A destination practice for TMT in Colombia and the wider region, Brigard Urrutia’s clients attest that ‘the regulatory consultations this team provides are the best in Latin America’ — the full-service group also handles transactional and contentious work. Significantly, the practice continues to extend its lead over the market and it added 11 new clients during 2023/24 — across the full range of technology, media and telecoms — including major domestic and multinational names such as Hyland Software, Dynamo Producciones and Capcom. High-profile corporate and TMT expert Sergio Michelsen Jaramillo heads the department and ‘understands business’; he recently advised Dynamo Producciones on all legal matters related to the production of a film produced in Colombia. Juan Nicolás Laverde serves as associate director of the TMT unit, where he specialises in work relating to telecoms, privacy, data security and technology. Also singled out for praise by clients are TMT-focused junior associates Laura Huérfano (‘communicates effectively with authorities’) and Juan Manuel Pacheco (‘good judgement’).

TMT is a key pillar of BBGS Abogados’ firm-wide offering, with its media and entertainment practice regarded by many as a market leader. The team additionally excels in telecoms work, where it represents TV, streaming and digital media production companies and broadcasters, as well as data protection matters. Forming a key part of the regional firm’s broader Latin American platform, the Bogotá office acts for an impressive roster of domestic, multilatina and multinational clients, including Teleset, Amazon Studios and Sony Pictures Television International. Lawyers ‘always look for ways to make life easier for the client’, with department co-heads Luis Felipe Barrios and Myriam Montenegro both sought after for their specialist expertise in entertainment, telecoms and digital media. IP partner Felipe Rubio and associates Laura Arboleda and Clara Sabogal are also noted.

In July 2023, CMS Rodríguez-Azuero boosted its TMT offering with the hire of a pair of lawyers from Durán & Osorio Abogados Asociados: former TMT and projects co-head Carlos Andrés Sánchez and senior associate Gigliana Rivero Ramirez — who joined as an associate director — both bring significant telecoms, procurement and projects expertise to the team. Alongside its growing telecoms expertise, clients also commend the firm’s ability ‘to cover the entire portfolio of legal matters that affect the digital sector’, while it additionally houses a thriving media law practice. Lorenzo Villegas-Carrasquilla is widely recognised as a leader in telecoms and internet law and heads an increasingly prominent group that also includes junior associate Alejandra Vásquez, who is noted for her ‘dedication towards the client’. Senior associate María Camila Piedrahita left to go freelance in August 2023.

Baker McKenzie S.A.S.’s TMT practice is valued by clients for its ‘technical knowledge and experience in regulatory and telecoms issues’. Alongside its robust telecoms offering, the team also handles a significant volume of media and technology-related matters, including data privacy law. Regulatory specialist Carolina Pardo fronts the TMT and IT departments and has recently undertaken regulatory work for AT&T and Eutelsat Oneweb, among others. Newly promoted (January 2024) partner Angelica Navarro Acevedo maintains a broad regulatory practice, with notable skill sets in consumer protection and data privacy.

Regulatory stalwart Bermúdez & Esguerra Abogados fields ‘the strongest team in the market for data protection’, according to many. The TMT practice specialises in data protection and privacy law, with significant experience in advising clients in the telecoms and e-commerce spheres. It also handles cybersecurity matters — including data breaches — and consumer protection-related issues. A former Deputy Superintendent for Personal Data Protection, department co-head José Alejandro Bermudez is praised as ‘the main reference in Colombia for privacy and personal data law’. Fellow co-head Carlos Esguerra is also recommended for data protection matters.

‘Dedicated to finding the best solution to client needs’, ECIJA Colombia’s TMT group is distinguished by its prominent media and entertainment offering, where it counts CMO Producciones and Miracol Producciones among its longstanding clients. The team also advises telecoms and technology companies on regulatory matters, while it additionally houses an active data protection practice. Pablo Márquez, who focuses on TMT regulation and dispute resolution, co-heads the department alongside and IP and TMT specialist Patricia Renjifo. Also noted are Julio Castañeda, who contributes niche expertise in matters related to the radio spectrum, and senior associate Paula Gutiérrez de Piñeres.

Gómez-Pinzón Abogados (GPA)’s TMT practice provides ‘agile and timely responses’. The interdisciplinary group draws on a diverse band of regulatory lawyers and combines skill sets in data protection and privacy, telecoms regulation, and media, internet and technology law. Alongside its regulatory prowess, the group also benefits from its ability to lean on the wider firm’s corporate offering for support on TMT-related transactions. Key partner Mauricio Jaramillo Campuzano splits his practice between IP, competition and TMT. The group also includes experienced director Andrés Fernández De Castro, who specialises in telecoms regulation, data protection and technology. In September 2024, intermediate associate Andrés Meza left to study abroad.

The TMT team at Lloreda Camacho & Co. ‘always responds with great agility, precision and a great level of detail’. The group is particularly well primed to advise on data protection and privacy law, with associate director of the privacy and data protection practice, Maria Alejandra De Los Ríos, highly regarded in this field. Telecoms work is another strong suit, with litigator Gustavo Tamayo noted for his experience in telecoms-related regulatory and administrative law matters. Tamayo co-heads the overarching TMT department together with Juan Manuel Ojeda, who was promoted to associate director of the TMT area in May 2024.

In September 2023, Dentons Cardenas & Cardenas boosted its TMT offering with the hire of Mónica Bonnett from Posse Herrera Ruiz, who brings significant experience in AI and technology transfer matters. The multidisciplinary group draws heavily on the IP practice, with an emphasis on work intersecting TMT, IP and administrative law. Luz Helena Adarve is recommended for sponsorship agreements, privacy, and IT matters; she co-heads the department alongside Juanita Acosta, who advises on technology, privacy and cybersecurity. Associate Rocío Ruíz is also noted for data protection.

Esguerra JHR was formed in February 2024 through the merger of legacy firms Esguerra Asesores Jurídicos and tax-focused Jiménez, Higuita, Rodríguez & Asociados. The former firm’s regulatory focus is reflected in a robust telecoms practice, which specialises in advising public-sector entities and communications companies on regulation and litigation, including administrative law cases. Department co-head Alfonso Miranda Londoño is a key contact for both TMT and competition work and is noted for telecoms regulation. The team also includes fellow co-head and regulatory specialist Andrés Jaramillo Hoyos; and associate Liliana Runcería Rodríguez, who handles data privacy.

Márquez-Robledo’s TMT offering sits within its overarching advertisement, intellectual property and entertainment department and is primarily recognised for its relationships with global advertising agencies, including McCann Erickson, DDB Worldwide Colombia and Omnicom. The team, which handles an array of regulatory and commercial matters, also enjoys close links with content producers, media and telecoms content providers, and music companies, among others. Santiago Márquez Robledo ‘knows how to close deals’ and spearheads a team that also includes senior associate María Alejandra Ahumada, who co-ordinates the entertainment law area.

As a boutique focused on privacy and data protection law, Vanegas Morales Consultores provides high-level advice across the full range of related regulatory compliance issues. The group also has extensive experience in cybersecurity matters and data breaches, including representing clients in administrative investigations. A growing force in the market, the group’s client roster grew by 20% during 2023, and it is routinely engaged by airlines, fintechs, construction companies and health providers, among others. Stella Vanegas is commended for her ‘pro-business vision, together with her ability to anticipate the regulator’s vision’; she co-heads the group alongside consultant Ángela Noguera.

Martínez Quintero Mendoza González Laguado & de la Rosa, which rebranded following its exit from the DLA Piper network in May 2024, handles a broad scope of telecoms, technology and data protection work. The team is particularly active in regulatory matters but it also leverages the wider firm’s corporate practice to act on TMT-related transactions. Group head María Claudia Martínez maintains a broad regulatory practice, with a focus on data protection. Senior associate Natalia Fernández is also noted for data protection.

The ‘interdisciplinary and competent team’ at OlarteMoure draws on lawyers specialising in data protection, IP, litigation and consumer law. The group acts for a wide range of telecoms, media and technology clients, while it also supports companies across all industry sectors on data protection. Key contacts include founding partners Juan Moure and Carlos Olarte (who are both experienced in data protection and TMT regulation), and litigator Felipe Acosta. Active non-partners include director Cristina Rodríguez, practice co-ordinator Martha Gaitán and associate Nicolás Gossain — all of whom handle privacy and data protection.

Philippi Prietocarrizosa Ferrero DU & Uría’s interdisciplinary TMT practice is closely aligned with its competition offering, with a focus on regulatory issues and data privacy. Department co-head Diego Cardona divides his time between the competition and TMT teams and brings experience in advising TMT clients on regulatory and administrative law matters. IP partner Gerardo Flórez co-heads the group and is noted for his activity in the technology, advertising and privacy areas. Associate Natalia Castilla left the firm in March 2024.

Posse Herrera Ruiz’s TMT activity is particularly concentrated in the data protection and privacy areas, while it also advises on cybersecurity-related matters and telecoms regulation. The multidisciplinary department is co-led by real estate partner Andrés Montoya, who also has experience in telecoms; and Jorge de los Ríos, whose competition practice spans data and consumer protection. Intermediate associate Laura Torrado and junior associate Sarita Enríquez are also noted for data protection law.