A destination practice for banking and finance work, Brigard Urrutia’s strong relationships with domestic and international lenders — including banks and alternative lenders — is a particular hallmark. That being said, the group also represents corporate borrowers in high-profile financings, with notable recent activity in the energy, transport and infrastructure spheres. Alongside its transactional expertise, the team stands out for its robust regulatory offering, where it routinely advises financial institutions, fintechs and others on compliance matters and proceedings before the Superintendence of Finance. Managing partner Carlos Fradique-Méndez is widely recognised as a foremost specialist in financial law, with extensive experience in lending transactions, structured finance, project finance and funds. Among his recent highlights, Fradique-Méndez paired up with prominent next-generation partner María Fernanda Diago to advise leading Colombian corporation, Ecopetrol, on the structuring and negotiation of a credit agreement of up to $1bn. In a key lender-side mandate, César Felipe Rodríguez demonstrated his unique infrastructure credentials through his advice to Financiera de Desarrollo Nacional, Bancolombia and Itaú Colombia on a COP$210bn financing to KMA Construcciones. The group additionally draws on the experience of firm senior partner Carlos Urrutia at top level, while at associate level seniors Santiago Jaramillo Martínez and Nicolás Alonso are noted for project finance and fintech respectively. In September 2023, senior associate Juan Eduardo Gómez left to join A&O Shearman in Washington DC; partner Felipe Alarcón also departed the team.
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘The banking and finance team at Brigard Urrutia is made up of lawyers who are always available to the client and propose favorable legal concepts when making decisions.’
‘One of the points that stands out about the firm is the approach and interest on the part of key finance partner, César Felipe Rodríguez.’
Key clients
- Bancolombia
- Caribbean Financial Group Partners
- Gramercy
- Citibank Colombia
- Financiera de Desarrollo Nacional
- Banco de Bogotá
- QNT
- Latam Airlines Colombia
- Finkargo
- ZMP Fontibón
- Ecopetrol
- Itaú Corpbanca Colombia
- AES Colombia
- Grupo Lamosa
- Blackrock
- Elecnorte
- Perimetral Oriental de Bogotá
- Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation
- Fiduciaria Scotiabank Colpatria
- Termonorte
- KMA Construcciones
- Odinsa
- Scotiabank Colpatria
- Promigas
- Grupo Ortiz
- Matrix Renewables
- Celsia
- Solarpack
- Concesión del Sisga
- Enel Colombia
- Sociedad Puerto Industrial Aguadulce
- Total Eren
- Financiera de Desarrollo Nacional
- BBVA Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria Colombia
- Desarrollo Vial al Mar
- Unión Vial Camino del Pácifico
Work highlights
- Advised Ecopetrol on the structuring and negotiation of a credit agreement of up to $1bn.
- Advised Victory Park Management on a $100m financing provided to real estate technology and services company, Habi.
- Acted for Financiera de Desarrollo Nacional, Bancolombia and Itaú Colombia on a COP$210bn financing to KMA Construcciones.
Lawyers
Practice head
The lawyer(s) leading their teams.
Carlos Fradique-Méndez, César Felipe Rodríguez, María Fernanda Diago, Carlos Urrutia