During 2024/25, Philippi Prietocarrizosa Ferrero DU & Uría’s capital markets team retained close links with Grupo Argos. Notably, it continued to advise the Colombian conglomerate on a three-phase share exchange involving Grupo Sura, the Gilinski Group, and Grupo Nutresa. On the debt front, the firm’s longstanding relationships with bulge-bracket banks paid dividends, and it acted as Colombian counsel to the underwriters (BofA Securities, Citigroup Global Markets and JP Morgan Securities) on the $800m purchase of subordinated notes to be issued by Bancolombia. Corporate, capital markets and finance specialist Claudia Barrero is widely admired for equity transactions and led the Grupo Argos work. Hernando Padilla also has a strong equity dimension to his practice but — similar to Barrero — additionally undertakes debt-related matters; he advised the underwriters on the Bancolombia issuance. The team further draws on Juan Fernando Gaviria, who co-heads the department together with Barrero and Padilla; and junior associate Daniel Vargas. Associate co-ordinator Daniela Mejía left the firm in September 2024.
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Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- ‘The team is characterised by its commitment to supporting transactions, as well as by the quality of the work it provides to clients.’
- ‘We recommend these lawyers for their character and quality when carrying out the activities requested by us in our respective transactions.’
Key clients
- Grupo Argos
- BofA Securities Inc, Citigroup Global Markets and J.P. Morgan Secutiries
- J.P. Morgan Securities, Santander US Capital Markes and Scotia Capital (USA)
- Cementos Argos
- Calleja Group
- Corporación Interamericana para el financiamiento de la Infraestructura
Work highlights
Advised Grupo Argos on a three-stage share-exchange transaction involving Grupo Sura, Gilinski Group and Grupo Nutresa.
Advised Grupo Argos on the public tender offer for up to 23.1% of the outstanding shares of Grupo Nutresa.
Acted as Colombian counsel to BofA Securities, Citigroup Global Markets and JP Morgan Securities on the $800m purchase of subordinated notes to be issued by Bancolombia, among other matters.
Lawyers
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Practice head
Claudia Barrero; Hernando Padilla; Juan Fernando Gaviria