CMS Rodríguez-Azuero

Managing Partner: Juan Camilo Rodríguez
Founding Partner: Sergio Rodríguez-Azuero
Partners: Daniel Rodríguez, Jacques Simhon, Carolina Arenas, Natalia Guerrero, Karl Mutter

Contacts
Firm Contact: María Carolina Echeverry, [email protected]

Firm Overview:
CMS Rodríguez-Azuero is one of the most recognised law firms in Colombia and Latin America. Since 1980, the firm has provided specialised legal advice with a strategic approach and high management capabilities. The firm’s team of expert lawyers, in various areas of practice, have profound knowledge of the industry sectors in which their clients operate. The firm offers a unique combination of expertise including banking and finance, commercial, competition, corporate/M&A, employment and pensions, dispute resolution, public procurement, real estate and construction, tax, compliance, corporate criminal law, intellectual property, sanitary regulation, consumer products, funds, hotels and leisure, infrastructure and project finance, insurance, private equity, energy, life sciences and healthcare, and technology, media and communications. The firm’s international practice focuses on advising national and multinational financial entities in complex financing operations, international companies in specific regulatory matters in various industry sectors and in merger and acquisition related transactions, as well as advising in large-scale expansions. As a member of the international law firm CMS, ranked as a top ten law firm in the world, CMS Rodríguez-Azuero offers you a global reach with a presence in more than 40 countries, 74 offices and over 4,500 lawyers.

Main Areas of Practice:

Banking & Finance:
The firm advises credit institutions, banks, financial service companies and other key players within the financial industry; as well as managers and investors in private and public offerings. The firm also advises in banking regulation; securities and capital markets; fiduciary law and trusts products; insurance; restructuring and insolvency; and in structured, project and corporate finance.

Commercial:
The firm advises in carrying out leaglly-effective business relationships, as well as contractual relations that are solid and at the same time flexible and innovative in enabling them to adapt to the global market. The firm advises clients in their business and negotiations, in setting up legal structures to achieve their day-to-day and future operation goals.

Competition:
The firm advises clients on matters related to anticompetitive practices, dominant position abuse, and unfair competition. The firm also provides advice on international matters regarding anti-dumping, subsidies and safeguard measures.

Corporate/M&A:
The firm advises on all aspects of corporate law and represents a diverse range of clients of varying sizes and sectors, regarding relevant mergers, acquisitions, spinoffs, joint ventures and sales of substantial company assets. The firm’s experience includes the most important management buy-out to have taken place to date in the Colombian financial sector.

Employment & Pensions:
The firm advises clients on matters regarding negotiation, drafting and termination of labour relationships; support in the establishment of internal work and safety regulations; due diligence and best practice reports regarding the compliance of labour and social security regulations; representation in processes before administrative authorities and labour courts; and employment of foreigners in Colombia.

Dispute Resolution:
The firm advises on matters regarding litigation, arbitration and alternative dispute resolution. The firm advises clients in both arbitration and judicial proceedings and has in-depth expertise in cases involving banking, guarantees, telecommunications and commercial disputes.

Public Procurement:
The firm advises clients on matters regarding public contracts, structuring of public bids, and assists clients in filing appeals and claims before administrative courts and governmental entities.

Real Estate & Construction:
The firm advises owners and brokers in the design of innovative business structures and development of major real estate projects. The firm advises on the financial and legal structure of real estate deals, provides legal advice to owners of leasable properties regarding ownership structure, infrastructure projects, tax matters, horizontal property structures and occupancy contracts.

Tax:
The firm advises clients from different industries on tax and exchange matters, diagnosis and representation before the relevant authorities, due diligence on tax matters, wealth planning, tax planning and advise in international transactions, and advice to non-profit organisations.

Compliance:
The firm advises clients regarding compliance and risk management issues that can impact their domestic and international activities. The firm is currently representing large domestic companies and multinationals in some of the country´s most complex and high-profile compliance matters.

Corporate Criminal Law:
The firm provides advice on all matters related to criminal law and procedure and seeks to create risk prevention programs that allow the avoidance of criminally relevant situations, or the correct reaction when said situations inevitably arise. The firm intends to prevent economic and reputational damage that may be irreparable in any productive activity in the public or private sectors.

Sanitary Regulation:
The firm advises clients regarding market approval procedures (and administers regional portfolios) for foodstuffs, alcoholic beverages, cosmetics, dietary supplements, medical devices and pharma products, advises on labelling and advertisement issues and manufacturing facilities. Handles administrative probes for regulation infringement.

Intellectual Property:
The firm advises clients on the proper protection of their IPRs, including prosecution for trademarks, patents, designs, plant varieties, trade secrets and copyright. Assists clients on the enforcement of IPRs in procedures like opposition, defence and infringement actions; assists clients on licensing and exploitation of their IPRs, and participates on due diligences and special projects.

Languages:
Spanish, English, French

Clients:
Mastercard, Inter-American Development Bank, Hochtief, Citibank, Avianca, Ecopetrol, Banchile, LG, Northrop Grumman, Grupo Sura, PayU, BNP Paribas, BBVA, Kuehne+Nagel, IIC (InerAmerican Investment Corporation), South 32, Metlife, ScotiaBank, Grupo Santander, CIBC, Xertica, Banchile, and the Ministry of Mines and Energy.