Irma Rivera Ramírez > Brigard Urrutia > Bogota, Colombia > Lawyer Profile

Brigard Urrutia houses ‘one of the most solid practices in dispute resolution’, according to some. Certainly the firm possesses one of the largest offerings in the market, with its 22-lawyer-strong litigation, arbitration and insolvency group consisting of two partners, one director and six senior associates, among others. Equipped to handle the full spread of civil and commercial cases, the team is routinely engaged to advise on administrative disputes, commercial litigation, contentious competition matters, arbitral proceedings, and insolvency-related work. Irma Rivera Ramírez spearheads the department and is well versed across the full range of contentious issues, with strong recent experience in representing major multinational clients in constitutional law proceedings. Rivera is flanked by two younger partners: Felipe Mutis – identified by sources as an ‘expert litigator’, he advises clients in domestic and multi-jurisdictional disputes, with a focus on administrative and constitutional law litigation and arbitral proceedings; and dual-qualified (Colombia/New York) former practice director María Munevar Torrado, who was raised to the partnership in July 2023. Senior associate Carlos Mauricio Cerrato proovides experienced support – he and Munevar are highlighted for being ‘passionate about the law and the causes they represent’. Other key contacts include Paola Guerrero Yemail, who is an associate director of the insolvency practice; and senior associates Camilo Valenzuela and Carlos Mauricio Cerratto  who both maintain broad dispute resolution practices. The team recently welcomed the arrival of two new senior associates: Paula Juliana Téllez joined in July 2022 from Preciado Abogados; and Monica Alejandra León arrived in October 2022 – she was formerly an in-house lawyer at New Cauca. Senior associate Ana Carolina Abreo left the firm in June 2022. Since publication, Cerratto has been raised to associate practice director – effective as of January 2024.

Brigard Urrutia’s insurance group is distinguished by its ‘high-level commitment, quick responses, kindness, and availability’. As part of a full-service firm offering, its ‘ability to call on complementary practice lawyers’ is also a recurring theme among sources. The team acts for a mix of domestic and multinational insurers — and insured companies — on the full gamut of insurance work, with distinct skill sets in regulatory, transactional, and contentious matters. Dispute resolution specialist Irma Rivera Ramírez steers the department and advised Bupa Worldwide on its reinsurance operations in Colombia, including on regulatory and contractual matters concerning health insurance products marketed in Colombia. Practice director Lucas Fajardo – who he focuses exclusively on insurance work, including regulatory, contractual and claims-related issues – was promoted to the partnerhsip in June 2023; he is highlighted (along with associate Iván Montenegro), for ‘delivering requests on time and with a high level of analysis.’

Brigard Urrutia’s arbitration practice sits within the firm’s wider litigation, arbitration, and insolvency department. With experience in both domestic and international arbitral proceedings, the team has a focus on cases concerning public law issues, including energy and utilities-related matters. Irma Rivera Ramírez heads the group and is equipped to act as counsel and arbitrator in domestic and international cases. Other key contacts include Felipe Mutis, who is well versed in judicial and arbitral disputes; former practice director María Victoria Munevar, who was raised to the partnership in July 2023; and senior associate Camilo Valenzuela. Senior associate Ana Carolina Abreo left in June 2022.