Partner

Santiago Arbouin

Languages

Spanish
English

Social media

Santiago is Partner and leads the Customs Law & Trade practice and the Tax area for the Firm. He has more than 15 years of experience advising national and international clients in local tax, international tax, customs tax, foreign trade and customs law from the strategic planning perspective. He has experience in the application of free trade agreements and multilateral and binational foreign trade agreements, as well as in treaties to avoid double taxation and in the creation and negotiation of Free Zones and special customs areas. He has been a promoter of foreign trade forums and Foreign Investments.

More than 10 years as a professor of taxation on foreign,Tax Planning and direct foreign investment at the Universidad de la Sabana, and corporate taxation and foreign investment in the Pontificia Universidad Javeriana. He has been a guest speaker at various national and international tax events.

Professional Experience:

2020-present – Partner CMS Rodríguez-Azuero, Bogotá. Colombia.
2010-2020 – Managing Partner of Unión Navas Arbouin lawyers and leader of Taxes and Foreign Trade of the same firm, Bogota Colombia
2007-2010 – Deloitte Colombia Senior Tax & Legal Lawyer, Bogotá, Colombia
2007 – Crowe Horwath Senior Tax & Legal Lawyer.
2002-2006 – Junior Associate of Taxes & Customs of Zuleta, Acosta, Suarez, Ibarra, Araque & Jaramillo Abogado, Bogotá, Colombia.

Publications

Author, “Merseytram as a failure project finance” the school of management, the University of Salford, Manchester, England. June 2006.
Co-author, "Legal Relationship between companies providing public services and users as a consequence of the fee", Intellectum, Universidad de la Sabana. 2013.
Author, “2017 Tax Update Manual”. Fenalco Valledupar. February 2017.
Author, Tax Update Manual 2018. Chamber of Commerce of Santa Marta. August 2018.
Author, e-book "Free zones and treaties to avoid double taxation". Ekomercio.com
Author, e-book "Tax effects and foreign trade of the entry of Colombia to the OECD" Ekomercio.com
Author, e-book "Tax differences in Colombian commercial contracts". Ekomercio.com
Author, "Increased property tax on social and sports clubs: Tax expropriation or fair collection instrument?" published in the magazine "The World of Clubs". 2023.
Author, The possible end of free zones in Colombia. 2022.
Author, "Increased property tax in social and sports clubs: Tax expropriation or fair instrument of collection?" published in the magazine "El Mundo de los Clubes". 2023.
Bimonthly Tax Bulletin.

Memberships & Roles

Founding member of FIECE (Forum for the Integration of Colombian Entrepreneurs Abroad).
Member of the signature committee of the Office of the Taxpayer and Customs User.
Member of the Board of Directors of the Club el Rincón de Cajicá.

Awards & Rankings

Recognition in Legal 500 Latin America 2024 in the areas of Tax and International Trade & Customs.
Santiago Arbouin, Recognition in Legal 500 Latin America 2024, as Recommended Lawyer in the areas of Tax and International Trade & Customs.
Recognition in Leaders League 2024, in the areas of Tax – Corporate Tax as Recommended.
Nominated as international trade & customs lawyer of the year at the Legal 500 shortlist 2023.

Education

2008 – Postgraduate studies in Tax Law, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, Colombia
2006 - Master of Science C, Management Practice, The School of Business, The University of Salford, Manchester, England
2005 - Lawyer, Faculty of Law, Universidad de la Sabana, Bogotá, Colombia

Practice Areas

Customs & International Trade Tax Global Mobility

Insights

Global Reach