The ‘creative and determined’ projects team at Arrieta Mantilla & Asociados ‘reviews problems from multiple perspectives’, according to satisfied clients. The group frequently works hand-in-hand with the wider firm’s public law practice to specialise in representing public entities, concessionaires and other sector stakeholders on major infrastructure projects and public contracts. Alongside its dominant position in toll-road concession contracts, the group is equipped to handle the full range of projects as demonstrated by its recent roles in airport, irrigation and energy-related matters. Senior partner Álvaro Mantilla is widely revered as a go-to sector expert for his broad experience spanning project development, secondary transactions, and contentious work. The team also draws on public law specialist Yady Villaquirán Castro; administrative law and projects-focused Álvaro Mantilla Sánchez; and up-and-coming partner Ramón Enrique Ramírez. As associate level, Julián González Torres is recommended for his emerging expertise in public procurement processes, among other matters.

Brigard Urrutia’s ability to draw on its premier full-service offering is a key feature of its multidisciplinary projects team, which routinely works alongside other practice groups to provide comprehensive advice. Project finance is a notable sweet spot, in line with the wider firm’s top-tier finance capability, and it shines in representing lenders and sponsors on major energy and infrastructure projects. However, it also handles public procurement, project development, and contentious work. Senior contacts include Carlos Umaña, who maintains a broad practice with a focus on infrastructure, public procurement, utilities, and natural resources; managing partner Carlos Fradique-Méndez, who is sought after for infrastructure financings; and Claudia Navarro, who has extensive expertise in regulatory and commercial matters. The department additionally calls upon the experience of banking and finance specialists César Felipe Rodríguez, María Fernanda Diago and Felipe Alarcón, as well as associate practice director Julián Parra. In July 2022, senior associate Juan Pablo Canaval left to join Uraba Highways.

Durán & Osorio Abogados Asociados’ impressive track record in major infrastructure projects scores highly with sources, who appreciate its ‘rapid ability to analyse a project’. The broad practice stands out for its adept handling of projects across all key infrastructure classes, including recent strong showings in rail, roads, healthcare, airport, and water and sanitation, among other market segments. High-profile specialist Álvaro Durán brings to bear pioneering experience in many of the country’s landmark infrastructure matters; he is currently leading the firm’s advice to Empresa de Acueducto y Alcantarillado de Bogotá on the structuring of the $1.3bn Canoas Wastewater Treatment Plant PPP. A former general director of economic regulation for the Ministry of Finance, Jorge Gabriel Taboada is also highly regarded. Other key contacts include Álvaro Gasca, who is particularly recognised for his experience in urban transportation projects. The group additionally draws on a deep bench of experinced senior associates, including Edgardo Maya, Sebastián Duque, Carlos Andrés Sarasti, Daniela Mejía and Felipe Herrera. Former senior Gigliana Rivero Ramirez  left the firm in July 2023, as did partner Carlos Andrés Sánchez.

Noted for its ‘high technical level and great negotiation skills’, Philippi Prietocarrizosa Ferrero DU & Uría fields a full-spectrum projects practice that is composed of lawyers specialised in public procurement processes, public law, infrastructure and project finance. The group acts for an impressive roster of domestic and multinational clients, with experience in representing the full chain of industry stakeholders, from construction companies and government entities, through to major global lenders and institutional investors. Widely acknowledged as a leader in his field, Jorge Di Terlizzi’s broad infrastructure and projects experience encompasses roads, telecoms, energy, airports, and ports, among other spheres. Di Terlizzi co-heads the group alongside project finance expert Juan Fernando Gaviria, corporate and finance specialist Hernando Padilla, and next-generation projects and infrastructure partner Carlos Padilla. Projects and infrastructure associate Camilo Forero is also noted for his focus on state contracting and litigation.

Projects work is a mainstay at infrastructure and public law boutique Castro Leiva Rendón Abogados and the group enjoys close relationships with sponsors and concessionaires across all key infrastructure segments. The group’s broad experience spans the full life cycle of matters, from procurement processes, through to project development, litigation, and secondary market activity. Co-founding partner Marcela Castro co-heads the projects and the public law groups and is equipped to handle all infrastructure-related matters, with strong recent experience in financing transactions. Fellow projects and public law co-head José Ignacio Leiva specialises in litigation, administrative and finance law. Natalia Uribe is also noted for her projects focus.

According to sources, the work product of Cuatrecasas‘ projects team ‘is always characterised by high quality’. With a strong orientation towards finance transactions, it acts for a mix of banks, infrastructure companies, concessionaires, and funds on project finance, infrastructure project structuring and public tenders, among other matters. High-profile finance expert Manuel Quinche steers the practice and is highly regarded for project finance transactions. The department also includes dual-qualified (Colombia/New York) project finance and infrastructure partner Ana María Sánchez, who joined in March 2022 from Peruvian firm Rebaza, Alcázar & De Las Casas; project finance-focused Juan Carlos Puentes, who was promoted to partner in April 2022; and senior associate Natalia Arango.

Dentons Cardenas & Cardenas’ multidisciplinary projects practice strikes a balance between transactional and contentious matters. The group acts for a range of industry participants — including sponsors, construction companies, banks and government entities — with particular activity in the roads, rail, airports, ports and energy sectors. Up-and-coming projects partner Pablo Jaramillo spearheads the group and is recommended for his transactional focus, with experience in the structuring, finance, and development of projects. Ximena Zuleta is the key contact on administrative and public law side and specialises in bidding processes and public contracts. Banking and finance partners Bernardo Cárdenas and Catalina Pinilla are also noted. In June 2022, associate Laura Streubel left to study abroad.

Garrigues is distinguished by its ‘great ability to react to requests or changes in strategy in the development of the project’, according to some. Combining specialists in project finance, M&A, public law, public procurement and regulatory law, the projects group is an increasingly prominent player in the infrastructure sphere in Colombia, with its recent experience encompassing roads, airports, rail, healthcare, and ports, among other market segments. Public contracts and infrastructure expert Adriana Espinosa co-heads the practice together with up-and-coming project finance partner Francisco Noguera. The department also includes Iván Fierro (‘strong knowledge of the infrastructure sector’), who was promoted to counsel in January 2023, and senior associate Juan Ospina (‘excellent experience in concession contracts’).

Lawyers at Gómez-Pinzón Abogados (GPA) are ‘diligent and proactive in finding solutions’, according to sources. The interdisciplinary projects group handles a broad scope of public bidding processes, project finance, project development, and contentious matters; with the ability to draw on its wider full-service practice to resource larger matters. Department co-head Paola Larrahondo sits in both the infrastructure, and the administrative and constitutional law teams and acts for a mix of concessionaires, public entities, and investors on projects work. Fellow co-head José Luis Suárez is recommended for his project finance expertise. Senior associates Juan Antonio Ucrós (infrastructure and administrative law) and Catalina Prieto (banking and finance) are also noted.

Posse Herrera Ruiz’s cross-practice projects offering is composed of ‘subject matter experts who are extremely knowledgeable’, according to some. Consistently working alongside other practice groups from across the firm, the team advises on a broad scope of work, including tender processes, project financings, and dispute resolution. Banking and finance specialist Mariana Posse jointly leads the department together with energy and natural resources expert Alvaro José Rodríguez, and infrastructure and public law partner Cristina Vásquez. Other key contacts include finance-focused Jesús Albarrán, who was promoted to partner in January 2023, and associate Catalina Posada, who also advises on finance matters.

Over the past year, Baker McKenzie S.A.S. secured key roles in a string of projects, with a focus on the road, power and airport sectors. Particularly recognised for its record in representing lenders, the group also frequently acts for project sponsors, construction companies, investors and government entities. Project finance specialist Alejandro Mesa is noted for his ‘strong experience and commercial instinct’; he co-heads the department together with recently promoted (July 2023) partner María Montejo, who specialises in public procurement and infrastructure. Former department co-head Carolina Duque left to establish her own firm in January 2023.

DLA Piper Martinez Beltrán’s projects team finds favour for its ‘high level of responsiveness and accountability’. The group acts on a significant volume of secondary market transactions — Macquarie Asset Management stands as a trophy client in this segment — and also handles project finance and development work. Banking and finance specialist Sebastián Lora co-heads the department alongside infrastructure, projects, and public law partner Olga Lucía Ramírez, who joined in August 2022 from the Ministry of Transportation. Private equity expert Felipe Quintero and managing partner Camilo Martínez also handle projects-related matters. Former department co-head Paola Aldana  left to go freelance in February 2023.

Infraestructura Legal SAS’ boutique model is commended by sources who say it ‘provides personalised services and offers tailored solutions for each project’. The firm’s exclusive focus on infrastructure law, with a particular orientation towards PPP projects, marks it as a popular choice to represent both private and public-sector clients on projects-related work. The group is co-led by Francisco Suárez, who has a focus on administrative law and infrastructure project management, and Francisco Real, who also has a strong administrative law dimension to his practice.

New entrant to the table for 2022/23, Rincón Castro Abogados was established in February 2023 by former partners of public law, projects, and dispute resolution boutique, Zuleta Abogados Asociados. The group continues to represent domestic and multinational corporations and state entities across a diverse range of infrastructure projects, disputes, and regulatory issues, with notable expertise in bidding processes and arbitration. Infrastructure and public law partner Miguel Castro ‘produces excellent work’ and heads a team that also draws on arbitration specialist Rafael Rincón and senior associate Juan Camilo Artunduaga.

Ariza & Marin has a strong record in advising construction companies on project development and contentious work, with a particular focus on matters in and around its home city of Medellín. The group’s infrastructure expertise spans a wide range of areas, including roads, energy, aqueducts, sanitation, and government buildings, and it counts both domestic and international names among its clients. The department is led jointly by Camilo Marín, who specialises in project development and arbitral proceedings; and Carolina Ariza, whose practice focuses on administrative law and civil liability.

Infrastructure is a core pillar of Coral Delgado & Asociados’ firm-wide practice and it possesses extensive experience in project structuring and contracting, as well as contentious matters. Road concessions are a notable sweet spot, but the firm also handles rail, port and social infrastructure projects, among others. Alfredo Coral has a focus on administrative litigation, particularly in relation to state contracts, and co-heads the group alongside Javier Delgado, who specialises in the structuring and development of infrastructure projects. Associate Diana María Bonilla moved in house at grupo Ortiz in March 2023.

Goh’s ‘very dedicated’ team represents both private and public-sector clients on projects work. The group’s experience spans project finance, PPP, and EPC contracts, while it also draws on the wider firm’s arbitration practice for supplementary support in contentious matters. Following the departure of Jaime Moya, who went independent in February 2023, the department is now led by tax and natural resources specialist Juan Pablo Godoy. In March 2023, the firm hired new director of public law and infrastructure Claudia Patricia Barrantes, who joins from Palacio, Jouve & García. Senior associate Steffany Serebrenik left in March 2023.

Over the past year, Muñoz Tamayo & Asociados’ projects practice has added five new clients to its roster, including international construction companies and investment funds. The group is primarily recognised for its experience in privatisations, public tenders, and PPP processes, with strong recent showings in the public transport and utilities spheres. Founding partner Diego Muñoz Tamayo heads the department and is noted for his extensive transactional experience. The team additionally includes Felipe Trías, who also specialises in corporate and finance matters. Former senior associate Antonio Rojas Mayol left the firm in June 2022.

Palacio, Jouve & García’s practice is praised by sources for ‘its in-depth analysis of the issues’. The group specialises in matters at the intersection of projects and public law, with a focus on state contracting, infrastructure, and public services — including contentious work. Administrative law specialist Luis Felipe Arrieta Palacio steers a practice group that also includes infrastructure and public law partner María Teresa Palacio; administrative law litigator María Lucía Posada; and Antonio Jouve García, who ‘takes the time to understand the needs of clients’.