Hernando Padilla > Philippi Prietocarrizosa Ferrero DU & Uría > Bogota, Colombia > Lawyer Profile

Philippi Prietocarrizosa Ferrero DU & Uría’s banking and finance group scores highly with sources for its ‘great knowledge of the sector’ and also for its ability to ‘propose innovative solutions’. Demonstrating strong skill sets in corporate finance, structured finance and project finance, the team is routinely engaged by domestic and international lenders and corporate borrowers to advise on local and cross-border transactions. Juan Fernando Gaviria is a key contact for banking and finance and also for projects work; in a recent showcase of his skills in both spheres, he teamed up with the projects group to advise a number of local and international senior and liquidity line lenders on the Bogotá-Girardot toll-road project financing, involving a long-term loan of approximately $578m. Hernando Padilla, who sits in the corporate and M&A group as well as the banking, finance and capital markets team, is highly regarded for funds-related issues; he recently advised Grupo Bancolombia on a joint venture with Patria Investments for the management and development of a platform of alternative assets. Other recommended names include Claudia Barrero, who maintains a broad corporate and finance practice. At associate level, former senior Daniela Mejía Mariño left the firm in September 2024, while associate Ana María Ramirez moved in house at IDB Invest earlier in the year.

Philippi Prietocarrizosa Ferrero DU & Uría’s capital markets practice straddles both its banking and finance, and its corporate and M&A offerings. Contributing experience in debt and equity issuances, regulatory and compliance work, and structured finance matters, the group posted strong recent showings in tender offers and share exchange transactions. High-profile corporate and capital markets expert Claudia Barrero ‘gets personally involved in all matters and takes charge of the work’. Barrero led the Colombian corporate and finance aspects of the firm’s cross-office advice to the Colombian Stock Exchange, the Santiago Stock Exchange and Grupo BVL (the Lima Stock Exchange) on the integration of the three entities. Rounding out the partner-level team are Hernando Padilla, who is noted for equity capital markets work; and Juan Fernando Gaviria, who specialises in corporate and project financing. The team additionally includes associate co-ordinator Daniela Mejía, who ‘stands out for her knowledge of the capital markets in Colombia’; and junior associate Daniel Vargas. Senior associate Ana María Ramirez joined IDB Invest in March 2024.

‘A team composed of good negotiators, who are experienced in New York law’, Philippi Prietocarrizosa Ferrero DU & Uría’s corporate and M&A practice strikes an enviable balance between domestic and multinational clients. Routinely involved in transformational — often cross-border — M&A, the deep and broad group is distinguished by its international platform, which leans on offices in Peru and Chile as well as a partnership with Spain-headquartered Uría Menéndez. Among the names to note, managing partner Martín Acero is a ‘true leader and looks for solutions to the most complicated problems’; he paired up with corporate and real estate partner Juan Carlos Rocha to advise Ferro and Hojalatas y Laminados on the structuring of a vehicle, in which they will jointly participate with Yellowstone Capital Partners, to develop a real estate project in Medellín. The firm fields an additional high-profile corporate specialist in Claudia Barrero, who recently advised Grupo Argos on its agreement (together with Grupo de Inversiones Suramericana and Grupo Nutresa), with Jaime Gilinski Bacal and IHC to carry out a stock exchange. Other recommended partners include Felipe Cuberos, who handles a mix of corporate and commercial law; Hernando Padilla, who specialises in corporate, M&A and private equity; and Nicolás Tirado, whose practice spans corporate and insolvency matters. The department also utilises the growing expertise of several associates, including principals David Beltrán, Juan Guillermo Nur and Juan José Castaño, as well as senior Natalia Velasco. Former principal Luz María Mercado moved in house at Stori in September 2023.

Philippi Prietocarrizosa Ferrero DU & Uría houses an interdisciplinary projects practice that draws on lawyers specialised in public procurement, public law, infrastructure and project finance, among other areas. The team is best known for its strong transactional offering, where it routinely advises local and international lenders, construction companies, sponsors, government entities and other stakeholders in project finance and development matters. However, it also highly regarded for its regulatory and contentious work, such as its recent successful representation of Grupo Aeroportuario del Caribe in its landmark arbitral dispute against ANI concerning Barranquilla Airport’s concession agreement, which represented the first judicial precedent in Colombia ordering the early termination of a transportation concession agreement due to force majeure circumstances. Pre-eminent public law and infrastructure specialist, Jorge Di Terlizzi, led on the Barranquilla Airport work and, in a further example of his impressive transport infrastructure credentials, he also advised Sociedad Aeroportuaria de la Costa on its unsolicited PPP proposal for the expansion of Rafael Núñez Cartagena Airport. The group additionally includes the ‘exceptional’ Juan Fernando Gaviria, who specialises in project and corporate financing; Carlos Padilla, who advises on the structuring and financing of projects across a broad scope of sectors, with an emphasis on major transport infrastructure; and Hernando Padilla, whose corporate and finance focus also encompasses projects. At associate level, Daniela Mejía supports on project finance-related issues. In February 2024, senior associate Camilo Forero left to join TransMilenio.