The ‘very agile and practical’ lawyers at Garrigues’ are valued by clients for their ’ability to integrate with in-house teams’. The Bogotá-based practice additionally stands out for its ability to plug into the wider firm’s extensive international network, which takes in offices across Europe, the Americas, Africa and Asia. As a result of its robust multi-jurisidictional capability, the group is a popular choice to advise on cross-border transactions — it also handles domestic deals. Dual-qualified (New York/Colombia) practice co-head Andrés Ordóñez brings to bear extensive international experience gained during stints at firms in New York and Washington DC; he recently advised Canada-based Mitel on the Colombian aspects of the acquisition of Unify from its French parent Atos, including its subsidiary Unify Brasil. Ignacio Londoño co-heads the department and teamed up with the firm’s Chile and Mexico offices to advise Denmark’s Better Collective on its acquisition of Playmaker Capital. The group also draws on an experienced group of non-partners, including senior associate Guillermo Andrés Gómez; intermediate Maria Alejandra Sánchez; and new senior María Paula Cruz Ordóñez, who joined in July 2023 from Tannus & Asociados. Former principal associate Cristina Copete left to become legal head at Cine Colombia in December 2023.
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘A multidisciplinary team that is very focused and adapts to the client's needs. Lawyers are very agile and practical in responses. We value its lawyers for their ability to integrate with in-house teams.’
‘They are able to respond to any legal question, they always have an expert ready to help us understand new issues in different cases. Andrés Ordóñez is an excellent lawyer who not only helps us from a legal point of view, but also gives us his valuable opinions from a commercial and financial point of view.’
‘The team understands the steps of an acquisition process and guides the client at all times to expertly manage all events that may materialise. It employs a direct and simple language with clients, and seeks to maintain cordial relationships with sellers. It stands out for being legally and regulatory knowledgeable.’
‘Andrés Ordoñez stands out as leader of the practice, and of the transactions carried out. Andrés demonstrates closeness, always looking for reasonable alternatives to manage the events that arise in the transactions carried out.’
‘The Garrigues Colombia team is great. It has extensive legal knowledge and offers exceptional client closeness and trust.’
‘We value its lawyers’ ability to adapt to clients from different cultures (European, North American, Latin American...), their language, their schedule and their mentality makes them very valuable. We particularly mention Andrés Ordoñez and Maria Alejandra Sánchez.’
‘The Garrigues team is our advisor on recurring issues and investment deals. In all scenarios, we have had the team at our disposal and the level of professionalism is very high. The ability to communicate complex issues and reach the client differentiates it from other firms, making it a strategic ally.’
‘Andrés Ordoñez and Guillermo Gómez are excellent professionals. Their assertive communication allows them to differentiate themselves from other lawyers I have worked with. The management of knowledge and the ability to integrate and mesh their team with the client is outstanding.’
Key clients
- Aena
- Andean Telecom Partners
- Banco Davivienda
- Bancolombia
- Baring Private Equity Asia
- Better Collective
- Biogreen Colombia
- BNP Paribas
- Bunge
- Comsa Corporación
- Consorcio Express
- Cubico Sustainable Investments
- Diversey
- Edgeconnex
- Egis
- Eiffage
- Enel
- Faurecia / Hella
- FCC Aqualia
- Galileo Quattro
- Grupo Prosegur
- Ilunion
- Inchcape Group
- Indukern
- Krealo
- Macquarie Capital
- McAfee
- Medicadiz
- Mercado Pago
- Mitel
- Nubank
- OHLA
- PayU Global
- Quirónsalud
- Rappi
- Rappi Travel
- Servinform
- Skandia Colombia (Old Mutual)
- Solarpack
- Solenis
- StoneX
- Timestamp
- Titularice Sociedad Titularizadora de Activos No Hipotecarios
- Ulma Packaging
- Universidad Tecnológica de Pereira (UTP)
- Viva Air Investments and Pangaea Three Acquisition Holdings I
- Wood
Work highlights
- Advised Denmark-based Better Collective on its acquisition of Playmaker Capital.
- Advised Enel Colombia on the negotiation of a new medium-term joint venture with Scotiabank Colpatria to restructure and enable the continued development of the Crédito Fácil Codensa programme in Colombia.
- Advised Mitel on the Colombian aspects of the acquisition of Unify from its French parent Atos, including its subsidiary Unify Brasil.
Lawyers
Practice head
The lawyer(s) leading their teams.
Ignacio Londoño, Andrés Ordóñez