The insurance practice at Brigard Urrutia stands out for the ‘agility, depth of response and commitment of its lawyers’, according to satisfied clients. A popular choice for complex or high-stakes mandates — particularly on the non-contentious front — the team is noted for its impressive record in highly regulated transactional matters before the Superintendence of Finance, including M&As and incorporations. The team also excels in advising insurers on product development issues and other regulatory work. Alongside its activity on behalf of insurer clients, the group keeps busy advising insured entities on a mix of regulatory compliance and claims litigation. Irma Rivera Ramírez heads the insurance and reinsurance department, as well as the litigation, arbitration and insolvency department, which ensures that her practice spans a diverse range of regulatory, contractual and claims matters. The group additionally benefits from the specialist experience of next-generation partner Lucas Fajardo, who is ‘an expert in the sector’ and advises on insurance-related corporate, commercial and regulatory issues, as well as claims handling. Fajardo recently advised Everest Re Group on the incorporation process to establish a local insurer. Key supporting associates include senior Juan David Marín, who joined in February 2024 from the Ministry of Finance. Former senior Iván Montenegro left to join Asensi Abogados in November 2023.

Forming a key part of the international firm’s global insurance offering, DAC Beachcroft Colombia’s Bogotá-based group enjoys close links with major multinational insurance companies, which frequently utilise the team as a hub for the wider Latin American region. Notably, the office continues to grow its roster, as evidenced by the recent addition of new clients Allianz Colombia, Berkley Re and Swiss Re Colombia Oficina de Representación, among others. The practice handles a broad scope of regulatory, compliance and contentious matters but it is primarily recognised for its extensive expertise in high-value claims, where it acts for insurers and reinsurers across the Lloyd’s, London, European and US markets. Office head Juan Diego Arango leads the department and specialises in claims involving the financial lines, engineering, civil liability and aviation spheres. The group also draws on Camila de la Torre, who is highly regarded for her experience in civil liability and commercial law; up-and-coming insurance specialist Ana Catalina Restrepo, who recently advised Zurich Colombia Seguros on coverage of a claim triggering a D&O policy and also on the related fiscal liability proceeding; and senior associates Malory Zafra Sierra and Ángela Hernández, who provide dedicated support on insurance and reinsurance matters.

A global heavyweight for insurance law, Kennedys’ Bogotá office demonstrates ‘broader global reach than other firms’, according to sources. The team ranks among the leading insurance practices in Colombia due to its ability to combine the wider firm’s premier client relationships and legal tech resources with a leading local presence, which equips it to provide comprehensive support to major multinational and domestic insurers and reinsurers. Well versed across a range of regulatory, commercial, and dispute resolution matters, the team is chiefly recognised as a destination practice for high-stakes litigation. Mónica Tocarruncho fronts the department and brings to bear broad experience, with a focus on advising Colombia and UK-based insurers and reinsurers on contentious and non-contentious work. Tocarruncho recently teamed up with the London office to advise Mapfre, and the reinsurance market, on filing a lawsuit against the Comptroller General of the Republic that seeks annulment of the decision ordering Mapfre to pay more than $900m in relation to the Ituango Hydroelectric Project. Other key contacts include Mauricio Carvajal García, who is recommended for his niche expertise in shipping, transport and casualty-related insurance work; and Catalina Botero, who made partner in May 2023 and has an emphasis on dispute resolution and coverage matters.

According to some, insurance and dispute resolution boutique Salazar Pardo & Jaramillo Abogados is ‘the best law firm in Colombia specialised in insurance’. The group’s enviable client roster is comprised of major regional and global insurers, reinsurers, brokers and insured companies, while its independent single-site model ensures that it is also a popular choice to act for international law firms on local matters, including HFW and Clyde & Co. The full-spectrum practice is arguably best known for its skill sets in contentious work, where it advises on complex insurance claims across all key industry sectors, including energy, financial lines, construction, transport, pollution and compliance, among others. That being said, it handles a significant volume of policy drafting issues, risk coverage analyses and general compliance matters. Gabriel Pardo is widely regarded as a dean of the insurance bar in Colombia, where he has been practising at the forefront of the market for over 35 years; he is particularly noted for his expertise in complex judicial and arbitral disputes. The team also includes dual-qualified (Colombia/New York) Esteban Pardo, who is active in disputes, compliance matters and commercial work.

‘One of the strongest insurance law practices in Colombia’, Botero Salazar Tobón Abogados acts for an array of insurance and reinsurance companies,  insurance brokers and insured entities on civil liability, property, D&O, surety and aviation-related cases, among other matters. The group is distinguished by its activity in insurance disputes, where it routinely appears before civil and administrative courts, the Financial Superintendence and arbitral institutions. The team also advises on non-contentious matters, including company incorporations, regulatory affairs and policy drafting. Department co-head and high-profile litigator, Bernardo Salazar, stands out for his ‘technical expertise and business vision’; he is advising CNA Hardy, and a group of other reinsurers, on coverage issues and legal matters related to D&O insurance in some of the largest fiscal liability proceedings in Colombia. Fellow co-head Luís Botero handles a mix of advisory and contentious work, including both arbitral and judicial proceedings. Also noted is senior associate Julián Morales Valencia, who has an emphasis on dispute resolution.

According to sources, Medellín-based boutique Tamayo Jaramillo & Asociados ‘is characterised by its highly specialised knowledge in insurance and liability issues’. With experience across a wide range of regulatory, commercial and contentious issues, the group is differentiated by its robust activity in judicial and extrajudicial claims and contractual matters. Widely regarded as a reference in the market, firm founder Javier Tamayo Jaramillo stands out for his practical and academic credentials. Tamayo Jaramillo steers a ‘young, diverse, passionate and disciplined work team’ that includes risk analysis partner Carlos Andres Gonzales Galvís, who has a ‘broad vision of the law’; Laura Castaño Echeverri, who is recommended for her record in insurance litigation (including medical liability); Daniel Ossa Gómez, who has an emphasis on civil and state liability; and associate Daniel Bedoya, who is highlighted as a ‘lawyer with extensive experience despite his youth’.

During 2023/24, Martínez Quintero Mendoza González Laguado & de la Rosa’s insurance team added nine new clients to its roster, which should stand the practice in good stead following the termination of the firm’s co-operation agreement with DLA Piper in May 2024. The group acts for a broad range of industry stakeholders but its work for insured entities, in both claims litigation and advisory matters, is particularly notable. It also acts for insurers and reinsurers on policy drafting, new product development issues, transactions and contentious matters. Up-and-coming partner Sergio Rojas demonstrates ‘impeccable analytical skills’ and specialises in insurance, litigation and crisis management. Managing partner Camilo Martínez is also noted.

Posse Herrera Ruiz scores highly with clients for its ‘cutting-edge knowledge in contractual and insurance issues’, which ‘incorporates national and international regulatory awareness’. The multidisciplinary practice draws on the firm’s corporate, dispute resolution and regulatory teams, among others, to provide full-service support to insurance companies and insured entities on transactional matters, complex judicial and arbitral proceedings and regulatory compliance issues. The overarching department is co-led by corporate specialist Oscar Tutasaura and dispute resolution co-head Carolina Posada. Other key contacts include financial services partner Natalia Escobar; experienced counsel Diana Salazar; and senior associate Victoria Vargas, who provides ‘excellent legal advice and fast attention’.

The increasingly prominent insurance practice at Ariza & Marin continues to gain traction in the market. From its Medellín headquarters, the group specialises in representing insurers, brokers and insured companies on a ever-expanding range of policy issues, arbitral and judicial disputes and fiscal liability proceedings. As a former legal director of Seguros Sura, senior associate and department head Luis Felipe Estrada is well versed across all facets of the industry; he is particularly noted for his combination of insurance and public law expertise.

G Herrera Abogados & Asociados’ insurance practice is staffed by ‘a team of collaborative lawyers’, according to clients. The group is chiefly recognised for its record in insurance litigation, where it handles disputes involving both civil and administrative liability. Senior partner and insurance specialist Gustavo Alberto Herrera is a former director of Aseguradora Grancolombiana and contributes significant hands-on experience to his role; he handles a range of corporate, finance and contentious work. The team also draws on litigation manager Santiago Rojas; and new private law manager Ana María Barón, who joined in March 2023 from Brigard Urrutia. Former manager of the civil law unit, Jinneth Hernández, left the firm in March 2023.

Gómez-Pinzón Abogados’ insurance practice continues to make inroads into the market, following the arrival of director and department head Consuelo González Barreto in September 2022. González Barreto brings to bear strong in-house experience garnered during roles at La Previsora, MetLife and HSBC (among others), and is particularly noted for her strong skill sets in corporate and regulatory insurance matters. Clients also highlight intermediate associate Carolina de La Torre, who joined from Tamayo Jaramillo & Asociados in December 2023; she also brings significant in-house experience from an earlier career stint at Beehive Insurance.

Insurance is a key pillar of J. Correa Abogados’ firm-wide offering and it is best known for its niche expertise in transport — particularly shipping-related — work, including claims and advisory matters. Among its other strong suits, the team is also well versed in construction and infrastructure cases. High-profile partner John Correa is a ‘highly experienced leader in the Colombian marine market’; he spearheads a practice that also includes senior associate Andrés Felipe Ávila, who frequently deputises for Correa on key cases, and four-year associate Laura Londoño.

Lexia Abogados’ insurance group is lauded for its ‘legal rigour and the assertiveness of its legal concepts and advice’. The full-spectrum practice handles an array of corporate, regulatory and contentious work but it is particularly weighted towards litigation and arbitration, including administrative, constitutional, commercial and civil disputes. Founding partner Jose Fernando Torres is a seasoned litigator, who ‘stands out for his knowledge, good treatment and efficiency’; he co-heads the practice together with Juan Felipe Torres, who additionally fronts the litigation team.

A Medellín-based insurance and dispute resolution boutique, Londoño & Arango Abogados is recommended by sources as a ‘highly-qualified firm focused on service and legal depth’. The team is distinguished by its emphasis on representing insurance companies in arbitral and judicial proceedings, including D&O cases, product liability matters, transport-related issues and E&O policies, among others. The department is led jointly by Daniel Arango, who was Legal Affairs Co-ordinator at EPS Suramericana prior to co-founding the firm; Maximiliano Londoño, who specialises in liability and insurance law; and Agustin Londoño, who is noted for insurance and contractual matters.

Lawyers at Medina Abogados are ‘always attentive, willing, very assertive and timely in their advice’, say clients. The insurance practice sits within the overarching litigation department, which translates into a strong focus on contentious insurance work, including civil liability, life insurance, social security and compliance insurance, among other segments. Managing partner Héctor Mauricio Medina Casas is an insurance specialist with experience in advisory and contentious matters. Germán Cajarmarca, who heads the litigation unit, is also recommended.

Noted for its ‘knowledge of the industry and good experience’, Philippi Prietocarrizosa Ferrero DU & Uría’s interdisciplinary insurance practice draws on lawyers specialising in corporate matters, regulatory compliance, dispute resolution and finance, to provide broad coverage of the sector. The team is particularly active in corporate and regulatory matters and it possesses a strong recent record in advising on insurance company incorporations. The group is now steered by banking and finance partner Juan Fernando Gaviria, following the departure of former department head, counsel Rebeca Herrera, who left to establish her own firm in December 2023.