Godoy

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Federico Bernal

Federico is a partner in Godoy’s Advisory and Counseling Unit, with more than 18 years of experience in Employment Law. Throughout his career, he has advised national and multinational companies on complex individual and collective labor matters, leading comprehensive legal strategies that address organizational dynamics and the challenges of today’s labor environment. Since joining the firm in 2010, he has participated in the Advisory, Litigation, Audits, and Collective Labor Law teams, standing out as a skilled negotiator in union processes and a high-level trainer. His strategic vision, combined with strong technical expertise, enables him to deliver practical, sustainable solutions aligned with business objectives. In the academic field, Federico is a tenured professor in the Labor Law Specialization at Pontificia Universidad Javeriana. He has also contributed actively to strengthening the legal debate as a member of the Board of Directors of the Colombian Labor Lawyers Association (Colegio de Abogados del Trabajo) and the Editorial Board of Actualidad Laboral, published by Legis.

Laura Buriticá

Laura is a lawyer from the Pontifical Javeriana University, specializing in labor law from the same institution and in Advanced Studies in Political, Economic and Social Sciences from the University of Notre Dame, USA. She also holds an MBA from Externado University of Colombia.  She has over 15 years of experience as a lawyer at renowned firms specializing in labor law. At Godoy, she is part of the advisory, collective bargaining, and training units, where she supports companies in the strategic management of their labor relations. She has been an assistant professor in the specialization programs in labor law and social security at the Pontifical Javeriana University, and a regular speaker at diploma programs and training courses organized by the Bogotá Chamber of Commerce and Godoy. 

Víctor Cabezas

Víctor is a partner at Godoy in Ecuador and an expert in Employment Law, Sustainability, and ESG strategies. For more than a decade, he has advised companies across diverse industries—including food, technology, construction, and consumer goods—on complex processes such as labor restructurings, strategic litigation, and international employment schemes.  He is currently Director of a flagship ESG project at the Wharton School of Business and participates as an international speaker and professor at universities in Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and the United States. His approach combines a global business vision with deep legal expertise, enabling him to deliver sustainable, forward-looking solutions aligned with the challenges of today’s world of work. 

Daniel Contreras

Daniel is a lawyer, a graduate of Universidad Libre de Colombia, specializing in Labor Law and Industrial Relations from Universidad Externado de Colombia. He also holds a Master’s degree in Justice and Protection of Rights, with an emphasis on Labor Law, from the same university.  He has built a solid career in labor law from various perspectives. He began his career as an assistant at the Constitutional Court, acquiring a constitutional understanding of labor law. Subsequently, he has worked in law firms and companies in the private sector, particularly in the telecommunications industry, where he served as Legal Director.  He has experience in national labor litigation, preventative consulting, and managing complex legal matters related to labor and social security. He is currently part of the team led by partner Ana Cristina Medina, supporting the Litigation, Advisory, and Ministry of Labor matters units. 

Andrés Dacosta

Andrés has more than 20 years of experience in Employment Law, providing strategic advice to companies across multiple sectors. His career combines legal practice at top-tier law firms with leadership of corporate and institutional initiatives with regional impact. Throughout his career, he has founded two specialized labor law firms, served as arbitrator of the ECOPETROL–USO Legal Arbitration Tribunal, conjuez (ad hoc judge) of the Bogotá Superior Court, and consultant to international organizations such as the OAS and the ILO.  His comprehensive and strategic approach is built on solid academic training in Colombia and abroad, as well as extensive practical experience in collective labor relations, negotiations, labor disputes, and regulatory compliance. This perspective enables him to provide innovative and sustainable legal solutions aligned with his clients’ business objectives. 

Juan Antonio Duque

Juan Antonio Duque is the leading partner of our Corporate and M&A practice. He has a solid track record in corporate, commercial, and contractual law, combined with a strategic vision of business and regulatory matters. Since joining the firm in 2009, he has led processes that integrate tax considerations with the design of efficient corporate structures.  His professional background includes practice at renowned firms such as Martínez Neira Abogados Consultores and Posse Herrera Ruiz, as well as the founding of his own law firm, Suárez y Duque Abogados. From 2015 to 2017, he served as Deputy Superintendent for Economic and Accounting Affairs at the Superintendence of Companies, where he deepened his expertise in regulatory and corporate oversight matters.  In addition, he is a full professor at the Faculty of Legal Sciences of Pontificia Universidad Javeriana and at the Colegio de Estudios Superiores de Administración (CESA), where he combines his professional practice with the education of new generations of lawyers and business leaders. 

Gustavo Gnecco

Gustavo is a partner in Godoy’s Litigation Unit and has more than 25 years of experience in Employment Law. His career includes a distinguished judicial trajectory as Assistant Justice (1997–2003) and Justice (2003–2011) of the Labor Chamber of the Supreme Court of Justice of Colombia, which grants him a deep understanding of the judicial system and jurisprudential analysis.  He has served as Director of the Labor Law Department at the Legal Research Center of Universidad del Rosario and as a tenured professor of labor law at this and other leading universities in Colombia, including Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Universidad de los Andes, Universidad Sergio Arboleda, and Universidad Católica de Colombia. His combined academic and professional background positions him as a reference in complex labor litigation and the strategic analysis of disputes. 

Juan Pablo Godoy

Juan Pablo is a partner of the Legal Unit and leader of the Tax Law, International Trade, and Energy & Natural Resources practices.  Recognized for his strategic approach, comprehensive business vision, and technical expertise in the extractive industry, Juan Pablo leads key practice areas such as taxation, international trade, and arbitration, integrating legal, accounting, and financial knowledge. His experience combines senior executive roles in the private sector with active participation in academia, industry associations, and public policy.  He has served as a consultant to the Colombian Government on major structural reforms, including the 2018 Tax Reform and the 2020 Fiscal Incentives Commission, and as advisor to leading companies in the energy, extractive, and infrastructure sectors. He is a recognized opinion leader in tax law, fiscal policy, and energy regulation, known for his ability to translate legal complexity into clear, sustainable, and business-oriented solutions. 

Nicolás Godoy

Partner in the labor law practice with over 12 years of experience in strategic consulting, judicial and administrative litigation in labor and social security matters. Throughout his career, he has advised national and international companies in demanding sectors, leading comprehensive legal strategies that respond to organizational dynamics and the challenges of today’s work environment.  His experience includes university teaching and the management and resolution of individual and collective labor disputes in industries with critical labor conflicts, excelling as a negotiator in union processes and in supporting complex corporate reorganization processes with highly positive results for clients.  He actively participates in the Advisory, Litigation, Collective Bargaining, and Training Units, positioning himself as a high-level advisor and trainer.  His approach combines a highly strategic vision with in-depth legal knowledge, enabling him to provide impactful solutions that are both informed and aligned with the current challenges of the world of work. 

Gustavo Lorenzo

Gustavo is the leading partner of our Customs and International Trade practice. With more than 30 years of experience, he has advised national and multinational companies on customs, foreign exchange, and international trade matters, combining technical expertise with high-level strategic insight.  His career began at the Dirección de Impuestos y Aduanas Nacionales (DIAN), and he later served as a legal advisor at renowned firms such as Arthur Andersen, PwC, and EY. Throughout his career, he has led the implementation of efficient supply chain operations, compliance strategies in international trade, the structuring of free trade zones and customs warehouses, as well as special trade incentive programs such as the Plan Vallejo.  Gustavo is recognized for his expertise in the certification of Authorized Economic Operators (AEO) and in the design of legal models aimed at attracting foreign direct investment, thanks to his deep knowledge of the Colombian customs regime and international standards. 

Santiago Martínez

Santiago is a Partner at Godoy, where he leads the Audits Unit and serves as Co-Director of the Collective Labor Law and Litigation practices. He has more than 15 years of experience in labor law, advising companies from diverse industries on strategic matters, judicial representation, and the management of complex labor relations. He is recognized as a trusted advisor in handling corporate crises and designing high-impact legal strategies.  Throughout his career, he has led the management of large-scale labor portfolios, representing clients in administrative proceedings before the Ministry of Labor and in highly complex litigation. His analytical skills and leadership position him as a key ally in critical scenarios and organizational transformations.  In the academic field, he has taught undergraduate and graduate courses at institutions such as Universidad de los Andes, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana, and Universidad del Norte. He has also actively participated in the labor committees of ANDI and ACRIP, contributing to the development of corporate labor policies in Colombia. 

Ana Cristina Medina

Ana Cristina is a Partner at Godoy, where she leads the Advisory Unit and co-heads the Collective Labor Law practice. She has more than 15 years of experience advising over 200 national and international clients on the strategic management of individual and collective disputes, the structuring of labor relations, and complex negotiation processes. Her approach is characterized by a combination of technical rigor, results-oriented execution, and close alignment with each organization’s needs.  Since joining the firm as an associate, she has built a solid trajectory that led her to serve on the Board of Directors of Godoy. In addition to her professional practice, she teaches specialization and diploma programs at universities such as Universidad de los Andes, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, and Universidad del Norte. She also currently serves on the Board of Directors of Fundación Gastronomía Social Colombia, reflecting her commitment to social impact through her legal practice.   

Gloria Ávila

A lawyer and specialist in Labor Law and Industrial Relations from Universidad Externado de Colombia, with over 15 years of professional experience in labor consulting, negotiation, and training. She has led labor audits, inspections before the UGPP (Special Administrative Unit for Pension and Payroll Management), due diligence, and strategic support for companies in sectors such as oil & gas, energy, retail, technology, and education. She has also taught in specialized training programs and has been recognized by The Latin American Corporate Counsel Association (LACCA) as a recommended lawyer. Currently, she is a member of the Board of Directors of the Colombian Association of Labor Lawyers.