Labour & Employment | Latin America

Alvarez, Liévano & Laserna is a significant labour and employment boutique practice that assists companies from the energy, finance and pharmaceutical industries. The prestigious law firm acts on various matters, including collective bargaining negotiations with unions. The market-leading Bogotá-based team is sought out for its expertise in representing companies in administrative and judicial proceedings before the labour authorities. Other areas of expertise include advising on social security and labour restructuring matters.

López & Asociados boasts a highly distinguished team that is actively involved in a variety of significant labour and employment cases, assisting clients with matters relating to social security and pensions before the UGPP. López & Asociados is regularly retained to handle complex individual matters, such as termination proceedings and subsequent proceedings before the Ministry of Labour. The Bogotá-based department stands out in the market for handling collective bargaining processes regarding unionised employees within the oil and gas, financial services and technology industries.

Baker McKenzie is a dynamic international firm with a strong presence in the Colombian market. The team represents a high-profile clientele of domestic and international companies in a range of complex labour and employment mandates. Baker McKenzie's expertise extends to restructuring processes and the labour implications of M&A transactions, and it further assists with individual terminations and subsequent litigation, social security and immigration law. Simetrik, Treinta and Bawer Company are among new client wins this year.

Chapman Wilches is a solid labour and employment boutique firm that boasts a strong roster of domestic clients that are active across Colombia. The department remains highly recognised for handling complex collective bargaining cases, as well as individual disputes progressing to the Colombian Supreme Court of Justice. Based in Barranquilla, the team often represents companies from the mining, manufacturing and construction sectors. The law firm offers additional offices in Medellín, Cartagena and Bogotá, amongst other cities.

Quintero y Quintero Asesores is a dynamic firm that is particularly recognised for its work in collective bargaining mandates. The department is experienced in acting for clients in administrative and judicial labour proceedings, as well as providing counsel to HR departments on day-to-day issues. Quintero y Quintero Asesores regularly represents clients hailing from the leisure and tourism, natural resources and construction arenas. Alfred, Acuagyr and Transportadora de Gas Internacional are among the law firm's new client wins.

Brigard Urrutia is a well-known team that is noted for providing counsel on employment matters to a range of public and private groups in Colombia. The law firm's expertise spans regulatory issues pertaining to social security, including proceedings before the UGPP, as well as outsourcing issues and administrative and judicial proceedings involving former employees. Brigard Urrutia's regional clients further benefit from its Cali office.

Dentons Cardenas & Cardenas is an internationally recognised firm with an established Colombian labour and employment department, whose expertise extends to a variety of advisory and contentious matters, including assisting with the labour implications of corporate incorporations, transfer of employees and HR policies. Dentons Cardenas & Cardenas also provides counsel on termination proceedings and settlement agreements.

Escandón Abogados is an established Bogotá-based firm with a solid track record handling labour and employment cases in Colombia, particularly collective bargaining matters. The law firm possesses expertise advising on pension and social security processes before the UGPP, as well as on individual administrative and judicial labour proceedings. Escandón Abogados represents both private and public clients, often hailing from the retail, food and beverage, and agribusiness arenas.

CMS Rodríguez-Azuero is a respected law firm with a well-equipped labour and employment department. The team assists clients with a range of mandates, including disciplinary proceedings, employee health and safety matters, review of employment contracts and judicial proceedings, and it has particular expertise advising on social security and pension mandates. The firm regularly counsels local and international clients hailing from the food, energy, and finance sectors.

Garrigues is a respected full-service firm enjoying a flourishing labour and employment practice in Colombia. The department advises clients on mandates such as management of labour relations with unionised workers, collective bargaining, labour restructurings and employee terminations. The firm is also frequently sought after to act as counsel on contentious mandates. The team regularly counsels local and international clients from a wide range of sectors, including energy agrochemicals and IT services.

Holland & Knight is a respected full-service firm that offers a talented labour department that is well placed to handle collective bargaining matters, labour restructuring and employment due diligence, as well as designing retirement schemes for employees in Colombia. The law firm's client roster comprises names in the media, agribusiness, and food and beverage industries.

Philippi Prietocarrizosa Ferrero DU & Uría is a regional full-service firm with experience working on various labour and employment matters. The Colombian office often advises on the labour considerations of acquisitions and liquidations, as well as on outsourcing matters and interactions with unions. Beat Rideapp Colombia, Twilio and Carcoare among the recent additions to the law firm's client roster.

Posse Herrera Ruiz is a respected full-service firm with an active labour counselling practice. The team advises on strategic matters, including the consequences of corporate mergers, cases before the UGPP and the hiring of senior management. Posse Herrera Ruiz's employment department is also experienced handling contentious individual and collective cases. The law firm is often retained by multinational clients hailing from the financial services, technology and telecommunication industries.