Estudios Palacios Lleras S.A.S. is a law firm based in Bogotį, Colombia, established in 1976 to give assistance on issues related to the legal regulation of the economy and of businesses. Its core was the professional activity of Doctor Hugo Palacios Mejia. Lately its structure has evolved as other well-known lawyers became partners and as the number of associate and junior lawyers grew because of increasing demand for its services. The firm expects that its lawyers distinguish themselves in the legal community because of their honesty, academic credentials, resourcefulness and experience. Junior lawyers come from the best universities of the country, and are recruited on the basis of their academic performance.
In order to best serve our clients, that include some of the largest and most respected entities in the public and private sectors of Colombia, we offer various kinds of legal services. These are, amongst others: (i) preparing legal opinions on issues related to contracts, corporations and the legal regulation of the economy and of businesses; (ii) advising on the legal structure and contracts of financial arrangements, mergers and acquisitions, and reorganization or termination of governmental or private entities; and (iii) litigation before judges and national or international arbitration courts. Other prestigious law firms honor us by asking our collaboration on various issues.
Our clients look for our services in connection to legal issues, deals or litigation that they consider of special importance and complexity because of either their nature or the amounts involved. The clients value the integrity, discretion, deep knowledge of the applicable law and jurisprudence, experience and creativity that the firm strives to provide.
Our team of partners and associates, almost all with overseas graduate studies, bring to their work an understanding of the different economic policies that can impact the legal subjects they deal with. They also focus on finding the economic opportunities that legal regulations may open to the clients. Several of them have a vast experience in the higher levels of public administration and expect that their clients look for commercial success within the highest business ethics.
Our main practice areas are:
Public utilities law: We are the leading law firm regarding public utilities related issues. The firm represented Governmental agencies in the preparation of Laws 142 (Public Utilities Statute) and 143 (Electricity Statute) of 1994; and Doctor Hugo Palacios is the author of one of the most consulted books on these topics and has acted as an "expert witness on Colombia law" and issued opinions in connection with international arbitrations involving the application of the above statutes.
In addition, the firm represented the various Colombian regulatory commissions, the Public Utilities Superintendency and the National Operation Council, both in connection with the interpretation of Laws 142 and 143 and for the subsequent regulations to be enacted.
Corporate law: The firm has provided strategic counseling to shareholders and board of directors and has represented them before administrative agencies, on litigation and arbitration proceedings and disputes resolution involving the control of private companies.
The firm offers legal services regarding commercial contracts, shareholders agreements and disputes, and corporate restructuring. We have advised public and private companies in the structuring and negotiation of stock transfers, and mergers and acquisitions. We advised a multinational company in the capitalization and restructuring of a railroad operator, and worked with a government agency to privatize a large holding of shares in a bank. We have also advised international auditing firms regarding the Colombian auditing legal regime.
Constitutional and Administrative law: When Colombian Constitution was drafted, our firm prepared proposals on economic matters for a nongovernmental association, which are today part of the Constitution's text. Furthermore, Estudios Palacios Lleras is one of Colombian's most trusted law firms in Constitutional law reason by which, on behalf of certain clients, we prepared lawsuits and litigated cases challenging the constitutionality of several statutes and have represented Governmental entities defending laws which constitutionality was being challenged. We have also prepared general studies for multilateral organizations regarding amendments to the Constitution introduced by the Government. Recently, Mr. Palacios advised Colombian Government in the drafting of the Constitutional Reform to enact the principle of "fiscal sustainability" (2011);
Oil & Mining: The firm has represented private companies on disputes arising out of the commercial operation of salt and coal mines; and has advised Governmental agencies regarding the management of oil royalties and in the litigation of several class action claims related to fuel prices.
Arbitration & Litigation: The firm is one of the leading Colombian law firms on domestic and international arbitration. Partners of the firm have been arbitrators in domestic and ICC arbitration and have acted as "expert witnesses" on Colombian law on several international arbitration proceedings conducted under ICC and AAA rules. The firm served as counsel in several domestic arbitrations. We also represented successfully a multinational mining company in an international ICC arbitration against both a governmental entity and a private railroad operator. In litigation, the firm represents clients on constitutional matters and all areas of administrative law, government contracts, commercial and corporate law.
Government Contracts & Privatizations / Project Finance: An important part of the firm's practice relates to government contracts and public bidding processes. We have represented governmental entities in the structuring of bidding procedures, and national and international private bidders. We have also worked on matters involving telecommunications, toll roads, and road concessions, power plants, maritime ports concessions, massive transportation systems and railroads. We advised the Government in drafting the bill that became the Law on Maritime Ports (Law 1 of 1991); this law allowed the privatization of Colombian ports.