with the hire of Sebastián Lora – formerly of Martínez Quintero Mendoza González Laguado & de la Rosa; effective as of March 2025.

Brigard Urrutia’s projects team stands out for its multidisciplinary approach, which ensures that it can turn its hand to any aspect of a project on behalf of any key stakeholder. Arguably best known for project finance prowess — where it can lean on recognised experts in the field, such as managing partner Carlos Fradique-Méndez — the team also brings extensive expertise in energy, public utilities, corporate transactions and dispute resolution, among other areas. Among its project finance highlights, high-profile finance specialist César Felipe Rodríguez advised AMP Capital Investors US and Enel Colombia on financing the acquisition of electric public transportation buses from BYD Auto Industry Company (China) to TransMilenio. In a non-finance matter, Carlos Umaña advised Financiera de Desarrollo Nacional on pre-feasibility studies connected to the reactivation of the Pacific Rail Corridor. Other senior contacts include managing partner Carlos Fradique-Méndez, who excels in project finance; Claudia Navarro, whose practice spans energy, infrastructure and public utilities; and banking and finance partner María Fernanda Diago. The department further benefits from a strong second line of non-partners, including director Mario Forero, who focuses on public procurement and administrative law; and senior associate Nicolás Alonso, who sits in the banking and financial services team. Senior associate Felipe Alarcon left in June 2023; while former director Julián Parra moved in house at ZEmobility in September 2024. Since publication, the practice has been strenghened on the project-finance side with the hire of Sebastián Lora, formerly of Martínez Quintero Mendoza González Laguado & de la Rosa; effective as of March 2025.