A key Colombian business centre, Cali is the country’s third-largest city with a population of around 2.4m. The city’s proximity to the Pacific Coast, particularly to the economically critical Buenaventura Port, is reflected in its legal market, which has a focus on international trade law, including customs tax, among other practice areas. More recently, Cali — which is is home to several large technology companies, including Carvajal and Óptima — has been working to establish itself as a high-tech and start-up hub. As a result, IT law has become an increasingly important service line for local law firms, including data protection and privacy issues.

Traditionally, Cali’s legal market has been more atomised than that of Medellín. However, that trend continues to shift, with Cali firms increasingly likely to launch in Bogotá, while several national players have launched local outposts.

Cali still supports several one-site offices including tax boutiques Franco Murgueitio & Asociados and its spin-off firm, Santiago Meza Abogados & Asesores; privacy and data protection specialist Seguridad Legal; insurance and dispute resolution focused Hurtado Gandini Dávalos Abogados; as well as multi-practice players such as Kärner, Botero, Segura & Valdivieso Abogados and Mora Abogados S.A.S.

Former single-site Cali firms that are now split between Cali and Bogotá include Advocat, which is noted for its prominence in the fintech sphere; Ayerbe Abogados; and international trade and transport stalwart, Espíndola International Consultants. National brands with well-staffed operations in the city include Brigard Urrutia, OlarteMoure and international audit, tax and advisory firm Mazars en Colombia, while Gómez-Pinzón Abogados (GPA) maintains a Cali desk in its Bogotá office.

Originally founded in Cali but now headquartered in Bogotá, Advocat is well placed to cover Colombia’s two largest business hubs by per-capita GDP. The business-focused firm houses a robust banking and finance practice, where Nicolás Fernández De Soto is recommended for his experience in regulatory and transactional work, with a focus on the fintech and private lending spheres; he recently advised Inverlink Inversiones Alternativas on a financing facility for the acquisition of non-performing loans. The firm also fields a sizeable, interdisciplinary corporate offering, where María Isabel Rodríguez (corporate, real estate and foreign exchange law), María Claudia Armenta (corporate, retail and real estate) and Francisco Cabal (corporate, energy and natural resources) are noted. Among its other areas of experience, regulatory partner Victor Ayalde stands out for his work in the TMT and competition fields. Additionally, Camilo Bernal leads the labour and employment team, while Juan Guillermo Becerra is the key contact for tax.

Ranking among the oldest law firms in Colombia, Ayerbe Abogados was originally founded in Cali in 1941. It has long since launched an office in the Colombian capital — the Bogotá office opened its doors in 1997 — but it remains committed to serving its diverse roster of local, national and multinational clients from its home market. The firm maintains a broad practice offering, covering the full range of transactional, regulatory and contentious areas, but it is particularly recognised for its activity in corporate and employment law. Key names include Rodrigo Ayerbe Muñoz, who leads the Cali office, and Felipe Ayerbe Muñoz, who heads the Bogotá office; both handle corporate transactions and dispute resolution. Also recommended are Andrés Rodrigo Flórez and Rodrigo Ayerbe Arango, who are noted for labour and employment; Claudia Romero Estrada, who has a significant regulatory dimension to her practice; and Valentina Naranjo Tobar, who specialises in tax work.

Headquartered in Bogotá, national powerhouse Brigard Urrutia continues to consolidate its five-lawyer strong Cali platform, where it provides a range of corporate, international trade, competition and employment law services. High-profile competition specialist Alejandro Garcia de Brigard — who also maintains a significant corporate practice — has led the office since its launch in 2017 and splits his time between Cali and Bogotá; he recently acted alongside the Bogotá office to advise Cali-based Carvajal on its COP$468bn bond issuance in the alternate market. At associate level, the Cali team also draws on senior Jimena Rincon, who focuses on corporate and M&A; and intermediate Rafael Reyes, who is noted for labour and employment law. Additionally, as demonstrated by the Carvajal deal, Cali-based lawyers routinely team up with specialists in Barranquilla, Bogotá, and Medellín to provide seamless national coverage. Former of counsel Maria Eugenia Lloreda left to become senior adviser to the new mayoral administration of Cali city in October, 2023.

With a primary base in Cali and a secondary office in Bogotá, Espíndola International Consultants’ national credentials are further strengthened by its alliances with dispute resolution-focused firm Arrubla Devis Asociados (Bogotá and Medellín) and administrative law boutique Maria Claudia Rojas & Asociados (Cali). The firm is primarily recognised for its international trade offering, where it advises a broad mix of domestic and multinational corporations on customs law, free-trade agreements, exchange regulations and related contentious matters. Firm founder Carlos Espindola-Scarpetta is a former legal director of Grupo Seguros Fenix and enjoys a strong market profile for his extensive experience in international trade, customs, insurance and exchange law. Further key contacts include labour and employment partner Martha Hernandez-De Silvestri; senior associate Claudia Bernate, whose practice spans foreign trade, customs law and dispute resolution; senior associate Andrea Delgado-Perdomo, who advises on administrative law litigation and public procurement; and tax-focused of counsel Miguel Mina.

Increasingly unique for staying true to its single-site model, Cali firm Franco Murgueitio & Asociados has been a feature of the local market for over three decades, eschewing the decision to launch an additional office elsewhere. However, the firm’s extensive referral network — which links it up with firms throughout Latin America, Asia, Europe and the USA — is testament to its wider global perspective. Tax law is a key pillar of the practice and it offers comprehensive coverage of corporate and private client issues, with founding partner and qualified public accountant Luis Hernando Franco Murgueitio the key contact in this area. Director of legal affairs Juan David Seba Gironza, who — like Franco Murgueitio — is also a lawyer and qualified public accountant, provides capable support. The firm further demonstrates activity in areas complementary to tax, including corporate, customs and international trade, labour and social security, and international investments and exchange regime law.

Hurtado Gandini Dávalos Abogados relocated into larger Cali offices during 2023, in a significant show of commitment to its home city. Subsequent to the firm’s move, it launched two new practice departments: sports law, led by seasoned associate lawyer Rodrigo Cobo, and privacy, technology and compliance law, led by senior associate Natalia Mondragón. The firm is distinguished by its orientation towards contentious work, with insurance law standing as a particular mainstay. Francisco José Hurtado steers the litigation team and contributes experience in civil, commercial, administrative and criminal disputes; he recently represented Pollos el Bucanero and Cargill on their labour conflicts. Corporate and commercial head Fernando Gandini and labour and employment lead Julián Dávalos are also senior partners. Other recommended names include Ana María Olave, who leads the tax and real estate areas; Gloria Inés Hurtado, who specialises in maritime and port law; and associates Christián Camilo Vallecilla (senior) and Orlando Arango (intermediate), who both focus on litigation, insurance and civil liability.

Founded in 2017, Kärner, Botero, Segura & Valdivieso Abogados is a Cali-based boutique that maintains a marked focus on the Colombian Pacific region. The firm acts for a diverse spread of domestic and multinational companies, but it is primarily recognised for supporting Cali-based entities on a broad scope of regulatory compliance, corporate and finance matters and dispute resolution. Managing partner since the firm’s inception, Eduardo José Botero specialises in corporate and M&A work. Other senior contacts include Pedro Jose Valdivieso, who has a focus on transactional matters; and Felipe Valencia Serrano, who is noted for arbitration, international law, public law and tax.

International tax law and accountancy firm Mazars en Colombia maintains a sizeable four-office network in Colombia, which includes a platform in Cali. The group acts for an impressive roster of local companies such as Pio Puertos, Data Control Portuario and Carvajal Servicios Compartido; notably, its list continues to grow and it added two Cali-based clients during 2023/24. The firm’s generous international network, combined with its expertise across the full spectrum of tax matters, positions it as a useful ally to local corporates and start-ups looking to expand nationally and internationally. Department co-heads Andres Cortes Hernandez and Juan Esteban Sanin split their time between various offices, with both spending a significant amount of time in Cali. The Cali team also draws on Lina Toro, who was promoted to senior manager in September 2023. Among the team’s recent work, Hernandez acted for Carvajal Servicios Compartido on various tax issues, including advising on foreign direct investment operations in Colombia.

A Cali-based boutique, Mora Abogados S.A.S. specialises in representing local and national companies, with a focus on the agrobusiness, construction, financial services, and hotels and tourism industries. The team is equipped to handle a broad spectrum of business law matters, with significant showings in corporate and commercial law, administrative law and dispute resolution. Founding partner Luis Alfonso Mora Tejada is a prominent figure locally and formerly served as Executive Vice President of Corporación Financiera del Valle; he is noted for corporate and finance transactions and administrative law. Managing partner Luis Alfonso Mora Sarria (the son of Mora Tejada) is also well versed in business transactions, including M&A and corporate restructurings. At associate level, senior Nur Alejandra Bultaif Ghattas strikes a balance between litigation and corporate law, while associate Rosa Maria Gomez Olmos has a focus on contentious work, including administrative law. In July 2023, associate Eveling Valeria Bolaños Meneses left to move in-house at Constructora Sudamericana.

‘A dynamic firm offering first-level solutions in regulatory issues’, OlarteMoure is widely recognised as a leader in Colombia for IP law. The firm’s five-office national network takes in a well-staffed platform in Cali, which serves as a hub for work i the country's western region. The Cali practice retains relationships with a raft of major local companies - including Comestibles Aldor, Plasticel and Carvajal - while it also acts for clients in the innovation ecosystem that are based outside of the city. Office head Isabella Herrera was promoted from legal manager to partner in October 2023 and is held up for her ‘broad understanding of the needs of the client’; she recently acted as part of a cross-office team that advised Comestibles Aldor on various matters, including corporate and IP law. A strong band of supporting associates includes Daniella Chahin, who handles corporate law; and Nathalia Nieto, who is noted for litigation in the IP, TMT and competition areas.

Founded in 2021, specialist tax law and accounting-focused firm Santiago Meza Abogados & Asesores is commended for its ‘personalised attention to the complex problems that arise’. The result of a spin-off from fellow Cali-based tax boutique Franco Murgueitio & Asociados, the nascent practice has already established a solid client roster, which includes multinational names such as Pernod Ricard Colombia and Goodyear de Colombia, as well as leading local retailer, Almacenes Sí. With strong skill sets across all key tax law disciplines, the group is arguably best known for its record in tax disputes, where it maintains a high success rate in contentious processes. Founding partner Santiago Meza Mafla is noted for tax — where he is also a qualified public accountant — corporate and commercial law matters; he recently represented Fundación WWB in an administrative case before the national tax authority. The team also includes counsel David Ernesto Martinez, who leads the tax and litigation teams; legal co-ordinator Oscar Martinez Marin, who fronts the labour area; and legal co-ordinator Pablo Andrés Meza Plata, who focuses on corporate law.

An increasingly prominent name in the TMT space, Seguridad Legal has quickly established itself as a leading firm for privacy, data protection, cyber risk and digital business law. In particular, the Cali-based boutique — which only opened its doors in 2014 — has risen to become a destination practice for regulatory IT issues, where it specialises in advising domestic companies on regulatory compliance, staff training, and cyber risk and incident management. Director of the firm Andrés Felipe Ángel is a go-to specialist for data protection, data privacy and cybersecurity matters. The group also draws on senior associate Manuel Jiménez, whose practice encompasses information security, data protection, commercial law and IT-related issues.