Latin America
Practice Areas
Paola Larrahondo Cuesta is a Partner at Pérez-Llorca, where she leads the Projects and Public Law practice. With nearly two decades of experience, she advises on administrative law, public procurement, public–private partnerships (PPPs), infrastructure development, and litigation. Drawing on both her public sector leadership and private practice expertise, she has a broad and comprehensive understanding of Colombia’s regulatory and institutional framework. Paola is widely recognised for her ability to design and implement legal strategies that address complex public law and infrastructure challenges.
Career
Paola began her career at De Vivero & Asociados before going on to senior positions in the public sector, including Executive Director of Fundación Pro-Bono Colombia, Legal Director at Bogotá’s Mobility Secretariat, and legal advisor at the Ministries of Transport and Trade, Industry, and Tourism. She joined Pérez-Llorca in 2016, and was appointed partner in 2022. She is ranked Band 3 in Chambers Latin America 2025 for Public Law, and Band 4 in Projects.
Personal
Paola is a member of the International Bar Association (IBA). She holds a law degree and a specialisation in Public Management and Administrative Institutions from Universidad de los Andes, Bogotá, a Master’s in Law and Economics from the Università di Bologna in Italy, and a Master’s in Law and Economics from Aix-Marseille University in France.
Work Highlights
Paola has played a central role in some of Colombia’s most significant public law and infrastructure mandates. During her tenure at the Ministry of Transport, she led the legal team responsible for drafting and advancing the Infrastructure Law (Law 1682 of 2013). At Pérez-Llorca, she has advised Aguas de Bogotá and IGT on regulatory and contractual matters, supported transactions such as the acquisition of the Briceño-Tunja-Sogamoso road concession and SF Convías, and led comprehensive advisory on flagship projects including the Bogotá Metro First Line and the TransMilenio fleet procurement. She has also advised concessionaires and public utilities on compliance in large-scale bidding processes, advised on PPP structuring in energy and public service projects, and represented stakeholders in disputes arising from administrative contracts. Her ability to combine transactional, regulatory, and contentious expertise has been widely recognised in both infrastructure development and public law litigation.
