Wilben Palacios

Practice Areas

Urban planning, real estate law, development of financing and territorial planning instruments, infrastructure, public-private partnerships,

Career

Director at Brigard Urrutia (since 2021)

With over 20 years of distinguished expertise in urban law, real estate law, and urban development planning and financing, Mr. Palacios is a leading authority in shaping sustainable urban landscapes through innovative public-private partnerships (PPPs) and strategic urban planning instruments.

Key Leadership Roles and Contributions:

Served as General Manager of Metrovivienda, driving transformative urban housing initiatives.

Held pivotal positions as Legal Director for both the Urban Renewal Company of Bogotá and Metrovivienda, overseeing complex legal frameworks for urban regeneration.

Acted as spokesperson for the Bogotá District Planning Secretariat in the participatory evaluation of the 2019 Bogotá´s Master Plan, influencing city-wide policy.

Provided expert legal counsel to AB InBev on urban and environmental law, ensuring compliance and strategic growth.

Advised the Mayor's Office of Sopó on municipal governance and served as a key member of the real estate team at the National Real Estate Agency Virgilio Barco Vargas for the landmark Los Ministerios project.

Academic and Educational Impact:

Faculty member and legal arbitrator at the Lonja de Propiedad Raíz de Bogotá's training schools, mentoring the next generation of real estate professionals.

Invited by the World Bank and the Korean Research Institute for Human Settlements (KRIHS) to represent Colombia at the inaugural blended learning workshop on sustainable urban land use planning and management (KRIHS-WBG/OLC) in 2016, highlighting global recognition of his expertise.

Education and Specialized Training:

Law Degree from Universidad de los Andes (2001).

Master's in Urban Administration and Planning from Seoul National University, as a scholar of the Seoul Metropolitan Government (2021).

Advanced studies in Development Project Management from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB/IADB).

Specialized training in Territorial Ordering Policies from the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (CEPAL-UN).

International coursework on Land Market Analysis Fundamentals in Latin America from Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile and the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy.

Professional Memberships

Group Leader for the Real Estate Group – Latin America World Services Group WSG.

Personal

Interest and experience in developing community processes, contributions to local entrepreneurship and social support, and development of regions with vulnerable communities

Languages Spoken

Spanish - English

Industry Sector Expertise

Urban planning, real estate law, development of financing and territorial planning instruments, social infrastructure, public-private partnerships, population resettlement.

Education