Energy Lawyers

With more than 450 lawyers globally, including over 150 partners, the CMS Energy & Climate Change practice is one of the world’s largest. We provide crucial advice to governments and businesses as they engage with the challenge of climate change, global geopolitics, economics and each specific country’s regulation and shape their responses to it.

The energy sector in Colombia is complex and entails significant regulatory and contractual challenges that vary depending on whether the matter relates to electricity -where regulations differ for generation, transmission, commercialization and distribution activities -, mining, oil and gas -where the applicable regulations depend on the specific activity to be developed within the supply chain- , or renewable energy generation.

CMS advises the Colombian Government and private companies, both domestic and foreign, in the structuring, design and implementation of energy projects. The Firm has played a significant role in shaping the legal framework of the energy industry in Colombia, having played key roles as advisor to the Ministry of Mines and Energy and the National Hydrocarbons Agency (ANH), among other agencies, on various critical matters for the country.

The Firm has participated in advice and support to clients in relation to the following matters:

  • Structuring and negotiation of complex petroleum projects, including:
  1. Incorporation of companies in the country;
  2. Award of blocks for oil and gas exploration and production;
  3. Drafting and negotiation of joint operating agreements (JOAs); 
  4. Structuring, drafting and negotiation of operation contracts (CPF construction, drilling services, EPCs, BOMTs, associated production services, etc), Farm Out and Farm In Agreements, among others;
  • Acquisition of participations in E&P contracts;
  • Structuring, acquisition, financing and regulatory advice related to electricity generation projects;
  • Negotiation of contracts for access to energy supply infrastructure, including midstream and downstream infrastructure;
  • Generation and self-generation energy projects, securing connection points and Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs).
 
Leopoldo Olavarría
Leopoldo Olavarría, LL.M.
Partner
Colombia, Bogotá
Leopoldo is Partner for the Firm in the Corporate / M&A and Commercial and Energy & Climate Change areas. He practices law in Venezuela, Colombia and Mexico. Leopoldo has more than 30 years of experience...
Daniel Rodríguez, LL.M.
Daniel Rodríguez, LL.M.
Partner
Colombia, Bogotá
Daniel is a Partner of the Firm and co-leads the areas of Compliance and Corporate Criminal Law. Daniel is admitted to practice in Colombia and in the states of New York and California in the United States...
Daniela Vergel
Daniela Vergel
Partner
Colombia, Bogotá
Daniela is a Partner for the Firm; she leads the Environmental Law & Sustainability team and co-leads the Dispute Resolution practice and the Energy & Climate Change team in the Mining sector. Daniela...
Álvaro Yáñez
Álvaro Yáñez
Partner
Colombia, Bogotá
Álvaro is a Partner of the firm and co-leads the Energy & Climate Change team. He is a Doctor of Law from the Universidad Colegio Mayor de Nuestra Señora del Rosario.Álvaro began his career as a civil...
Álvaro Josué Yáñez
Álvaro Josué Yáñez
Partner
Colombia, Bogotá
Álvaro Josué is a Partner of the firm and co-leads the Energy & Climate Change team. He is a lawyer from the Universidad del Rosario and has a master’s degree in Corporate Law from the Instituto...
Álex Javier Flórez, LL.M.
Álex Flórez, LL.M.
Director
Colombia, Bogotá
Álex is an Associate Director of the Firm in the areas of Environmental Law & Sustainability and Energy & Climate Change, under the Mining sector. He is a lawyer from the Universidad de los Andes and...
Mónica Torres
Mónica Torres
Counsel
Colombia, Bogotá
Mónica is Counsel of the Firm in the Energy & Climate Change team. She is a lawyer and holds postgraduate degrees in Commercial and Financial Law from Universidad Sergio Arboleda and International...
Paula Andrea Gutiérrez
Paula Andrea Gutiérrez
Senior Associate
Colombia, Bogotá
Paula Andrea is a Senior Associate for the Firm in the Banking & Finance, Public Procurement, Compliance and Insolvency, Restructuring & Liquidation practices. She is a lawyer with a specialization in...
María Paula Sandoval, LL.M.
María Paula Sandoval, LL.M.
Senior Associate
Colombia, Bogotá
María Paula is a Senior Associate for the Firm in the Banking & Finance, Compliance, Public Procurement and Insolvency, Restructuring & Liquidation practices. She is a lawyer with management emphasis...
María Gabriela Acevedo
María Gabriela Acevedo
Associate
Colombia, Bogotá
Gabriela is an Associate for the Firm in the Energy & Climate Change practice. She is a lawyer and has a specialization in liability and compensable damages from Universidad Externado de Colombia. Additionally...