James Valdiri

Mining; Energy; Natural Resources

James is a partner in the Firm’s Environment and Natural Resources and market-leading Mining practice groups. Major legal directories universally rank him as a leading lawyer in this particular area of law. He has a depth of experience in mining and energy law, telecommunications, notary and registration. He has advised national and foreign companies for more than 30 years in their areas of specialization, as well as corporate, environmental, aviation, infrastructure and financial affairs.

College of Universidad Colegio Mayor de Nuestra Señora del Rosario Lawyers

College of Mining and Petroleum Lawyers

Auxico Resources Canada INC: Advising on general legal matters for the client and its operations in Colombia. Our activities have included filing the Mining Works Program (Plan de Trabajos y Obras) and an Environmental Impact Assessment to obtain the temporary environmental license. We have also advised this client on acquiring a mining legalization request and a 148-hectare land in Puerto Carreño, Vichada. Additionally, we have provided corporate advice for the company's subsidiary in Colombia. We are currently advising Auxico on obtaining the global environmental license and the mining contract.

Mining Company: General legal advisory for the client and its operations in Colombia. Our activities have included filing the Mining Works Program (Plan de Trabajos y Obras) and an Environmental Impact Assessment, as well as advising on the acquisition of a mining legalization request and a 148-hectare land plot in Puerto Carreño, Vichada. We also provided guidance on incorporating a new subsidiary in Colombia, which will serve as the entity for the new project.

Mining Company: Advisory on incorporating a Colombian subsidiary to participate in the objective selection procedures implemented by the National Mining Agency for granting concessions in specific Strategic Mining Reserve Areas.

Norvista Resources Corporation (Calvista and Solvista): Advisory on mining title applications, government procedures, and follow-ups with the relevant mining and environmental authorities. Additionally, our legal counsel included an International Arbitration involving a group of Colombian miners who alleged a breach of contract in the international sale of multiple mining titles (gold).

Financiera Pagos Internacionales S.A. - Compañía de Financiamiento: Advisory on a loan agreement executed by certain shareholders of Financiera Pagos Internacionales S.A. - Compañía de Financiamiento, a Colombian financial institution, as borrowers, and Capital Bank S.A. as the lender.

Pasofino Gold Corporation and Crown Gold Corporation: Advisory on negotiating the documentation required to terminate the relationship between the former shareholders of Inversiones Villamora S.A.S.

Rio Tinto: Advisory on all its previous operations in Colombia. This included filing over two hundred mining title applications, handling government procedures, and monitoring compliance with relevant mining and environmental regulations. The firm also advised on executing option agreements to acquire mining titles and structuring agreements related to Rio Tinto's mining assets in Colombia.

Ashmont Resources: Legal advisor to this Canadian company in acquiring various mining interests in Colombia. Over the past few years, Ashmont has secured multiple options on titles in Colombia. Our firm assisted in drafting the transaction closing documents and conducted due diligence on the properties.

Universidad Colegio Mayor de Nuestra Señora del Rosario

Law

1974 - 1978

Universidad Externado de Colombia

LL.M., Notary and Registry

1994 - 1995

Universidad Externado de Colombia

LL.M., Telecommunications Law

2002 - 2003

Universidad Externado de Colombia

LL.M., Mining and Energy Law

2009 - 2010

Energy and Natural Resources: Mining (Senior Statespeople).

Chambers Latin America

2025

Energía y Recursos Naturales: Minería (Senior Statespeople).

Chambers Global

2025