Widely lauded as ‘one of the best competition practices in Colombia’, Baker McKenzie S.A.S. secures a sizeable share of the market’s most high-profile mandates, spanning both merger reviews and behavioural competition work. With the ability to draw on the wider firm’s comprehensive global platform, the team is a popular choice to advise on the local aspects of major, multi-jurisdictional cases, where it often works hand-in-hand with international offices. In a recent example, highly regarded group head María Carolina Pardo teamed up with lawyers in Germany and Belgium to advise Sika Colombia on the acquisition of LSF11 Skyscraper HoldCo (MBCC Group); the transaction was moved to Phase II for an in-depth review and cleared without remedies in Colombia. Among the practice group's up-and-coming figures: Angélica Navarro, who supported on the Silka matter, was elevated to partner in July 2023; and associates Carlos Arboleda and Luís Alberto Castell are also key contacts. The practice additionally welcomed several new associates over the past year, including Santiago Blanco, who joined in May 2022 from the Superintendence of Industry and Commerce (SIC).

In a figure that demonstrates its formidable strength in merger filings, Brigard Urrutia handled over 35 merger control procedures during 2022. Alongside its dominant merger practice, which is driven by the firm’s top-tier corporate offering, the group also frequently advises on antitrust investigations, leniency agreements and unfair competition disputes, among other matters. Department head Alejandro Garcia de Brigard, who is dual-qualified in Colombia and New York, is particularly sought after for his expertise in complex transactional cases; he is representing Avianca before the Colombian Civil Aviation Authority (Aerocivil) in a merger-review procedure triggered by its acquisition of Viva Colombia. Among its behavioural highlights, Garcia de Brigard represented Bavaria in an antitrust investigation into alleged abuse of dominant position in the beer market; the case was terminated by the SIC without the imposition of any fine as a result of the offering of commitments. The team also includes practice co-ordinator Nicolás Cardona, who was recently promoted from senior associate to director and provides capable support. In December 2022, intermediate associate Natalia Amado Pérez joined from Baker McKenzie S.A.S..

Widely recognised as a go-to firm for complex investigations and competition litigation, Esguerra Asesores Jurídicos’ full-service competition and antitrust practice also routinely handles merger reviews and consumer protection-related matters. Considered by many as a reference in the market, Alfonso Miranda is an all-round competition specialist; he is currently representing Avianca in an administrative investigation conducted by the SIC concerning alleged non-compliance with the remedies imposed on a merger to jointly manage the Avianca Tours brand. The group also benefits from the senior expertise of Andrés Jaramillo Hoyos, who has a focus on competition litigation; he is representing Sociedad Portuaria Regional de Buenaventura in an investigation into potentially anti-competitive behaviour concerning the provision of port operation services in the Port of Buenaventura. Rounding out the team at partner-level is Daniel Beltrán, who is currently advising the companies of Grupo Sura on compliance issues. The group additionally draws on a capable band of associates, including David Cotrina, who advises on competition, consumer protection and IP, and Jasibi Ali Cabrales, who joined in June 2022 from Bermúdez & Esguerra Abogados. Former associate Jorge Lamo Blanco left to join Posse Herrera Ruiz in July 2022. Since publication, the firm has merged with tax specialist firm Jiménez, Higuita, Rodríguez & Asociados (Tax & customs) to become Esguerra JHR - effective as of February 2024.

According to sources, lawyers at Garrigues ‘know the needs of clients and their business’. With strength in all key pillars of competition and antitrust law, the group represents clients in investigations and administrative procedures initiated by the SIC, as well as in judicial unfair competition law proceedings. On the transactional side, the team is well versed in merger control cases spanning all key industries, with a recent strong showing in the transport segment. José Miguel De La Calle spearheads the department and is currently representing Viva Air on the antitrust investigation against Viva and Avianca for alleged gun jumping. Following the departure of principal associate Alejandro Acevedo in March 2023, senior associate Anamaría Rico – who has some 10 years’ experience in antitrust and unfair competition matters – leads the second line. Fellow senior Adolfo Enrique Gómez is currently on study leave. The team also replaced associate Natalia Amado Pérez, who left the firm in April 2022, with the hire of Daniel Fajardo Mendoza (technology/competition and personal data) from Baker McKenzie S.A.S. the same month.

 

‘A key benchmark for competition law in the country’, Ibarra Abogados Rimon Law attracts strong praise from clients for its ability to create a ‘collaborative space between the lawyers and the client’. Arguably best known for its reputation in the behavioural field, including for major investigations and complex competition disputes, the team is also equipped to handle merger fillings, consumer protection-related matters and compliance issues. High-profile expert Gabriel Ibarra is highlighted for his ‘extensive track record in competition matters’ and is currently representing Ingenio Risaralda in litigation seeking to overturn sanctions issued by the SIC in 2010 in relation to an alleged agreement to fix the purchase price of sugar cane to produce fuel alcohol. Next-generation partner Ana Lucía Parra also has a strong contentious dimension to her practice and handles a mix of antitrust, unfair competition, consumer protection, and administrative law cases. Alejandro Ibarra, who has experience across the full range of competition law matters, and Carlos Bermúdes Pulido, who was promoted to senior associate in December 2022, are both additional contacts of note. Senior associate Felipe Martínez Sánchez left in December 2022 to join the World Intellectual Property Organization, as part of the Young Experts programme.

The competition and antitrust practice at ECIJA Colombia is ‘characterised by the technical knowledge of its partners and associates’, according to satisfied clients. A particularly strong performer in the behavioural space, the team has recently advised on administrative investigations on behalf of Bavaria and DIMAYOR (the major division of Colombian football). It also has strong experience in contentious matters and, less frequently, handles merger-review cases. Competition expert Pablo Márquez stands out for his ‘extensive academic and professional career’ and co-heads the group together with Julio Castañeda, who is a force in both the antitrust and telecoms spheres. The team additionally draws on increasingly prominent counsel Pablo Onofre, who co-ordinates the competition and merger control unit, and associate Jorge Mario González.

Gómez-Pinzón Abogados (GPA) scores highly with sources for its ability to provide ‘a unique solution to each case’. The competition and antitrust group covers a wide remit with solid skill sets in merger control filings —in line with the wider firm’s top-tier corporate offering— as well as administrative investigations, unfair competition litigation, and consumer protection-related issues. Mauricio Jaramillo oversees the department and brings to bear a broad all-round regulatory practice, which spans IP, competition, technology and dispute resolution. Senior associate Biviana Helo leads the competition team and handles a mix of IP and competition law work. Other key contacts include senior associate Valentina Manrique Gómez, who focuses on IP and competition litigation, and associate Paula de la Calle.

Antitrust law is a mainstay at Jaeckel/Montoya Abogados and the specialist boutique is equipped to advise on a wide range of behavioural and merger review matters. Founding partner Jorge Jaeckel is a former Deputy Superintendent of the SIC and is noted for his record in representing domestic and foreign companies in both regulatory and contentious issues. The team also includes managing partner Claudia Montoya, who previously served as advisor to the Superintendent of Industry and Commerce. Jaeckel and Montoya are presently advising Glencore International on remedies imposed by the SIC connected to the company’s acquisition of Anglo American’s and BHP’s respective 33.33% stakes in the Cerrejón coal mine. Senior associate Jefferson Gonzales provides broad regulatory support.

Highlighted as being ‘very attuned to the needs of multinationals’, Philippi Prietocarrizosa Ferrero DU & Uría’s recent competition roster includes work for leading global corporations such as Visa, Aramco and Mediterranean Shipping Company. The group also stands out for its ability to team up with the wider firm’s top-tier litigation practice to handle contentious competition matters. Among its highlight mandates in this sphere, department head Diego Cardona represented Canacol Energy in an unfair competition case brought by one of its main competitors in the natural gas production market. The team also has strong experience in merger control filings and administrative investigations. Junior associate Natalia Castilla provides support.

According to sources, Posse Herrera Ruiz’s competition group is ‘composed of lawyers who care about understanding the business of their clients’. The practice secured a strong run of merger reviews during 2022/23, which included advising German transport company Hapag-Lloyd on the Colombian merger-review aspects of its acquisition of two lines of businesses of Chile-based SM SAAM, namely SAAM Ports and SAAM Logistics. Alongside its strength in merger proceedings, the team handles a significant volume of behavioural competition matters. Competition specialist Jorge De Los Ríos steers the department and led on the Hapag-Lloyd work, with support from senior associate Jorge Lamo Blanco, who joined in July 2022 from Esguerra Asesores Jurídicos. Associates Laura Torrado and Adriana Otero are also noted for competition, data protection and consumer protection matters.

The result of the October 2023 merger of Medellín-based Correa Merino Agudelo Abogados and the corporate-and-competition focused Serrano Martínez in Bogota; Serrano Martínez CMA boasts an office in the country's two leading markets, a strengthened corporate practice and a newly broadened service offering. In the competition sector, the practice strikes the right note with sources due to its ‘great practical knowledge and approach to regulators’. The thriving boutique added a string of major multinational clients to its roster over the past year, including Kelloggs de Colombia and Bloomberg, while its growing prominence in merger review cases saw it rank among the top three merger filers in the country during 2022. Felipe Serrano fronts the group and is considered by many as ‘an expert in his subject’. Serrano provides ongoing competition advice to Amazon, including recently advising the technology giant on the merger-control process regarding its acquisition of iRobot Corporation. Associate director Andrés Jaramillo Sanz, who has a focus on litigation and procedural law, is also recommended. In May 2022, the group welcomed new senior associate Juan Diego Mojica, who joined from the Constitutional Court of Colombia.

In a significant development, Bermúdez & Esguerra Abogados was formed in January 2023 through the merger of competition and regulatory stalwart Avante Abogados and data protection boutique Bermúdez Durana Abogados. Highlighted as a ‘young team committed to client success’, the competition practice acts for an increasingly prominent mix of domestic and multinational names including Aerocivil, AB InBev and Alpina Productos Alimenticios. Next-generation partner Carlos Esguerra jointly heads the department alongside José Alejandro Bermúdez, who specialises in data protection, competition and consumer protection law. Associates Andrés Felipe Aguas and Manuela Téllez provide support.

Distinguished by its formidable global platform, Dentons Cardenas & Cardenas maintains a strong pipeline of merger review work, where it frequently advises on the Colombian competition aspects of cross-border M&A. The group also provides ongoing advice to several multinational corporations on day-to-day compliance and training matters, including Autodesk and BASF Química Colombiana. Key contact Ximena Zuleta is a litigator who steers both the public law and competition departments. Senior associate María Paula Macías splits her time between the corporate and M&A, and the competition and antitrust practices.

‘An innovative firm that is constantly looking for ways to do things better’,  DLA Piper Martinez Beltrán houses an interdisciplinary competition and consumer protection department. The team’s broad regulatory offering marks it as a solid choice to advise on contentious matters, including investigations and competition litigation, with particular experience in matters combining antitrust and consumer law issues. Group head María Claudia Martínez covers a mix of corporate, competition, consumer law, and data protection-related work. Other key contacts include litigator Julian Solorza, who sits in the dispute resolution, regulatory, and financial services practices, and senior associate Natalia Fernández.

With the ability to leverage its top-tier life sciences offering, Lloreda Camacho & Co. packs a punch in acting for pharmaceutical clients on regulatory matters, including competition and antitrust law, as well as related consumer protection work. The firm’s leading IP practice also ensures that the team is well versed in competition issues relating to the e-commerce, TMT and new technologies' spheres, among others. Life sciences specialist Enrique Álvarez co-heads the department together with Darío Cadena. Associate Diego Matiz, who joined in March 2022 from the SIC, provides support.

OlarteMoure’s competition practice has a strong IP dimension, in line with the firm's signature strength. Predominantly recognised for its activity in competition and consumer law-related disputes, the team also has experience in compliance matters and merger reviews. Seasoned competition and IP expert Juan Guillermo Moure possesses significant regulatory expertise gained during his former role as deputy head of the Office for the Promotion of Competition at the SIC. The team also includes life sciences and telecoms specialist Carlos Olarte and dispute resolution director Juan Felipe Acosta, as well as regulatory associates Santiago Lombana and Camilo Andrade.

Longstanding boutique Valbuena Abogados maintains its focus on economic and regulatory work. On the competition front, the group is mainly recognised for its advice to private and public sector clients on administrative investigations and contentious matters. Less frequently, the team handles merger review-related issues. A former Superintendent of Industry and Commerce, managing partner Gustavo Valbuena spearheads a team that also includes associates Diego Solano, who was formerly a lawyer at the SIC, and Carol Sanchez Zambrano.

CMS Rodríguez-Azuero is distinguished by its ability to link up with its extensive global network to advise on the local aspects of multi-jurisdictional merger reviews. It is also well versed in advising on matters at the intersection of antitrust and ICT regulation. Department head Lorenzo Villegas-Carrasquilla is noted for his combination of TMT, competition, and dispute resolution experience. Senior associate María Camila Piedrahita provides support to the TMT and competition teams.

Goh’s recent experience spans merger reviews, administrative investigations and judicial proceedings. The projects and infrastructure sectors provide the bulk of mandates and the team is particularly active on behalf of clients in the energy, technology, and oil-and-gas industries. Juan Pablo Godoy now spearheads the department following the departure of Jaime Moya, who left in February 2023. Senior associate Natalia Suárez Sánchez provides dedicated practice support.