Carlos Urrutia > Brigard Urrutia > Bogota, Colombia > Lawyer Profile

Brigard Urrutia houses a go-to energy and natural resources practice that clients laud for ‘its implementation of innovative strategies resulting from extensive experience’. Combining a standalone renewable energy and energy efficiency team with strength in conventional energy and mining work, the group is routinely called upon by major domestic and multinational clients to advise on regulatory, transactional and project development matters. Among the names to note, Claudia Navarro stands out for her broad expertise in renewable energy, utilities and infrastructure-related matters; she is advising Total Eren on the construction of a 99MW solar plant in a major Colombian oil field. Energy is also a key industry focus for multidisciplinary senior partner Carlos Urrutia; he recently co-led advice to to Cordoba Minerals on the $100m sale of a 50% ownership interest in its affiliate, CMH Colombia, to JCHX. Tragically, in a loss to both the practice and the firm, director Marianna Boza -who co-led on this mandate- has since passed on. Other senior names include corporate and M&A specialist Jaime Robledo, who possesses a strong record in energy transactions, and managing partner Carlos Umaña, who is noted for his broad coverage of energy and infrastructure work. A deep bench of supporting senior associates includes Juan Carlos Padilla, who contributes significant hands-on experience, following in-house stints at Ecopetrol and International Gas Transport; Andrés Felipe Parra, who is noted for his regulatory expertise; and Carlos Cerón, who is ‘very knowledgeable and helpful’. In June 2024, Margarita Solorza joined from Holland & Knight as director of the environment and sustainable business area.

Widely recognised as a corporate powerhouse in Colombia, Brigard Urrutia is commended by clients for its ‘extensive knowledge of the law, strong experience and pro-transaction business approach’. Fielding one of the largest corporate benches in the market, the group is a popular choice to handle large-scale domestic and cross-border M&A — including private equity-sponsored deals — as well as wider corporate matters, such as shareholder conflicts and business reorganisations. As one of the country’s most prominent corporate specialists, M&A co-head Sergio Michelsen is highly sought after for his record in high-stakes transactions; he recently advised Blu Logistics on the sale of all of its logistics companies in Colombia to Rhenus. Fellow department co-head Jaime Robledo utilises his dual-qualified (Colombia/New York) status to excel in cross-border deals. In a recent example of his international prowess, Robledo teamed up with Michelsen and Fernando Alfredo Castillo to advise Casino Guichard-Perrachon (and certain affiliates), on the Colombian aspects of the sale of their 47% stake in Almacenes Éxito to Grupo Calleja. Other recommended partners include Tomás Holguín, who honed his international skills working at firms in the USA and Brazil; Carlos Fradique-Méndez, who is a force in the private equity sphere; Álvaro Cala, who combines strength in corporate, aviation and real estate; and senior partner Carlos Urrutia. A strong second line of non-partners includes directors Ángela García Páez and Mónica Gutiérrez Velasco; as well as senior associate Andrea Camila Cruz and associate Laura Ricardo Ayerbe. Former corporate and M&A practice chair Dario Laguado Giraldo and director Paola Ordoñez left the firm in April and August 2024, respectively.

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.