DLA Piper Martinez Beltrán > Bogota, Colombia > Firm Profile

DLA Piper Martinez Beltrán > The Legal 500 Rankings

Colombia > Corporate and M&A Tier 1

‘Focused on achieving the client’s objectives‘, DLA Piper Martinez Beltrán is commended for its team of collaborative and business-oriented lawyers, who ‘become part of the client’s internal processes‘. The group’s ability to plug into the wider firm’s international network combines with its senior partners’ robust domestic experience to mark this team as a leading contender for multi-jurisdictional mandates. The practice can turn its hand to transactions in any market segment but is particularly recognised for its experience in the private equity, financial services, healthcare, energy and infrastructure spheres. Among the names to note, private equity specialist Felipe Quintero is widely considered a market leader; he recently led the corporate aspects of the firm’s advice to Macquarie Infrastructure and Real Assets and Macquarie Infrastructure Partners V in the acquisition of 50% of Odinsa’s road concession business in Colombia. Juan Manuel de la Rosa is also highly regarded for private equity transactions and acted in conjunction with María Claudia Martínez to advise TM – Grupo Transmerquim (a portfolio company of Advent International), on Advent’s acquisition of Caldic from Goldman Sachs Asset Management. Quintero and de la Rosa co-lead the department together with managing partner Camilo Martínez and corporate and litigation partner José Miguel Mendoza. Nicolás Polanía is also recommended for his focus on contentious and transactional corporate matters, including insolvency. Additionally, the group can call upon a sizeable second line of younger lawyers, including director Felipe Aristizabal, who is establishing a strong record in private equity-related deals. Other recommended names include director Juan Camilo Varón (commercial, corporate and energy) as well as associates Juan Carlos Gambín (M&A, regulatory, foreign investment), Daniela Duarte (M&A, corporate, finance), and Natalia Bernal (corporate, M&A, foreign investment). Senior associate María Alejandra Cabrera joined from Holland & Knight in August 2021. Since publication, Aristizabal has been raised to the partnership - effective as of January 2023.

Dispute resolution > Litigation Tier 1

Held up by sources as an ‘excellent interdisciplinary firm‘, DLA Piper Martinez Beltrán fields a diverse dispute resolution practice which packs a punch in all key contentious areas. Demonstrating strength in civil and commercial cases, M&A disputes, bankruptcy proceedings and insurance litigation, the comprehensive group draws upon the experience of several heavy-hitting litigators. Most notably, managing partner Camilo Martínez maintains a broad all-round disputes practice, with a strong recent record in energy and infrastructure matters; he paired up with Sergio Rojas (who was elevated to the partnership in January 2022) to advise Integral and Consorcio Generacion Ituango in a lawsuit initiated by Empresas Públicas de Medellín in relation to the damages sustained as a result of flooding due to the blocking of a tunnel. José Miguel Mendoza leads on shareholder dispute resolution, corporate crisis management and D&O litigation; he recently represented Maersk subsidiary APM Terminals on the design and execution of a corporate governance defence strategy concerning an activist shareholder campaign. Other senior names include bankruptcy and restructuring specialist Nicolás Polanía; and Julian Solorza, who was promoted to partner in January 2022 and focuses on administrative, civil, commercial and public litigation. The group is further supported by directors Ricardo Alarcón (arbitration) and Juan Pablo Amaya (corporate litigation), as well as associates Sergio Londoño and María José Figueroa (both litigation and corporate governance).

Colombia > Banking and finance Tier 2

‘Committed, accurate and rigorous‘, DLA Piper Martinez Beltrán‘s group is a strong all-rounder in banking and finance matters, demonstrating depth in lending transactions, acquisition finance, debt capital markets and regulatory matters. Dual-qualified (Colombia/New York) corporate finance specialist Camilo Martínez co-heads the group and handles a mix of transactional and regulatory matters — he recently advised Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria (New York Branch) on a $60m financing to Sunlight, an affiliate of Alpina Productos Alimenticios. Department co-head Sebastián Lora is recognised for his background in project finance and advised Itaú Corpbanca Colombia on a financing granted to develop a telecoms project. Other senior names include Juan Manuel de la Rosa, who combines expertise in corporate and finance matters, and Felipe Quintero, who is particularly active in private equity-related finance transactions. The team also scores points for being great quality ‘from associate through to partner level‘, with talented up-and-coming names including associate director Juan Camilo Varón, who is well versed in advising lenders and borrowers; and senior associate  Carlos Guzmán, who is an ‘excellent lawyer‘. Felipe Aristizabal, whose broad practice encompasses corporate, finance, competition and litigation; and banking litigator María José Assis, are also noted. Since publication, Aristizabal has been raised to the partnership - effective as of January 2023.

Colombia > Tax Tier 2

DLA Piper Martinez Beltrán's tax practice is hailed by sources for its ‘knowledge of the sector' and for its ‘quick and punctual consultations'. The busy department strikes a balance between contentious and non-contentious work, with recent strong showings in transactional tax matters and complex litigation for major regional and multinational corporations. It also has significant capability in transfer pricing and wealth planning. Andrés González leads the tax and private wealth departments, while César Camilo Cermeño spearheads the tax litigation offering; together they are highlighted for their ‘extensive knowledge of tax law'. Associate practice director Maria Alejandra Buitrago is also recommended. However senior associate Camila Cuberos left to become a freelance tax consultant in June 2021.

Colombia > Capital markets Tier 3

Lawyers at DLA Piper Martinez Beltrán provide ‘practical and agile advice‘ across a range of debt and equity matters, including public and private offerings, international listings and regulatory matters. Led jointly by managing partner Camilo Martínez and associate director Juan Camilo Varón, the group also includes active associate Sebastián Pomárico.

Colombia > Competition and antitrust Tier 3

The ‘highly trained multidisciplinary team' at DLA Piper Martinez Beltrán is recognised for its emphasis on investigations and competition litigation. Among its recent highlights, the practice secured key roles in several cases that intersect antitrust and consumer law matters. For example, department head María Claudia Martínez teamed up with antitrust and consumer law partner Julian Solorza to represent Carvajal Educación in two class actions brought by notebook consumers relating to an alleged cartel. Other key names include senior associate Natalia Fernández, who advises on competition, consumer protection and data privacy law.

Dispute resolution > Arbitration Tier 3

The ‘excellent interdisciplinary team‘ at DLA Piper Martinez Beltrán is ‘trustworthy, transparent and professional‘, according to sources. The practice secures a particularly high percentage of domestic arbitrations — though it also possesses significant international arbitration experience — with an emphasis on the energy, infrastructure and transport sectors. Managing partner Camilo Martínez handles the full array of contentious matters and represents Colombian and multinational companies in arbitration proceedings — both domestic and international. Other senior names include José Miguel Mendoza, who specialises in shareholder disputes. Additionally, Sergio Rojas, who focuses on liability disputes, and domestic arbitration expert Julian Solorza, were both promoted to partner in January 2022. Key support is provided by director of international arbitration Ricardo Alarcón and associate Sergio Londoño.

Colombia > Insurance Tier 3

Among DLA Piper Martinez Beltrán‘s key attributes, sources highlight its ‘open communication channels‘ and ‘understanding of client needs‘. The insurance group stands out for striking a balance between acting for insured entities and insurance companies on contentious and regulatory matters, with particular experience in the construction, energy and financial services spheres. Camilo Martínez advises on insurance disputes, policy drafting and risk analysis, and co-heads the team alongside newly promoted partner Sergio Rojas, who has a focus on liability matters. Supporting associate Daniel Felipe Coca is also noted.

Colombia > Projects Tier 3

DLA Piper Martinez Beltrán had a strong year on the investment side during 2021/2022, evidenced by its advice to major infrastructure funds such as Macquarie and Patria Investments on asset acquisitions. Alongside its corporate work, the group also advised on tender processes, project finance and administrative proceedings. Infrastructure specialist Paola Aldana co-heads the department and has broad sector expertise, honed during in-house roles at Concesión Autopista Bogotá Girardot and Odinsa. Fellow co-head Sebastián Lora is recommended for project finance. Private equity expert Felipe Quintero and managing partner Camilo Martínez are also active in projects-related work.

Colombia > Energy and natural resources Tier 4

‘A remarkable group with 24/7 availability‘, DLA Piper Martinez Beltrán‘s energy and natural resources lawyers are commended for being ‘focused on the business‘. The team’s industry experience encompasses a range of conventional and renewable power, oil and gas, and water-treatment matters, while its ability to plug into its full-service domestic and global offering ensures that it can provide support on specialist regulatory matters right through to transactional and tax advice. The department’s practice breadth was augmented in April 2021 by the arrival new of director and co-head of ​​energy and natural resources Lucas Arboleda, who was formerly Legal Director of the Ministry of Mines and Energy. Public utilities specialist José Miguel Mendoza co-heads the practice.

Colombia > Labour and employment Tier 5

DLA Piper Martinez Beltrán advises a diverse roster of domestic and multinational companies on their day-to-day labour and employment requirements, with Burger King, Stanley Black & Decker and Twilio among its representative clients. Particularly active in regulatory and compliance matters, retrenchment planning and recruitment matters, the team also handles contentious work. Practice head Diana Zuleta, who was promoted to partner in February 2022, is noted for her experience in personnel management, compensation plans, retrenchment matters and social security issues. Associate Juan Pablo Prócel provides dedicated support to the labour group.

Colombia > TMT Tier 5

‘A practical firm‘, DLA Piper Martinez Beltrán ‘delivers its suggestions to clients in a very responsible way‘, according to sources. Best known for its work in the IT and media sectors, the group routinely advises on transactions, regulatory matters and dispute resolution. Department co-head María Claudia Martínez is a regulatory specialist, with a focus on antitrust, consumer protection and data protection. Managing partner Camilo Martínez co-heads the team and is noted for sensitive and contentious TMT-related matters. Associate Natalia Fernández is recommended for data protection.

Latin America: International firms > International arbitration

DLA Piper LLP (US) has expanded is Latin America international arbitration department footprint in recent years with the 2019 hire of Kate Brown de Vejar in Mexico City as global co-chair of the international arbitration practice (alongside Paris-based Michael Ostrove), setting the ball rolling and playing its part in the firm’s growing profile in the region; subsequently appointed deputy managing partner of the Mexico City team too, de Vejar is a current vice chair of the IBA’s Arbitration Committee. The practice handles investment-treaty and commercial arbitration matters and has been particularly active in the infrastructure space. Experienced local and international arbitration practitioner Gerardo Lozano Alarcón is another notable name in the Mexico office, which was further strengthened with the lateral hire of Gabriela Álvarez Ávila from Curtis, Mallet-Prevost, Colt & Mosle S.C. in July 2021. The addition of Ricardo Alarcón (from Shearman & Sterling LLP ) as associate director of the practice in Colombia -also in 2021- was an additional boost. Specialist senior associate Sabrina Ramos in Buenos Aires is also noted.