Dispute resolution
CMS Rodríguez-Azuero is particularly active in energy litigation, where it often works hand-in-hand with its prominent energy and natural resources offering. Alongside energy-related work, the group handles cases for clients operating in the construction, financial services and telecoms fields, among others. Founding partner Sergio Rodríguez-Azuero co-heads the department, and additionally leads the banking and finance area; he is primarily noted for financial litigation. The team is further co-led by Henry Sanabria, who is a specialist in civil procedural law; and Felipe Andrade, who also fronts the IP group. Senior associate María Fernanda Bejarano, who focuses on dispute resolution and insolvency, is another name to note.
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Profile
Work Department
Sergio is Founding Partner and head of the Banking & Finance practice and co-leader of the Dispute Resolution area for the Firm.
Position
Founding Partner
Career
Sergio Rodríguez Azuero is a Founding Partner and Head of the Banking & Finance practice, and co-head of the Dispute Resolution practice.
He is widely recognised as a leading authority in banking and financial law, with a practice focused on banking regulation, financial contracts, capital markets, insurance, and fiduciary law and trust structures. In parallel, he advises on complex litigation, arbitration and alternative dispute resolution matters.
Sergio has an outstanding academic and institutional profile. He is Honorary and Emeritus Professor of Commercial Law and Director of the postgraduate programme in Financial Law at Universidad del Rosario. He also serves as arbitrator at the Bogotá Chamber of Commerce and is a former member of its Court of Arbitration.
He is a member of the International Academy of Estate and Trust Law, the Ibero-American Institute for Law and Finance, and the Colombian Academy of Jurisprudence. He has held prominent leadership roles, including President of the Colombian Trust Association and Director of the Colombian Banking Association. He has also been awarded the title of Chevalier (Knight) of the Legion of Honour by the French Government.
Sergio is the author of several leading publications, including The Responsibility of the Trustee (1977), Banking Contracts – Its Significance in Latin America (7th ed., 2021), and Trust Agreements – Its Significance in Latin America (2nd ed., 2017). He is a frequent speaker at national and international conferences.
Languages
Spanish, French and English
Memberships
- Arbitrator of the Bogotá Chamber of Commerce
- He was Member of the Board of Directors of the International Academy of Succesal and Trust Law –TIAETL-
- Member of the Reform Commission of the Financial Sector created by the Government in 1982
- He was President of the Rosarista Club
- He was Coordinator of the Study Committee of the “Financial Sector” in the campaign of President Gaviria
- He was President of the Colombo-French Chamber of Commerce and Industry
- He was President of the “Metropolitan Club”
- He was Judge in numerous Arbitration Courts
- He was Member of the G-3 Convention (Colombia, Mexico and Venezuela)
- He was President of the European Circle of Bogotá
- Corresponding Member of the Colombian Academy of Jurisprudence and Member of its Legal Analysis
- He has been Counselor for the Universidad Colegio Mayor de Nuestra Señora del Rosario during two periods
- He was Co-judge of the Constitutional Court
- He was Advisor of the Ministry of Finance and Public Credit in the current Financial Reform
- Member of the Colegio de Abogados Comercialistas
- Member of the Colombian Association of Insurance Law –ACOLDESE-
- Member of the Colegio de Abogados Rosaristas
Education
- 1966. Lawyer - Universidad Colegio Mayor de Nuestra Señora del Rosario. Bogotá, Colombia.
Content supplied by CMS Rodríguez-Azuero
Key clients
Arena Bogotá Project Investors
Biomax Biocombustibles, Chevron Petroleum Company, Petrobras Colombia Combustibles, Primax Colombia, Organización Terpel and Zeuss.
Chevron Petroleum Company
Fiduciaria Bancolombia
Portales Urbanos, Salgado Restrepo Arquitectos, Fiduciaria de Occidente (in representation of an autonomous patrimony-denominated project involving the enlarging and remodelling of Centro Comercial Plaza de las Américas P.H., and Centro Comercial Plaza de las Américas P.H., by Inversiones Mesa Ortega, Jhon Jairo Mesa Ortega, Luis Ricardo Montoya Jaramillo
Avantel (in reorganisation)
Fiduprevisora S.A.
Group of Victims (20) of Felipe Miguel Rocha Medina and Agropecuaria Achury Viejo
Work highlights
Represented Fiduciaria Bancolombia in consumer protection actions initiated by Vertical Project Investors.