According to many, Philippi Prietocarrizosa Ferrero DU & Uría possesses ‘the best regulatory team in the country for energy matters’. The group is a popular choice to represent key players in the power and oil-and-gas industries on the full chain of generation, commercialisation and distribution issues; representative client names include renewable energy generator AES Colombia and gas producer Canacol Energy. The practice additionally stands out for its ability to act hand-in-hand with the firm’s heavyweight corporate and projects offerings, so as to assist with corporate transactions and project development matters. Department head Sandra Manrique is ’very knowledgeable about natural gas regulations’, where she is widely recognised as a market leader. Among Manrique’s recent engagements, she acted for Oleoducto de los Llanos Orientales on the structuring of the Cañosur pipeline project, while on the transactional side she advised Vitol Colombia on a prepaid crude oil sale-and-purchase agreement with GeoPark Colombia, valued at up to $500m. The team further benefits from the dedicated support of associate duo Juan Pablo Gutiérrez (principal), who brings a ‘commercial approach to regulatory challenges’ and leads the firm’s electrical energy area; and Alejandro Zapata (senior), who demonstrates ’in-depth knowledge of the natural gas business in Colombia’ and co-leads the hydrocarbons unit together with Manrique. Since publication, Gutíerrez has been raised to the partnership - effective as of January 2026.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- ‘PPU has the best regulatory team in the country for energy matters. Its lawyers' regulatory knowledge — and ability to adapt it to the needs of projects and the commercial reality of companies — is first-rate.’
- ‘Sandra Manrique and associate Juan Pablo Gutiérrez have a commercial approach to regulatory challenges that differentiates them from the market due to their extensive regulatory knowledge.’
Key clients
- Consorcio Bloque Sinú-9
- Canacol Energy Ltd.
Work highlights
Advised MKMS Enerji (Colombia branch), a subsidiary of NG Energy International, on the structuring of the agreements aimed at guaranteeing the operation of the Sinu-9 block.
Lawyers
Hall of Fame
The lawyers at the very top of the profession, widely known and respected by peers and clients for their longstanding involvement in market-leading work.
Next Generation Partners
Junior partners with significant recognition from clients and peers in the market and key roles on multiple matters.
Leading associates
Leading associates with regular involvement in their team's key work, and recognition from peers or clients as being ones to watch.
Alejandro Zapata
Practice head
Sandra Manrique