Sebastián Lora > DLA Piper Martinez Beltrán > Bogota, Colombia > Lawyer Profile

Standing out for its combination of legal and commercial acumen, the team at DLA Piper Martinez Beltrán ‘always contributes ideas to improve the client’s business’. The group covers the waterfront on banking and finance matters, with robust offerings in project finance, structured finance, capital markets and regulatory-related issues. Firm managing partner Camilo Martínez, who handles a mix of banking, corporate and contentious work, co-heads the department and brings to bear broad cross-practice expertise. Martínez recently advised Banco de Bogota on the spin-off of certain of its assets in Panama and Central America before the Superintendence of Finance and the Colombian Stock Exchange — as part of the wider reorganisation process of Banco de Bogotá and Grupo Aval. Practice co-head Sebastián Lora is particularly recognised for his experience in project finance and infrastructure-related issues; he advised the lenders on a COP$1.5bn credit agreement for the the ‘Malla Vial del Valle del Cauca’ toll-road project. Corporate and finance partner Juan Manuel de la Rosa and private equity specialist Felipe Quintero are also key contacts at senior level. The team additionally draws on banking and finance-focused senior associates Carlos Guzmán and  María José Assis.

DLA Piper Martinez Beltrán’s projects team finds favour for its ‘high level of responsiveness and accountability’. The group acts on a significant volume of secondary market transactions — Macquarie Asset Management stands as a trophy client in this segment — and also handles project finance and development work. Banking and finance specialist Sebastián Lora co-heads the department alongside infrastructure, projects, and public law partner Olga Lucía Ramírez, who joined in August 2022 from the Ministry of Transportation. Private equity expert Felipe Quintero and managing partner Camilo Martínez also handle projects-related matters. Former department co-head Paola Aldana  left to go freelance in February 2023.