Founded in 1934, Brigard Urrutia has since expanded to become one of Colombia’s premier law firms. It is a member of
numerous alliances including Lex Mundi and the Interlex Group. The full-service firm has four offices in Colombia: Bogotá, Cali, Medellín and Barranquilla.
In corporate finance, the firm has specialisms in banking and finance, capital markets, M&A and projects. Of those specialisms, the firm is a pioneer in project structuring
across multiple industries including oil and gas, energy,
transportation and general infrastructure.
In the projects space, the firm was active on several cross-border projects. It advised clients on various aspects of projects including the financing components.
It specifically
advised
Concesión Transversal del Sisga
as the borrower in
the refinancing of its roadway project that will serve as an alternative connection between the eastern and central regions of Colombia.
There were several lenders involved in this project including
Gestor
Profesional BlackRock Infrastructure Management I and Financiera de Desarrollo Nacional.
This matter
taking place during a change in government is a
testament to the firm’s skill with clients.
BlackRock
Institutional Trust Company, Ecopetrol,
Banco de Desarrollo de América Latina y el Caribe, Cementos Argos, Bancolombia,
Telefónica and Almacenes Éxito
“Maria Fernanda Diago is an excellent attorney with in-depth knowledge in the finance banking sector as well as in structuring financing deals.” (Banking and finance client)
“As a partner in the M&A area
Tomás Holguín gives us excellent advice with his many years of experience and knowledge of the market.” (Capital markets client)
“Juan Padilla has excellent response time, legal expertise, business knowledge and team coordination.” (M&A client)
“Luis-Gabriel Morcillo has lots of experience and legal knowledge. He is very well appreciated in the market, so his opinion is of great respect.” (Private equity client)
Founded in 1917
Cuatrecasas is an international law firm headquartered in Barcelona with
about 27
offices in
in 13 countries including
Spain, Portugal, Chile, Colombia,
Mexico and Peru.
The firm advises
mainly on M&A and banking practice. In M&A
the firm
advises on a wide range of transactions including
asset and business transfers, joint ventures, distressed M&A and
corporate restructuring.
The firm also
specialises on private equity and venture capital investment. The firm also
advises on structuring and implementing all types of financing operations including restructuring and refinancing processes, project finance and banking regulatory matters.
The firm’s key clients
includeVía 40,
Concesión Túnel Aburrá Oriente, Doble Calzada Oriente,
Bancolombia,
Ruta al Sur,
La Pintada,
Nuevo Cauca,
Rutas del Valle,
Metro Línea, Essity,
Linzor Capital,
Yinson, Summum Energy,
Hoya Vision Care,
Teka Capital,
Laika Universe and Varian.
The most current iteration of full-service firm Philippi Prietocarrizosa Ferrero DU & Uría, or
PPU, was formed in 2015 from the merger between Chilean firms Philippi, Yrarrázaval, Pulido & Brunner, Colombian firm Prietocarrizosa and Peruvian firms Ferrero Abogados and Delmar Ugarte. The Ibero-American firm maintains offices in Chile, Colombia and Peru, with additional offices in Spain, Portugal, New York,
London and Brussels thanks to its partnership with Spanish and Portuguese firm Uría Menéndez. The firm is also part of the SCG Legal and World Law Group networks. In Colombia the firm
operates out of two offices, with locations in
Bogata and Barranquilla.
Some of the firm’s most notable work during the research period was in the capital markets practice, specifically
related to its advisory on the integration of
Bolsa de Comercio de Colombia,
Bolsa de Comercio de
Santiago and
Grupo BVL
into a joint Latin American stock exchange under a shared holding company.
The firm’s capital markets
expertise was also
showcased in its M&A work,
advising
Grupo Argos
on an exchange of stocks following several public
tender offers.
This was a landmark transaction in relation to public Colombian companies.
The firm’s key clients include Bolsa de Valores de Colombia, Bolsa de Comerico de Santiago, Grupo BVL, Farallon Capital Management, Grupo Argos, Grupo
Bancolombia, BNP Paribas NY Branch and China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation.
Founded in 1927, Posse Herrera Ruiz is a standout firm across all practice areas. The firm has three offices in Colombia: Bogotá, Medellín and Baranquilla. Key partners at the firm include founder Mariana Posse, who heads the firm’s banking and capital markets practice areas, José Alejandro Torres, who heads the firm’s projects practice area, Maria Lucia Posada, who heads the firm’s public law practice area and founder Jaime Herrera who heads the firm’s corporate and M&A practice area.
During the research period, the firm’s M&A practice was active in cross-border acquisitions. In one case the firm represented Talanx Group / HDI International as the buyer in the acquisition of
Liberty Mutual Insurance
businesses in Brazil, Chile,
Colombia and Ecuador.
This acquisition
had several challenging
components including the
requirement
of regulatory approval
from the relevant Colombian authority, the guidance through the auction process
and the inherent
complexities of the insurance industry.
Some of the firm’s key clients include Grupo Nutresa,
Talanx Group / HDI International, Aligned Data Centers,
Odinsa and Banco
Ficohsa.
“The firm has an extraordinary client
services,
with
constant
partner-level
involvement in
the
project. Jaime Cubillos, is an
remarkably
capable attorney
with an
ability
to work across
jurisdictions in
what
was a very
complex
transaction for us.
The fee
structure
of
the firm is quite competitive.” (M&A client)
Founded in 2018, Mendoza Abogados is an up-and-coming boutique law firm specializing in banking and capital markets. The firm is headquartered in Bogotá and is led by founder Mateo Mendoza.
Mendoza Abogados
is able to conduct transactions under Colombian law and New York law. The firm has expertise in project finance,
refinancings and structured finance.
Key clients for the firm include
Distrito Especial Industrial y
Portuario de Barranquilla,Banca de Inversión Bancolombia,Inversionesen Recreación Deporte y Salud Findeter, Avianca, BTG
Pactual, Tampa Cargo,
Taca International Airlines and
Financiera de
Desarollo Nacional.
Client feedback: 32nd edition (2022/2023)
“Committed, experienced and always available.”
“They are very responsive, despite the short life of the firm, their associates are
experienced and their advice is very satisfactory.”
Baker Mckenzie has been present in Colombia since 1937. The multinational firm has an office located in Bogotá. The highly regarded multidisciplinary team can handle local and international transactions.
Focusses / specialisms
The banking and finance team shines in several areas, including acquisition finance, project finance, financial regulatory advice and cross-border and structured finance. The team advised both borrowers and lenders in loans, financial restructuring and credit facilities.
Debt and equity capital markets is an active area for the firm, where it advises issuers and structuring and placement agents in debt offerings, bond issues and securitizations.
The corporate and M&A team advises local and international clients in private equity, public and strategic transactions. The team assists both buyers and sellers in joint ventures and acquisitions.
The project development team has great experience in PPP projects, concession bids and greenfield and brownfield development. The team is highly regarded for its work in mining, covering areas such as contracts, environmental and regulatory matters and real estate.
Key clients
Key clients for the firm include JP Morgan, Brookfield Asset Management, Wells Fargo, The Bank of Nova Scotia, Bank of New York Mellon, PayPal, Peabody Energy Corporation Amazon and Nielsen Colombia.
Client feedback: 31st edition (2020/2021)
Banking and finance
"Area led by Ricardo Trejos provides swift response and personal approach to every matter. We feel deeply supported by their advice and in particular their honesty when dealing with complex matters. They are not afraid to highlight challenges and obstacles in the transactions and likewise they bring up creative solutions aiming to make projects successful."
"Experience and knowledge."
"Incredible product knowledge. Deep lawyer bench. Proactive and creative. Commercial and know-how to get a transaction closed."
"The law firm is composed of members with extensive experience in specific matters that enriches the thorough legal analysis that they perform from different perspectives (particularly, we worked with Ricardo Trejos, Sebastian Boada and Daniel Botero). Such members are directly involved and have worked hand in hand with us. This may be the best attribute, especially compared to other banking and finance teams (ie, the senior lawyers are directly and constantly involved)."
"They understand our needs and are very smart when negotiating with our debtors. Additionally, they already know our internal policies so working with them is very efficient."
Capital markets: Debt
"Good assistance under NY law, highly professional and talented team."
Capital markets : Equity
"The advice has been timely and complete."
M&A
"Top legal advisory firm with the ability to recognise key business topics. Strong leadership and senior participation along the whole process."
Project development : Mining
"The contract was just brilliant. They perfectly captured the needs of our company, understanding each of the different variables and were able to synthesise all these points in a contract which, from the beginning, was really complex due to the nature of the business."
"They are knowledgeable about the subject, proactive, quick to respond and integrate comparative law."
CMS Rodríguez-Azuero has operated in Colombia since its founding in 1980. The firm has two offices in Bogotá alongside offices in Rio de Janeiro,
Lima and Santiago. Globally the firm has 75 offices in over 40 countries, with
over 4800 lawyers.
The banking and finance practice has deep experience in planning and structuring complex cross-border deals at all phases of process. The firm advises both borrowers and lenders in a variety of financing matters including credit agreements, tax planning and advising in all stages of credit agreements and other investment vehicles.
The M&A practice offers advice to buyers and sellers in cross-border and domestic transactions. The group also offers advice in corporate structuring and distribution deals.
The project finance practice advises both borrowers and lenders at all financing stages for projects. The team is able toutilise its global presence and inter-practice experience to approach large infrastructure projects from multiple angles.
Key clients include
Atlantica Sustainable Infrastructure, Repsol, Chevron Petroleum Company, Inter-American Development Bank
and IDB
Invest, JCDECAUX,
Electryon Power,
FCC Aqualia,
Promotora ACR,
Nedcoffee, IMCD Group, Bold.co, IMCD, Hewlett-Packard, Banco
Santander and Blank Rome.
Client feedback: 32nd edition (2021/2022)
“CMS Rodriguez-Azuero has a competent team of lawyers with an amazing knowledge of the local corporate and commercial law. They worry about providing solutions rather than answers using a client-focus approach.”
Project
development : Energy
“They show a lot of knowledge about the renewable energy sector in Colombia and in general tax and corporate matters. They have a multidisciplinary team with excellent client support.”
Dentons Cardenas & Cardenas has operated in Colombia for more than 100 years. The firm has two offices in Colombia, one in Bogotá and one that recently opened in Medellín. The Colombia offices boasts over 100 lawyers and Dentons is present in over 125 locations over the globe.
The firm is a leader in mining, project development and finance and corporate work. The team is experienced in advising on M&A in the mining sector, as well as IPOs and debt financings. The group is also active in restructurings.
The M&A group at the firm works in a variety of sectors including oil and gas, infrastructure,
healthcare and financial services. The group is well versed in working on cross-border transactions. The oil and gas team stands out for its advice and track record.
The capital markets team has been involved in several complex and innovative transactions, including the first issuances of a variety of notes under certain circumstances.
The banking and finance team is strong in several sectors, including energy, finance, natural
resources and cannabis. The team was responsible for the first debt issuance of hybrid bonds by a Colombian company.
Key clients include
Credit Suisse, UBS, Standard Chartered Bank, HSBC, Citibank, Credit Agricole,
BofA Securities, Newmont Mining Corporation, IAMGOLD, Banco Santander, Rappi, Ithaca Capital Holdings,
Avicanna, Mastercard,
BofA Securities, Citigroup Global Markets, JPMorgan Securities, Deutsche Bank Securities, Goldman Sachs and WPP.
Client feedback: 32nd edition (2022/2023)
“Experts in local law but also aware of Canadian ways of doing deals and therefore very proactive and results-focused.”
Gamboa, García & Cardona Abogados is a Colombian law firm located in Bogotá.
The firm is
active corporate and M&A practice where it advises on negotiation of stock and shares, mergers and acquisitions, company spin-offs and sales of commercial establishments, among others.
The firm’s key clients include Jiangling Motors Colombia,
Digitex Informática Internacional, UPL and its subsidiary Uniphos Colombia Plant, Bogotá
Coque LLC Sucursal Colombiana, Ibarra,
Dinda,
Inversiones PYT,
Athenex, Environmental Resources Management and
Avient.
Client feedback: 32nd edition (2022/2023)
“They are a very close law firm that understand our whole business and we consult any subject to them. They have practices in all subjects.”
“They had a good handle on the financial services industry and substantive law. They were very responsive.”
Founded in 1992,
Gómez-Pinzón has grown to two offices in Colombia: Bogotá and Medellín. The firm is well known in the market for their work in financial and corporate practice areas. It is a member firm of the Affinitas alliance.
Even though the firm is best known for its financial and corporate work, it also has an active project development practice area.
The banking team at the firm works with both borrowers and lenders across various types of
financings including acquisition financing, project financing and refinancings.
The capital markets team represents issuers and underwriters in debt and equity matters.
The M&A team advises strategic buyers and sellers through a variety of acquisition and joint venture matters.
Key clients include Avianca Holdings, Cemex
España, Goldman Sachs ,Enfragen,
Macquaire, Sacyr,
Tetrapack, and Wells Fargo.
Research period review: 32nd edition (2021/2022)
Over the research period the firm was active in banking and finance.
The banking team advised mostly lenders on multiple high profile and complex acquisition financing transactions. The firm also assisted in reorganization financing for insolvent companies, as well as general corporate financing.
Deal highlights: 32nd edition (2022/2023)
Avianca $1.6 billion reorganization financing
Ecopetrol $4 billion acquisition financing
Enfragen Energía $210 million acquisition financing
Holland & Knight established its full-service Bogotá office in 2012. It is part of a global law firm with 30 offices across the globe. In terms of LATAM presence the firm also has two offices in Mexico City, in Palmas and
Reforma, as well as Monterrey, Mexico.
The banking and finance team primarily advises lenders, including banks, commercial lenders, financial
institutions and development banks. It is especially active in project financing, including project bonds.
M&A work for the firm sees the team advising public and private entities in
cross border transactions. It advises buyers
and sellers in
merger and acquisitions.
The mining team at the firm represents clients in land use, environmental, construction and regulatory approvals. It is active in representing clients in concessions bid and extensions, as well as mining titles.
Notable clients for the firm include
QWS Holding, Banco General de Panama, Cemex Colombia, Lenovo (Asia Pacific),
Hemisphere Media Group,
Productos Ramo,
Taikai USA Switchgear,
Cemex Colombia, Hemisphere Media Group, MUFG Bank,
Carbones del
Cerrejón Limited, Lenovo and Zijin Mining.
Client feedback: 32nd edition (2022/2023)
Project
development : Mining
“Solid knowledge of mining law. Excellent and timely attention and advice. Interdisciplinary work.”
With offices in Bogotá and Medellín, Lloreda Camacho & Co is best known for its work in the mining project development practice areas. It also has active M&A and banking and finance practices and is a part of numerous alliances including TerraLex and The Legal Alliance of the Americas.
In banking and finance, the firm is active in financial
service-related industries including insurance, fintech and cryptocurrency. The firm represents mostly borrowers, but also lenders in matters
regarding to guarantee issuances and regulatory financial compliance.
The M&A team represents strategic buyers and sellers in corporate M&A matters.
Lloreda Camacho has a strong mining and natural resources practice, dedicated to supporting mining clients in all aspects of project development, from financing to acquisition to development.
Infrastructure, telecoms, energy, oil and gas, logistics and financial services are big industries for the firm.
Key clients include Grupo
Almo, Continental Gold,
Cannvest Technologies,
Mesfix,
Avla Insurance Group Weatherford International and
Codensa.
Client feedback: 32nd edition (2022/2023)
“One of the most positive attributes is the active involvement of the partners and senior lawyers in that matters that are delegated to the law firm.”
“Deep knowledge of the business; Timely response; Availability; and Corporate law deep knowledge.”
Muñoz Aya is Colombian boutique law firm based
in Bogotá with specialty in financial law and capital markets.
The firm provides
financial and capital market services to local and foreign financial institutions, investment funds, infrastructure
provides and other key players in the financial industry.
Key clients
of the firm include Alianza Fiduciaria,
Avista Colombia, Banco
Credifinanciera, Banco
Davivienda, BNP Paribas Colombia
Corporación Financiera, BNP Paribas Securities Services Colombia, BTG
Pactual S.A.
Comisionista de Bolsa,
Citibank Colombia,Cititrust Colombia,Citivalores Colombia,Colfondos S.A. AFP Pensiones y
Cesantías,
Corredores Davivienda, CrediCorp Capital Colombia,
Credivalores –
Crediservicios, Dentons Cardenas & Cardenas Abogados, Itaú
CorpBanca Colombia, Mercado Pago Colombia and
MercantilColpatria.
Paniagua & Tovar Abogados is boutique law firm based in Bogotá
with more than 45 years of experience in the Colombian legal market.
The firm has experience in mergers and
acquisitions both local and international
business structuring, corporate and
tax efficient foreign investments, corporate reorganisations and divestitures.
The firm’s key clients include
Global Tech Colombia, Flapper
Tecnología, Healthy Catering Services, Ecm2,
Porfenc Argentina,
Weg Colombia, Caria Group, and
Medicadiz.
Client feedback: 32nd edition (2022/2023)
“It is simple to explain the contribution of Paniagua & Tovar in the transaction. If they weren't involved in the transaction, the deal would have failed. Their insight was very important
in order to find a way to conduct the sale of our business.”
“Dynamism, Top skilled lawyers, close relationships.”
Founded in 1991, Parra
Rodriguez provides advice to domestic and international clients. The firm has one location in Bogotá. The firm does not have an international footprint, but it is part of several legal networks including
Multilaw,
Mackrell and
Roxin Alliance.
The banking and finance team participates in Colombian and foreign credit transactions, structuring loans and credit facilities, restructurings and fintech.
Capital markets work for the firm includes work on structured finance transactions for underwriters on bond issues. It is also quite active in structured finance deals.
The M&A team is particularly versed in transactional work including share sales and acquisitions, distribution agreements and real estate transactions.
Key clients for the firm include
United Airlines
Sucursal Colombia,
Cargolux Airlines International
Sucursal Colombia,
Knauf International,
CD Holding Internationale,
Alliance Global Partners,
Avolon Aerospace Leasing, Citibank, Dubai Aerospace, China
Development
Bank, HSBC Securities, Goldman Sachs, United Airlines and
JP Morgan Securities.
Client feedback: 32nd edition (2022/2023)
“The firm is extremely knowledgeable in all aspects of aircraft leasing to Colombian airlines.”
“They are a very reliable law firm that always
provide fast outcomes and
very responsive. I personally feel a great relief working with them and I know their advice will always be very accurate that is why I can rely on them. I don´t feel like another Customer or a Number. I feel they know me and help me to solve any contingency I may face within the legal department.”
