Posse Herrera Ruiz

The ‘very committed, well-prepared and competitive team’ at Posse Herrera Ruiz handles a diverse mix of domestic and international arbitrations, with its work in the latter sphere encompassing both commercial and investor-state cases. In terms of its sector strengths, the team notched up key roles in a string of high-profile infrastructure and energy-related cases during 2023/24, while its recent industry experience also spans the mining, life sciences, real estate and defence sectors, among others. Firm co-founder Daniel Posse is hailed by clients as an ’expert in litigation and arbitration inside and outside Colombia’; he recently represented JMalucelli Travelers Seguros in an arbitration concerning a performance bond issued in relation to construction work on the Cartagena-Barranquilla highway. Posse jointly heads the department together with fellow firm co-founder Carolina Posada, who represented South32 Investments in a International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) case against Colombia concerning its efforts to retroactively re-assess more than $180m in royalties already levied by the country. Rounding out the partner-level group are Juan Pablo Bonilla, who specialises in dispute resolution and insolvency; and Estefanía Ponce, who was promoted to partner in January 2024. A capable band of non-partners includes director María Isabel Osorio, who ‘rigorously manages the issues and timeframes’; senior associate Daniela Corchuelo, who has a strong recent record in infrastructure-related disputes; senior associate Laura Vengoechea, who contributes notable international expertise; and senior associate Alejandro Casas, who possesses significant in-house experience. In February 2024, associate Natalia Tobón left to go freelance.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

‘PHR’s team is made up of very diverse lawyers, who in addition to their extensive experience in handling this type of process, are comprehensive in their knowledge and are not limited to resolving a specific dispute but rather avoiding risks to its clients arising from any potential claim.’
‘Carolina Posada is a lawyer who truly takes charge of the processes, who transmits with total clarity and precision the risks, strategies and contingencies, without generating false expectations in clients regarding the results of a process.’
‘María Isabel Osorio, director, rigorously manages the issues and timeframes, and carries out the processes in a very schematic and organised manner, allowing absolute clarity about the risks associated with each stage.’
‘It has a very committed, well-prepared and competitive team that carefully and deeply evaluates cases and recommends with good judgment the actions available, always as a result of a complete analysis.’
‘Due to his extensive experience and diversity of cases, Daniel Posse has broad expertise in matters of a very diverse nature, which has been of great help to us.’
‘Daniel Posse is an expert in litigation and arbitration inside and outside Colombia. Carolina Posada is an example of the career that lawyers have at PHR, a woman who represents the industry locally and internationally as arbitrator and as co-head of the litigation and arbitration practice.’
‘A very complete team in its knowledge of law, which responds with great professionalism, speed and efficiency. Certainly one of the best firms we have worked with in Colombia. Carolina Posada and Daniel Posse are extremely thorough and efficient lawyers, with an amazing ability to quickly understand client needs.’
‘Carolina Posada knows her subject perfectly, but she makes everything simple for you. She is close, meticulous, demanding, she doesn't miss any details. She thinks very creatively and anticipates precisely what the other party is going to say or what may happen. With her, you are always one step ahead.’

Key clients

South 32
Gases de Occidente
JMalucelli Travelers Seguros
Union Temporal Andired
Colombian Natural Resources I (in reorganisation)
CNR III (in reorganisation)
Abbott Laboratories
Orion Holdings
Alianza Fiduciaria
Indumil
Inversiones Zárate Gutiérrez
Elis Colombia
HIG Capital
Flórez Legal and Centro de Abastos Agropecuarios

Work highlights

Represented South32 Investments in an ICSID case against Colombia arising out of several measures adopted by Colombia since 2015 seeking to retroactively re-assess more than $180m in royalties already levied by Colombia.
Acted for JMalucelli Travelers Seguros in an arbitration concerning a performance bond issued to guarantee the contractor's compliance with the EPC contract for work on the Cartagena-Barranquilla highway.
Advised Abbott Laboratories (Chile) Holdco and Abbott Laboratories (Chile) Holdco (DOS) in liquidation on seeking the recognition and enforcement of a foreign arbitral award.

Lawyers

Hall of Fame

The lawyers at the very top of the profession, widely known and respected by peers and clients for their longstanding involvement in market-leading work.