Camilo Martínez Beltrán > Martínez Quintero Mendoza González Laguado & de la Rosa > Bogota, Colombia > Lawyer Profile

Martínez Quintero Mendoza González Laguado & de la Rosa’s capital markets practice is oriented towards cross-border transactions, where it can utilise its strong international experience. As a case in point, dual-qualified (Colombia and New York) managing partner Camilo Martínez acted as Colombian counsel to Banco de Bogotá on the $230m issuance and private placement of floating-rate subordinated sustainable bonds under New York law. Other key contacts include Juan Camilo Varón, who is associate director of the capital markets group; and Sebastián Pomárico, who was promoted to senior associate in January 2024.

DLA Piper Martínez Beltrán rebranded as Martínez Quintero Mendoza González Laguado & de la Rosa in May 2024, following the decision of its local partners to cut ties with the wider DLA Piper network. The group’s dispute resolution offering is expected to make gains following the change, due to the reduced potential for client conflicts going forward. The litigation practice now draws on seven partners with contentious experience — following the February 2024 promotions of Sergio Londoño and Juan Pablo Amaya — and sources say, it ‘responds to needs and concerns with agility and high professionalism’. Key names include managing partner Camilo Martínez, whose broad practice spans transactional and contentious matters; he teamed up with José Miguel Mendoza, who focuses on corporate conflicts, as well as Julián Solorza, Sergio Rojas and Londoño, to advise Jaime Gilinski on a corporate dispute aimed at acquiring control of Grupo Nutresa. On the contentious insolvency side, Nicolás Polanía is noted. The group also benefits from the support of several non-partners including associate director Ricardo Alarcón, who manages the international arbitration practice, and senior associates Andrés Sarmiento, David Felipe Benítez and Carlos Pareja. Since publication, Polanía has left the firm to establish his own bankruptcy boutique – effective as of January 2025.

The banking and finance practice at Martínez Quintero Mendoza González Laguado & de la Rosa added a raft of new clients during 2023/24, including fintech, Grupo R5, and construction company, Sacyr — a confident performance prior to its May 2024 demerger from the DLA Piper network. The team’s depth is evidenced by its work for a broad mix of lenders and corporate borrowers on domestic and multi-jurisdictional transactions, including corporate finance, debt restructurings, structured finance and project finance. Managing partner Camilo Martínez fronts the group and contributes deep experience in both banking and finance, and debt capital markets; he recently advised Air-E on a long-term loan of up to $45m provided by IDB Invest. Sebastián Lora  is a key contact for both the banking and finance and the project finance teams; he posted strong recent showings in representing lenders in energy and infrastructure project financings. The department additionally draws on name partners Juan Manuel de la Rosa and Felipe Quintero, both of whom maintain broad transactional practices with an emphasis on private equity. Banking and finance-focused senior associate, Carlos E Guzmán, is also recommended. In August 2023, Former senior associate María José Assis moved in house at BTG Pactual Colombia in August 2023 and, since research concluded, Guzman has left (to undertake his LLM), as has Lora (effective January 2025).

Martínez Quintero Mendoza González Laguado & de la Rosa’s decision to exit the DLA Piper network in May 2024 should prove interesting on the arbitration front, with its independent status reducing the potential for conflicts going forward. The group has traditionally focused on corporate arbitration, including M&A disputes, and its recent experience also spans construction, energy and natural resources, public contracts and insurance. Managing partner Camilo Martínez combines transactional and contentious expertise and co-heads the department together with Sergio Rojas, who specialises in corporate conflicts, and dispute resolution partner Julian Solorza. Formar arbitral practice director Ricardo Alarcón chose to stay with DLA and relocated to México in June 2024.

During 2023/24, Martínez Quintero Mendoza González Laguado & de la Rosa’s insurance team added nine new clients to its roster, which should stand the practice in good stead following the termination of the firm’s co-operation agreement with DLA Piper in May 2024. The group acts for a broad range of industry stakeholders but its work for insured entities, in both claims litigation and advisory matters, is particularly notable. It also acts for insurers and reinsurers on policy drafting, new product development issues, transactions and contentious matters. Up-and-coming partner Sergio Rojas demonstrates ‘impeccable analytical skills’ and specialises in insurance, litigation and crisis management. Managing partner Camilo Martínez is also noted.

In April 2024, DLA Piper Martínez Beltrán (the former Colombian arm of DLA Piper) opted to end its co-operation agreement with the global network and rebrand as Martínez Quintero Mendoza González Laguado & de la Rosa. In a significant statement of intent, the firm concurrently hired Dario Laguado Giraldo, formerly chair of the corporate and M&A practice at Brigard Urrutia, to boost its transactional firepower. Despite the challenging investment environment, the team had a strong year for corporate work, particularly in the infrastructure and private equity arenas. Among the names to note, Felipe Quintero stands out for his activity in domestic and cross-border M&A, with a focus on private equity-related work; he recently led the corporate advice to private asset management client, Inicia, on the $325m acquisition of Brazilian steelmaker Gerdau’s stakes in Diaco and Gerdau Metaldom, Cyrgo and Kbina. Juan Manuel de la Rosa is also highly regarded for private equity transactions; he recently teamed up with managing partner Camilo Martínez to advise Tree Capital and Venice Capital on the acquisition of a minority shareholding interest in Crezcamos. The team further benefits from the experience of next-generation partner Felipe Aristizabal, as well as restructuring and insolvency specialist Nicolás Polanía. The corporate department is supported by a capable band of younger lawyers: at director level, Juan Camilo Varón, Juan Carlos Gambín and Carlos Góngora are key contacts, while Maria Alejandra Cabrera is an active senior associate. Former senior Daniela Duarte left the firm in May 2024. Since publication, Polanía has also left the firm – effective as of January 2025.