The tax practice at Baker McKenzie S.A.S. is widely hailed both for its ‘strong international presence’ and for its ’clear understanding of commercial priorities’. Benefitting from its ability to plug into the wider firm’s formidable global tax platform, the international-facing group acts for an exhaustive list of major domestic and multinational companies on tax planning, compliance, transactional matters and litigation, along with transfer pricing. High-profile tax expert Ciro Meza co-heads the department and is sought after by a raft of multinationals for day-to-day advisory work, including Airbnb, Meta Platforms and Salesforce. He also represents clients in contentious matters, most recently successfully acting for Sony Music Entertainment Colombia in judicial proceedings against the Colombian Tax Office (DIAN). The department is additionally co-led by transactional tax partner Juan David Velasco, who is praised for his ‘practical, international and business-oriented approach’; and transfer pricing specialist Gustavo Sánchez, who splits his time between Mexico and Colombia and is noted for his Latam-wide coverage. Key senior associates include Laura Durán, who focuses on tax planning and consulting; Andrea Jiménez, who sits in the tax litigation team; Juan David López, who advises on international trade and customs tax; and Carolina Roldán, who supports on tax planning and transactional tax.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘BM's tax team has a strong international presence and a passion for understanding clients — essential for sizing risks and opportunities internationally. Its opinions are informed, and its diversity ensures a broad perspective. Its tools allow it to be more agile and assertive than other firms.’
‘Juan David Velasco’s practical, international, and business-oriented approach makes him a key adviser for our growth and expansion projects. He has in-depth legal knowledge and knowledge of the trends shaping tax. Not to mention his business acumen and strategic thinking. He is a stand-out adviser.’
‘Carolina Roldán is dedicated, passionate, and highly knowledgeable in tax and corporate matters. She easily connects with different countries and cultures, standing out for her versatility and broad range of expertise.’
‘It stands out for its exceptional responsiveness, technical accuracy, and deep understanding of the evolving concerns of our sector. A key distinguishing quality is its proactive approach — consistently informing us of relevant issues, trends, and regulatory developments, often ahead of market conversations.’
‘The team demonstrates a commendable level of internal co-ordination and client engagement. Its work reflects not only legal precision but also a clear understanding of commercial priorities, which makes its advice especially practical and actionable. It also shows genuine openness to innovation.’
‘Laura Durán and Ciro Meza, in particular, have been outstanding in building a relationship grounded in trust, technical excellence, and consistency. Their ability to navigate complex issues with clarity, while remaining highly approachable and solution-oriented, has been especially valuable to us.’
Key clients
- Chevron Petroleum
- Ecopetrol
- SierraCol Energy
- Avianca
- Netflix
- Vanti
- Public Sector Pension Investment Board
- Amazon Web Services
- Meta
- Novator Partners LLP – Partners Telecom
- Airbnb Inc.
Work highlights
Advised Airbnb on new projects, tax compliance, daily operations related to the Colombian market and administrative discussions with tax authorities.
Advised Binance on tax compliance, new initiatives and ongoing matters.
Advised Meta Platforms on navigating the legal and tax landscape concerning digital communication and social media in Colombia.
Lawyers
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Leading associates
Leading associates with regular involvement in their team's key work, and recognition from peers or clients as being ones to watch.
Laura Durán
Andrea Jiménez
Practice head
Ciro Meza; Juan David Velasco; Gustavo Sanchez