Alvarez, Liévano & Laserna S.A.S.

Founder Partner: Carlos Alvarez Pereira
Managing Partner: Felipe Alvarez Echeverri
Senior Partners: Claudia Lievano Triana, Maria Lucia Laserna Angarita
Partners: Carlos Arturo Barco Alzate.
Number of partners: 5
Number of other lawyers: 44

Firm Overview:
ALVAREZ LIEVANO LASERNA S.A.S. is a boutique law firm that works exclusively in the fields of employment law, labour law and social security, giving companies integral advice regarding human resources management, in both the public and private sector, restructuring processes, voluntary separation plans, collective bargaining and, in general, attention of legal proceedings before ordinary judges, administrative judges and the UGPP. The firm is highly recognized due to its professionalism, precision and opportunity in the response to its clients and has earned strong praise from clients for its wealth of experience and attention to detail.

Partners of ALVAREZ LIEVANO LASERNA S.A.S. have been recognized as outstanding lawyers on the Labour and Employment Law field. In fact, Carlos Alvarez Pereira and Claudia Lievano Triana, former partners of Alvarez, Escandon & Liévano –AESCA S.A.S, were appropriately ranked as leading individuals on this area of practice.

The firm’s value promise is granted by guaranteeing that each one of the clients is attended directly by one of the partners with the team of experts that supports them. Regardless of guaranteeing the involvement of the partners, the firm likes to give visibility to its senior lawyers and to constantly train all the lawyers in order to get them known.

To always be at the forefront, have the best talent and have the best working environment for all lawyers working in the firm, Alvarez Lievano Laserna has a continuing education program where they give their junior lawyers the opportunity to continue their professional development through postgraduate programs that are mostly enlightened by the firm or through interest-free loans. Today, 100% of the firm’s lawyers have or are pursuing postgraduate programs in labour law, thus guaranteeing that its clients work with the best talent.

MAIN AREAS OF PRACTICE: 

Employment Relations:
The firm advises a large number of companies in day to day employment matters, such as wages and hours, disciplinary procedures, hiring and termination of contracts, indemnities, employment policies procedures, handbooks, discrimination and harassment. The firm’s experience has led it to become a valuable tool for its clients, both to maintain good working relationships and to face complex realities that impact the company’s working environment.

Alternative Dispute Resolution:
ALVAREZ LIEVANO LASERNA S.A.S. throughout its history has advised its clients in alternative dispute resolution mechanism resolving conflicts in a less expensive and time consuming process, achieving the satisfaction of the parties. The firm is characterized by analyzing with detail each situation that is presented before it to determine under what circumstances it is appropriate to seek an agreement through this way and by drafting legally solid agreements that allows bringing differences to a final end.

Labour Management Relations:
This is one of the most traditional practice areas of the firm. ALVAREZ LIEVANO LASERNA S.A.S. has an excellent team of lawyers with deep expertise in this field of law. The firm has handled critical labour situation of different companies and has been able to cope with the new alternatives that unions have found to exercise its right of association. The firm has advised national and multinational companies of different industries, including without limiting oil and gas, food, banking, mining, and energetic companies, among others, and has dealt with the most large and important unions of the country exceeding the clients’ expectations in several occasions. ALVAREZ LIEVANO LASERNA S.A.S. masters strategies and tactics that have led to excellent management of labour conflicts.

Proceedings Before the Colombian Ministry of Labour:
ALVAREZ LIEVANO LASERNA S.A.S. has successfully represented clients before the Ministry of Labour’s requirements and proceedings. In addition, the firm has undertaken authorizations to undergo the company’s decisions such as massive layoffs, and management of contracts of employees with reinforced protection.

Labour & Employment (M&A Transactions):
Due to the growth of these kind of transactions, ALVAREZ LIEVANO LASERNA S.A.S. has had to advise its clients in the labour and employment aspects obtaining very positive results. The firm provides advice in the process of renegotiating working conditions of new employees to avoid differences that could lead to judicial suits alleging inequality, in the elaboration and subscription of successorship clauses, and in the proceedings before the Ministry of Labour in order to obtain permission for mass layoff, if needed.

Litigation:
This is one of the most renowned practice areas of the firm. Its prestige is due not only to its excellent group of highly skilled litigants, all of whom are trained and prepared by the firm, but also for litigating country wide providing assistance to clients wherever it is needed. The firm litigates both in the labour ordinary and administrative jurisdictions.

The firm has 2 top surveillance systems, online portals that are connected to the judicial platforms, where each of its clients’ processes is monitored, guaranteeing their tracking and traceability.

Social Security:
ALVAREZ LIEVANO LASERNA S.A.S. provides legal advice in the three complex regimes of the Colombian social security system, (pension, healthcare and professional risks), offering its clients precise and detailed information in these matters.

Immigration:
The firm provides legal advice in immigration aspects accompanying clients in the process of obtaining working visas, working permits, residence and the validation and homologation of professional credentials in Colombia.

INTERNATIONAL WORK:
Currently the firm provides advice to two energy Canadian companies in employment matters related to its subsidiaries in Colombia.

LANGUAGES:
English, Spanish.

CLIENTS:
The firm has clients in different sectors of the national and international economy, in industries such as banking, mining, oil and gas, food and massive consumption products, education, health, communications, automotive, technology, pharmaceutical and transportation industry, among others.