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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Profile
Work Department
Banking, Finance and Capital Markets, Corporate / M&A
Position
Partner
Career
Partner at PPU with a practice that focuses on matters related to Finance of Capital Markets and Corporate/M&A. Mr. Padilla represents a variety of local and foreign clients in mergers, acquisitions, dispositions, private equity and other corporate matters in Colombia and the United States. Among many others, he has represented Platinum Equity Partners, Tecnoglass, Grupo Energía de Bogotá and General Atlantic. Mr. Padilla is also a member of the Finance Practice where he has advised international underwriters in multiple bond issues including TPL, BBVA, Promigas and Ecopetrol as well as sponsors and financial institutions in the financing of 4G road projects.
Hernando is licensed to practice law in Colombia and the State of New York.
Languages
Spanish, English and French
Education
Hernando has a Law Degree from Universidad de Los Andes (1994), a Postgraduate Degree in Finance Law, graduated with honors, from Universidad de Los Andes (1995) and an LL.M. in Financial Services Law, graduated with honors, from IIT- Chicago Kent College of Law (1998).
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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.