Juan Pablo González > Esguerra JHR > Bogotá, Colombia > Lawyer Profile

Esguerra JHR houses a multidisciplinary banking and finance practice that routine advises financial institutions, insurance entities and funds on regulatory and transactional matters. As a former executive vice president of the Colombian Stock Exchange, group head Juan Pablo González is well versed across the gamut of finance, securities and corporate law. The group also includes Verónica Arango Lux, who has a focus on banking, finance and capital markets transactions. 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.

Esguerra JHR’ corporate practice is ‘very agile in its responses, without losing depth in the analysis’, according to some. The team benefits from its ability to lean into the wider firm’s formidable regulatory offering to specialise in advising on transactions involving heavily regulated industries, including financial services, life sciences, infrastructure and energy, among others. Led jointly by Juan Pablo González, whose practice spans corporate, capital markets and finance work, and Andrés Parias, who handles a mix of transactional and compliance matters, the department also includes corporate and finance partner Verónica Arango Lux. December 2022 saw former associate Maria Clara Londoño leave for Bancolombia, but in January 2023, the group welcomed the arrival of associate Felipe Nova Delgado from ONGC Videsh. 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.

Esguerra JHR’ practice predominantly advises public companies on M&A, spin-off transactions and regulatory matters, including company incorporations. The team also demonstrates significant activity in debt capital markets work. In a recent example, department head Juan Pablo González advised Scotiabank Colpatria on the issuance of subordinated bonds classified in the Additional Tier 1 capital of the bank. Veronica Arango Lux is also noted for her experience in advising on bond and share offerings in both the local and international markets. In December 2022, associate María Andrea Ballén joined Valentech Pharma. 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.