Mr Jose Luis Suárez > Gómez-Pinzón Abogados (GPA) > Bogota, Colombia > Lawyer Profile

Gómez-Pinzón Abogados (GPA) fields one of the deepest banking benches in the market, which is reflected in its ability to resource large-scale domestic and cross-border transactions for both lenders and borrowers. The group’s comprehensive expertise spans the full range of corporate finance, asset finance, project finance and structured finance deals, while it is also frequently engaged to handle regulatory matters. Ricardo Fandiño spearheads the banking, finance and capital markets department and brings to bear over 25 years of experience in representing financial institutions, alternative lenders and major corporations in sophisticated transactions. Among his recent highlights, Fandiño acted as local counsel to the Royal Bank of Canada on a $700m financing granted to Enerflex to support the acquisition of Exterran Corporation. Sought after for both regulatory and transactional work, José Luis Suárez’s broad practice spans administrative law, infrastructure, and banking and finance; he recently advised Citibank Colombia on an uncommitted credit line to Rappi for up to $11m. The group additionally includes Daniel Londoño, who has a strong cross-border element to his practice, and capital markets expert Adriana Moreno. The group also benefits from a strong second line of senior associates, including Jimena González, who specialises in project finance and securities-related issues; Catalina Prieto, who combines strength in finance, energy and infrastructure; and Daniel Flórez, whose focus spans a mix of regulatory and transactional matters.

Gómez-Pinzón Abogados (GPA)’s full-spectrum capital markets practice forms a key part of its overarching banking, finance and capital markets offering. With the ability to draw on one of the deepest benches in the market, the group stands out for its comprehensive market coverage that spans debt and equity matters for an array of domestic and multinational issuers and underwriters. Ricardo Fandiño heads the department and is highly regarded for his experience in advising international banks on cross-border issuances and derivatives transactions. In one of the marquee matters of 2023, Fandiño acted as Colombian counsel to the underwriters (Citigroup Global Markets, JP Morgan Securities, Santander Investment Securities and Scotia Capital USA) on Ecopetrol’s $2bn notes issuance. The team also benefits from the experience of: Daniel Londoño, who handles a mix of transactional and regulatory capital markets work; Medellín office head Adriana Moreno; and high-profile senior partner José Luis Suárez. An additional deep pool of senior associates includes Daniel Flórez Linero, who provides support on a mix of banking and capital markets deals; Jimena González Alarcón, whose practice spans capital markets, finance and infrastructure; and Catalina Prieto Núñez, who is well versed in capital markets, corporate finance and structured finance-related issues.

The corporate and M&A team at Gómez-Pinzón Abogados (GPA) is composed of lawyers who ‘stand out for their closeness and attention to detail’, according to satisfied clients. The full-spectrum practice is equipped to advise on a comprehensive scope of transactional, compliance and general advisory work, while it additionally benefits from its ability to lean on the wider firm’s complementary offerings in environment, tax and competition, among other areas. Experienced sector specialist Lina Uribe García spearheads the department and is noted for her broad transactional focus; she recently advised Mexico-headquartered JC & Holding on its acquisition of a 70% stake in Farmalogica. Natalia García Arenas led on several highlight matters during 2023/24, including advising Rhenus Group on the acquisition of Blu Logistics. Increasingly prominent next-generation partner Juan David Quintero is also a key contact; he recently paired up with administrative law and infrastructure partner Jose Luis Suárez to advise the Gilinski Family, through JGDB Holding and Nugil, on the exchange of Grupo Nutresa shares for Grupo Sura shares. Other recommended names at partner level are Ana Cristina Jaramillo, who brings to bear significant international experience; energy and natural resources head Patricia Arrázola; and the newly promoted (January 2024) María Isabel Romero de la Torre. The department also leans on a strong bench of non-partners, including experienced counsel María Fernanda Restrepo as well as senior associates Paola Valderrama, Emanuela Guevara, Juan Pablo Caicedo and Francisco Pamplona.

The projects group at Gómez-Pinzón Abogados (GPA) impresses sources with its ‘commitment to excellence in client service’. Well versed across the full life cycle of project matters, from tenders through to operational issues, the team counts public-sector entities, banks, investment funds and construction companies among its key clients. Department head Paola Larrahondo is an increasingly prominent name for infrastructure and administrative law; she recently advised Empresa Metro de Bogotá on the construction and operation of Bogotá’s metro lines. Seasoned projects specialist, José Luis Suárez, contributes experience across the full range of infrastructure, public law and project finance; he advised VGMobility on the financing of a project for the provision of an electric bus fleet. Senior associates Juan Antonio Ucrós (infrastructure and administrative law) and Catalina Prieto (banking and finance and infrastructure) provide additional support.

Among Gómez-Pinzón Abogados (GPA)’s key attributes, sources highlight the public law group’s ‘experts from different areas of law’ and also its ‘extensive technical knowledge’. Alongside its work for corporate clients on bidding processes, infrastructure projects, administrative procedures and public law disputes, the team additionally acts for numerous state and semi-state entities on public procurement, regulatory matters and commercial contracts, including FDN and Grupo Energía de Bogotá. Administrative law and infrastructure specialist, Paola Larrahondo, heads the department and advised FDN and Transcaribe on a solution guaranteeing the continuity of the public transport service currently provided by Transcaribe in Cartagena. The team also includes José Luis Suárez, whose practice intersects administrative law, infrastructure, and banking and finance; and infrastructure and administrative law-focused senior associate, Juan Antonio Ucrós, who ‘quickly understands and attends to the client’s needs’.