There are a myriad of reasons to seek legal services in Colombia. It’s especially useful for foreigners who don’t speak Spanish, but plan on getting a visa to open a business or after marrying a Colombian spouse.
A little background on Colombia’s legal system; this may interest those of you who are legally minded. The country has a Civil Law system in place that is based primarily on legal codes, rather than jurisprudence. As with other civil law countries, Colombia’s legal system does not necessarily have to recognize the ruling of any legal body like a court (though there are exceptions). What’s more, the concept of precedence is absent from the Colombian legal system, meaning a court’s ruling on one case does not have to be applied to all cases in the future. Sound a bit convoluted? No worries: good legal services in Colombia will be able to translate the legalese for the layperson to understand.
For investors, companies and entrepreneurs who are new to the country, acquiring, a legal representative, a fiscal auditor in Colombia, and all relevant HR/administrative staff is a best practice that all newcomers should follow. But fret not if it doesn’t seem as though your fledgling firm has the budget for it. All of those kinds of things can be outsourced at very reasonable prices.
Unemployment has decreased significantly, with more people in the workforce. This has an impact on the legal services in Colombia– such as expanding the options of available firms to work with.
Why seek out legal services in Colombia? There are innumerable reasons why a company planning on entering a new market might seek legal services in Colombia, but the following reasons are the most common:
- Corporate law
- Foreign investment
- Real estate
- Accounting and taxes
- Visas
- Trademarks/IP protection
By now it should be well understood that legal services in Colombia are a must-have when entering the market or investing there.
What to look for in an attorney:
Not all Colombian lawyers are created equal. The onus is on you, the client, to suss out whether a law firm is tossing you any old lawyer who happens to be free that day, or a true professional who is well educated and experienced in the legal areas that best suit your needs. So what kind of qualities should you be looking for when seeking legal services in Colombia?
Ask yourself:
- Does the lawyer or firm offer a free consultation?
- Is the lawyer driven by getting results first, and payment second?
- Is the lawyer perfectly fluent in English?
- Is the lawyer experienced enough to handle your specific needs?
- Does the lawyer have a good reputation with previous clients?
Remember, there are literally hundreds of legal consultancies and giant international law firms that have thousands of attorneys on the payroll – all of whom have varying degrees of specialization, experience and local knowledge. So it’s okay to shop around for legal services in Colombia until you find the one who’s the right fit for your organization.
Legal services in Colombia: Top 5 essential attorney characteristics:
- An attorney and/or law firm that offers free consultations
- A lawyer who’s driven to achieve results
- An attorney who is perfectly fluent in English
- A lawyer who is highly specialized and experienced
- An attorney who has a good reputation
Biz Latin Hub can help you with legal services in Colombia:
At Biz Latin Hub, we provide integrated market entry and back-office services throughout Latin America and the Caribbean, with offices in Bogota and Cartagena, as well as over a dozen other major cities in the region. We also have trusted partners in many other markets. Our unrivalled reach means we are ideally placed to support multi-jurisdiction market entries and cross-border operations. As well as knowledge about legal services in Colombia, our portfolio of services includes hiring & PEO accounting & taxation, company formation, bank account opening, and corporate legal services. Contact us today to find out more about how we can assist you in finding top talent, or otherwise do business in Latin America and the Caribbean.
If this article on legal services in Colombia was of interest to you, check out the rest of our coverage of the region. Or read about our team and expert authors. Country manager, Daniela Jaimes, can support you in your journey of working with our reliable legal services in Colombia. The information provided here within should not be construed as formal guidance or advice. Please consult a professional for your specific situation. Information provided is for informative purposes only and may not capture all pertinent laws, standards, and best practices. The regulatory landscape is continually evolving; information mentioned may be outdated and/or could undergo changes. The interpretations presented are not official. Some sections are based on the interpretations or views of relevant authorities, but we cannot ensure that these perspectives will be supported in all professional settings.
