Prieto & Carrizosa

It provides comprehensive legal services of the highest quality based on a thorough understanding of the legal and commercial context in which their clients operate. Their success is based on a proactive approach to the practice of law. They believe that helping their clients to develop strategies for the future and advising them in their day-to-day operations adds value to their businesses and organizations.

This is why they hire hardworking, goal-oriented individuals and train them to offer sound and efficient legal solutions. Many of their lawyers are prominent figures in the legal community with previous experience in industry, government, NGOs, and academia. They are deeply committed to the practice of law and each is a specialist in his or her field. As a team, they are able to provide legal counsel and representation to local companies and multinational corporations, individuals and government entities in a broad range of practices.

As one of Colombia's most dynamic firms, Prieto and Carrizosa is committed to continue growing for the benefit of its clients, its employees, and the communities in which they are embedded. Through sustained investment in management infrastructure, in innovative business practices, and in their lawyers' expertise, they aim to widen the scope of their services and strengthen their role as regional leaders in the practice of law. Prieto & Carrizosa provides effective and decisive legal advise to local and international corporations, financial institutions and private individuals, proposing innovative structures, vehicles and solutions to meet their needs and achieve their objectives. The Firm uses integrated practice area teams of professionals that provide diligent, responsive and effective service to help its clients transform and develop their businesses and to make their relationships more efficient, profitable and secure.

Its main international areas of practice are:

Anti-trust & Competition Law: The Firm represents leading international and local companies in antitrust matters and advises them on Colombia's complex antitrust requirements. Most of its antitrust and competition lawyers have worked in antitrust enforcement agencies and are experts in Colombian and Andean regulations.

Banking & Finance: The Firm provides legal counsel on credit transactions (including loans, project finance, asset finance, leasing, etc.), banking regulations, and mergers and acquisitions involving financial entities.

Capital Markets: The Firm is a leading participant in the Colombian capital market providing advice to debtors on compliance with stock market regulations, advice on securities issuance in national and international markets (MTN programs, bonds, ADRs, GDRs, and private placements) and on the primary operations in these markets, advice on structuring and implementing public tender offers and advice on the acquisition and sale of companies.

Corporate: The Firm represents and counsels in all aspects of corporate law at both national and international levels, including business integration; tax law; issuance of shares and security interests; transformations; restructuring; mergers, spin-offs, and business reorganization proceedings.

Energy and Infrastructure: The Firm offers legal services in energy-related matters to clients working in the electrical, petroleum, natural gas, and liquid petroleum gas industries. It helps clients develop legal structures for infrastructure projects; has acted as advisor to the Colombian government and to agents involved in some of Colombia's largest energy projects.

Estate Planning: The Firm assists estates and individual clients with all aspects of their business and personal affairs, including representation and advice on conflicts of law, drafting of wills, international estate and tax planning, development of tax-efficient structures for clients having relations to several jurisdictions; representation and legal assistance in community property regimes and advice on succession planning for family businesses.

Foreign investment: The Firm provides counsel and representation related to foreign investments in Colombia and local investments abroad. Its services include advice on foreign exchange matters involving foreign currency transactions.

Intellectual Property: The Firm advises on all aspects of intellectual property, patents, trademarks, industrial designs, utility models, copyrights, sports & entertainment law, litigation, unfair competition, pharmaceutical licensing and health registrations.

Labor Law: The Firm provides extensive labor and employment services, primarily for companies. It offers due diligence in relation to labor and employment; advice on collective negotiations with unions and employees, counsel and representation in labor litigation, assistance planning employee remuneration, advice on Colombia's labor and social security statutes and regulations, assistance with the development of labor policy, assistance employing foreign individuals in Colombia.

Litigation: The Firm provides practical legal solutions to clients who have exhausted all other means of conflict resolution. Its services in this area include advice on alternative conflict resolution, representation before the arbitration courts, representation in litigation related to private and public law.

M&A: The Firm provides advisory in the structuring, negotiation and implementation of national and cross border mergers and acquisitions, assisting in all aspects of the transactions, including antitrust issues, tax issues, and due diligence among others.

Real Estate: The Firm advises on complex real estate matters such as shopping mall planning and construction, superstore construction, real estate trusts, real estate lease transactions, long-term lease agreements, due diligence, guarantees in real estate, regulatory issues and local permits.

Sports and Entertainment: The Firm is a pioneer in the sports and entertainment law practice in Colombia. It provides the full spectrum of legal services to the sports, leisure, and entertainment industries.

Tax: The Firm helps clients develop tax-efficient structures in light of Colombian and international tax legislation. The Firm specializes in corporate tax and its services include structuring international transactions, by the acquisition of domestic corporations, partnerships, and business assets by foreign entities; and tax planning advice on Colombian taxation of foreign affiliates.