Lawyers in Gómez-Pinzón Abogados (GPA)’s environmental law team ‘provide solutions with a practical and agile approach’, according to clients. A destination practice for companies across the energy, natural resources, agribusiness, waste management and infrastructure sectors, among others, the team is equipped to advise on the full range of advisory and contentious matters, from due diligence and compliance, through to punitive administrative proceedings. Corporate and M&A head Lina Uribe additionally co-leads the environmental law section and contributes experience in compliance and environmental law litigation. Fellow co-head, director Lina Correa, stands out for her ‘agility in response’ and recently paired up with Uribe to advise Pluspetrol on environmental compliance in relation to hydrocarbons exploration in Meta Department. The team also draws on energy and natural resources lead Patricia Arrázola, who specialises in advising energy and mining clients on environmental law issues, and intermediate associate Juan Pablo Perdomo, who supports on energy and natural resources and environmental law matters.

Environmental law is a marquee practice for Holland & Knight’s Bogotá office and the team is widely revered for its full-spectrum coverage of the area. On the advisory front, the group’s expertise encompasses legal assessment for the construction of energy and natural resources projects, licensing procedures and environmental audits, among other matters. It also handles contentious work, with extensive experience in environmental sanctioning proceedings and constitutional law claims. A foremost expert for environmental law in Colombia, department head Jose Vicente Zapata acts for a broad mix of clients, including domestic and multinational companies in the energy, natural resources, manufacturing, infrastructure, and food and beverage sectors. Zapata was recently engaged by Shell EP Offshore Ventures (Colombia branch) to handle several constitutional claims filed against its offshore projects. Other key contacts include public law litigator Juan Casallas; associate María Camila Aponte, whose practice is dedicated to environmental law; and senior counsel Estefanny Pardo, who is noted for contentious work. Senior counsel Margarita Solorza left the firm in May 2024.

Philippi Prietocarrizosa Ferrero DU & Uría’s environmental law team receives plaudits for its ‘practical theoretical knowledge and its knowledge of the client’s projects’. Fielding one of the deepest benches in the market, the full-service practice strikes a balance between contentious and non-contentious work, with strong showings in compliance, due diligence and environmental sanctioning procedures. High-profile expert Luis Fernando Macías spearheads the group and specialises in the full range of environmental law litigation, sanctioning processes and compliance issues; he recently advised ALO Sur on environmental licensing procedures, including successfully appealing the terms of the original approval. The department additionally draws on a strong second line of environmental law-dedicated non-partners including Iván Páez, who was promoted to director in January 2024 and covers litigation and advisory work; principal associate Alexander Acosta, whose ‘great legal knowledge allows him to provide comprehensive solutions’; and senior associate María Alejandra Gómez, who ‘attends to advice with great agility and great legal rigour’.

The environmental law team at Brigard Urrutia ‘complements legal knowledge with technical knowledge’, according to clients. Demonstrating extensive experience across regulatory, corporate support and environmental sanctioning investigations, the group’s recent work spans matters in the energy, natural resources, transport, life sciences, and food and drink sectors, among others. Corporate and M&A co-head Jaime Robledo steers the department at partner level. The practice is additionally co-led by senior associates Juana Valentina Micán, who is a former lawyer for the District Secretary of the Environment; and Juan Sebastian Panesso, who contributes a strong track record in energy and mining-related matters. Former associate director and department co-head Guillermo Tejeiro left for an in-house position at Citibank in October 2023; the firm has since replaced him with the hire of Margarita Solorza - formerly a senior counsel at Holland & Knight - as practice director; effective as of June 2024.

Lawyers in Muñoz Tamayo & Asociados’ environmental law practice ‘stay close to clients, possess good judgment and instil confidence’. The team is working to establish itself as a key contender to the traditional leaders in this sphere and its recent work spans the full gamut of regulatory compliance matters through to administrative law proceedings and environmental emergencies. Director Silvia María Méndez Parodi heads the department and possesses ‘the knowledge and profile that is needed to provide high-quality advice’; she is currently advising Organización Terpel, Conjunto Residencial Andino and Constructora Bolívar on environmental sanctioning proceedings, among other matters. The group receives further support from junior associate Cristina Rodríguez de La Torre, whose practice spans competition and environmental law. Lucas Arcila Hoyos left the firm in March 2024.

Posse Herrera Ruiz’s environmental law team scores highly with clients for its ‘knowledge in environmental issues, and national and international regulatory trends’. Well versed across the full scope of advisory and contentious matters, the practice is particularly recognised for its experience in permitting procedures, environmental due diligence and administrative sanctioning proceedings. The firm’s dominant energy and natural resources offering is reflected in its client list, while it also acts for major names in the construction, transport, agrobusiness and manufacturing sectors, among others. Energy and natural resources partner Alvaro José Rodríguez co-heads the practice together with recently promoted (May 2024) environmental law specialist Erika Serrano. Junior associate Pablo Mejía  provides support to the environmental law, and energy and natural resources departments.

‘A firm dedicated to the environmental law area’, Ucrós & Asociados Abogados SAS sets out its stall as being a boutique that is comprised of both legal specialists and technical support staff, with the aim of providing comprehensive all-round coverage of environmental law issues. Demonstrating experience across all key economic sectors, the growing team added nine new clients during 2023/24, with a high concentration of concessionaires and infrastructure companies. Founding partner Juan Carlos Ucrós ’presents strategies that lead to practical solutions’; he recently advised Termotécnica Coindustrial on the environmental aspects of its successful bid for the expansion of the Rafael Nuñez International Airport. The team also draws on senior lawyer John Iván Nova, who is a former adviser to the Ministry of Environment, Housing and Territorial Development.

Baker McKenzie S.A.S.’s extensive global network is reflected in its environmental law practice and the team enjoys close relationships with multinational clients, including Schlumberger and Cummins — the group also maintains close links with major domestic names such as Ecopetrol. Arguably best known for its experience in regulatory compliance, corporate support and advisory work, the practice also houses significant contentious experience and routinely represents companies in environmental sanctioning procedures. Senior associate Camila Jiménez heads the practice and is equipped to advise on the full scope of environmental advisory and litigation work. Also noted are energy partner Alejandro Mesa and associate Laura Torres, who focuses on energy, infrastructure and public law.

Noted for its ‘comprehensive and very high-quality support’, Dentons Cardenas & Cardenas’ environmental law practice is equipped to handle matters across all of Colombia’s major industry sectors but it is particularly weighted towards the energy and natural resources segments. The group strikes a balance between advisory and litigation work, with its recent activity spanning regulatory compliance, permitting matters, project development-related issues and  environmental sanctioning procedures, among others. Director Margarita Lorduy spearheads the team and is ‘an excellent lawyer with remarkable experience’. The practice additionally draws on natural resources co-head Hernán Rodríguez, who is a key resource for energy and mining-related matters, and junior associate Valentina Vivas, who focuses on environmental and energy law.

Lloreda Camacho & Co.’s environmental law practice utilises the wider firm’s strengths in the mining and life sciences areas to excel in matters concerning those industries, but it also shines in issues concerning the technology, manufacturing and consumer goods sectors. The team’s recent experience encompasses the full life cycle of environmental law work, and it is well versed in regulatory compliance and licensing processes, through to environmental due diligence and administrative investigations. Senior associate Natalia Soto is an increasingly prominent environmental law specialist and stands out for her ‘excellent client service’. The overarching mining and natural resources department is led jointly by Ignacio Santamaria and Angela María Salazar, both of whom also handle environmental law matters.

Martínez Quintero Mendoza González Laguado & de la Rosa (formerly DLA Piper Martínez Beltrán until its demerger from the DLA Piper network in May 2024) houses a growing environmental law offering that continues to consolidate its position in the market following the launch of the practice in February 2022. Notably, the team added 14 new clients to its roster during 2023/24 — including Boston Scientific Colombia and Ecopetrol — and it has also successfully worked to increase its share of contentious work. Camila del Villar ‘possesses excellent knowledge of environmental regulations’ and heads a department that additionally includes intermediate associate Daniela Pinilla Mendez, who provides dedicated support to the environmental and sustainable development law area, and junior associate María Fernanda Navarro.

Palacios Lleras’ longstanding relationship with Drummond continues to be fruitful on the environmental law side, where the team routinely advises the US-headquartered mining giant on high-stakes contentious matters, including environmental sanctions procedures, class actions and constitutional proceedings, among others. Public law litigator Hugo Palacios Mejía heads the department and is noted for his experience in complex administrative law litigation. Óscar Gutiérrez is also a key contact and possesses a strong record in representing energy and natural resources companies in regulatory and contentious environmental law matters.

The ‘very professional’ team at Pinilla González & Prieto Abogados leverages its premier real estate practice to excel in advising construction and real estate clients on advisory and contentious environmental law matters. Its recent industry experience additionally spans the water, logistics, transport, energy and agribusiness spheres, among others. Senior associate Natalia Álvarez L was promoted to practice director in May 2024 and specialises in environmental law and public utility issues. However, the team saw the departures of former principal associate Ángela Pinzón and former department head Natalia Nuñez in June and July 2024, respectively.