Mr Santiago Gutiérrez > Lloreda Camacho & Co. > Bogota, Colombia > Lawyer Profile

Demonstrating a marked focus on regulatory work, Lloreda Camacho & Co.’s banking practice is mainly active in product development, the incorporation of new financial entities, and fintech. The group also handles financing transactions for lenders, including alternative lenders, and borrowers. Department head Santiago Gutiérrez brings significant in-house experience to his role honed during a stint as director of the legal department at Regional Bogotá de Conavi. Government contracting and infrastructure partner Carlos Carvajal is also a key contact. Associate Santiago Garzón is noted for fintech-related issues.

‘A team that really stands out from the rest’,  Lloreda Camacho & Co. is commended by sources on the back its ‘creative solutions and business-friendly approach’. A popular referral choice, the group routinely links up with global, particularly USA-based, firms to advise on the local leg of major, cross-border transactions. As a case in point, the group acted as local counsel to Anglo American, through lead counsel Shearman & Sterling, on the London-based mining company’s $294m sale of its 33.3% interest in the Cerrejón joint venture to Glencore. The transaction was led by M&A co-head Andrés Hidalgo, highlighted for knowing ‘when to insist and when to loosen the rope in a negotiation’, in conjunction with the mining and natural resources team. Department co-head Santiago Gutiérrez is noted for his broad transactional practice, which draws on his activity in the corporate, finance, capital markets, and real estate spheres; he paired up with Hidalgo to advise Grupo BC on its acquisition, through its Colombia subsidiary Lexer Colombia, of 51% of the outstanding shares of Gesti. Other key contacts include Nadia Sánchez, who was raised to associate practice director in April 2023 and provides exclusive support to the corporate and M&A group; and experienced senior associate Vanesa Gonzalez, who is ‘always aware of the details’.

Lloreda Camacho & Co.’s multidisciplinary real estate group has experience in the full life cycle of industry matters, from title review and permitting issues, through to project development and transactional work. Department co-head Santiago Gutiérrez has a strong transactional dimension to his practice; notably, he also directs the corporate, capital markets, and banking teams. Fellow co-head Carlos Carvajal, who additionally leads the government-contracting and infrastructure practices, brings to bear significant projects experience. Associates Natalia Soto (environmental law) and Santiago Garzón (public law) are also noted.