Brigard Urrutia

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Brigard Urrutia’s ability to draw on its premier full-service offering is a key feature of its multidisciplinary projects team, which routinely works alongside other practice groups to provide comprehensive advice. Project finance is a notable sweet spot, in line with the wider firm’s top-tier finance capability, and it shines in representing lenders and sponsors on major energy and infrastructure projects. However, it also handles public procurement, project development, and contentious work. Senior contacts include Carlos Umaña, who maintains a broad practice with a focus on infrastructure, public procurement, utilities, and natural resources; managing partner Carlos Fradique-Méndez, who is sought after for infrastructure financings; and Claudia Navarro, who has extensive expertise in regulatory and commercial matters. The department additionally calls upon the experience of banking and finance specialists César Felipe RodríguezMaría Fernanda Diago and Felipe Alarcón, as well as associate practice director Julián Parra. In July 2022, senior associate Juan Pablo Canaval left to join Uraba Highways.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘It is a very committed and capable team, with high level technical knowledge and negotiation skills.’

  • ‘Lawyers are outstanding when negotiating.’

  • ‘The team becomes personally engaged with the project and the client’s vision; it feels almost like in-house staff. The team is always available.’
  • ‘Lawyers are smart and opinionated, and they develop close relationships with the in-house team.’

Key clients

  • Termocaribe
  • Energía de Colombia STR
  • Metro Línea 1
  • Financiera de Desarrollo Nacional
  • Fiduciaria Scotiabank Colpatria
  • Scotiabank Colpatria
  • Ashmore Management Company (Colombia)
  • Bancolombia
  • Concesión Santa Marta Paraguachón
  • Concesión Costera Cartagena Barranquilla
  • Scotiabank Colpatria
  • Grupo Ortiz
  • Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation
  • AMP Capital Investor US
  • ISA
  • John Laing
  • Matrix Renewables
  • Fábrica Nacional de Autopartes (Fanalca)
  • Invenergy
  • Celsia
  • Perimetral Oriental de Bogotá
  • Solarpack
  • Odinsa
  • Concesión del Sisga
  • Enel Colombia

Work highlights

  • Advised Solarpack Colombia on the COP and USD financings granted by Inter-American Investment Corporation and Bancolombia to finance solar energy projects “La Unión” and “La Mata”.
  • Advised ZMP Fontibón V and ZMP Fontibón III on the $120m financing granted by Proparco and Financiera de Desarrollo Nacional to finance the acquisition of electric public transportation buses from BYD Auto Industry, in order to provide them to Transmilenio.
  • Advised Concesionaria Férrea de Occidente on the $130m financing of the local train, “Regiotram De Occidente”, which connects Bogotá DC with several municipalities located in the west side of the city.

Lawyers

Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Carlos Umaña
Partner
Next Generation Partners
Junior partners with significant recognition from clients and peers in the market and key roles on multiple matters.
Claudia Navarro
Director

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Carlos Umaña, Carlos Fradique-Méndez, César Felipe Rodríguez, Claudia Navarro, Maria Fernanda Diago, Felipe Alarcón, Carlos Urrutia