Pérez-Llorca strengthens New York and Madrid with two Colombian partners

Pérez-Llorca continues to advance its internationalisation strategy with the relocation of two partners from Colombia. Juan David Quintero, a partner in the Corporate/M&A practice, will join the New York office from Bogotá, while Alejandro Sanabria, a partner in the Tax practice, will be based in Madrid. Both will continue to practise Colombian law from their new locations.

The relocations reflect the growth in investment flows between the Americas and Europe and the increasing interconnection of both regions with Asia and the Middle East. Against this backdrop, companies, funds and investors are increasingly undertaking transactions that combine different jurisdictions, sources of funding and decision-making centres.

The presence of Colombian lawyers in New York and Madrid will enable Pérez-Llorca to link these opportunities more directly with its teams in Latin America and provide coordinated advice from some of the world’s leading financial and business centres.

Project Scala and the Ibero-American platform

The moves form part of Project Scala, Pérez-Llorca’s internal initiative designed to capitalise on the opportunities arising from the firm’s internationalisation process.

Its objectives include consolidating a fully integrated Ibero-American legal platform, coordinating advice to clients operating across multiple jurisdictions, and promoting the mobility and professional development of its lawyers.

Juan David Quintero joins New York

Juan David Quintero’s move to New York will help strengthen Pérez-Llorca’s relationship with the US firms with which he regularly collaborates and which advise on transactions and investments involving Latin America.

Quintero has more than 15 years of experience in domestic and cross-border mergers and acquisitions, private equity funds, joint ventures and corporate reorganisations.

He is admitted to practise in Colombia and in the state of New York, holds a Master’s degree in Corporate Law from New York University School of Law and has studied business at NYU Stern School of Business.

Throughout his career, he has been involved in transactions for companies including Ecopetrol, Bavaria, Valorem, EPM, Nutresa, Sura, Nexans and EnfraGen, among others.

Alejandro Sanabria relocates to Madrid

Alejandro Sanabria’s relocation to Madrid reflects the sustained interest of Spanish and European investors and companies in identifying opportunities and developing their businesses in Colombia and across Latin America.

His experience includes international taxation and tax advisory services relating to mergers and acquisitions, financing, investment funds, infrastructure, energy and property investment.

From Madrid, Sanabria will contribute his knowledge of Latin American markets to the teams supporting European investors as they enter, expand and structure their operations in the region.

He has been involved in transactions including the structuring of Atlas Renewable Energy’s investment in Colombia and its strategic alliance with Isagen, as well as Macquarie Capital’s acquisition of the concession agreement for the Briceño-Tunja-Sogamoso road.

An international strategy connected to Latin America

"Our international strategy reflects a new reality: investments are no longer structured in isolation between two jurisdictions, but increasingly involve companies, funds, financiers and advisers from different markets. Juan David and Alejandro’s relocations to our offices in New York and Madrid will enable us to bring our expertise in Colombian law to the places where many of these transactions originate and are structured, to be closer to the US firms we work with, and to provide coordinated support to our clients on their projects in Latin America", stated Iván Delgado, International Executive Partner at Pérez-Llorca, based in New York.

The initiative is supported by a leadership structure closely aligned with the region’s main markets. Iván Delgado heads Pérez-Llorca’s international strategy from New York, while Pedro Pérez-Llorca, the firm’s Senior Partner, moved temporarily to Mexico City for a year at the beginning of 2026 to support the Americas team and strengthen the development of the Ibero-American platform.

Pérez-Llorca practises Spanish, Portuguese, Mexican, Colombian and Peruvian law and has offices in Abu Dhabi, Barcelona, Bogotá, Brussels, Lima, Lisbon, London, Madrid, Medellín, Mexico City, Monterrey, New York and Singapore.

The firm has also established itself as the Ibero-American law firm with the highest number of accolades in the latest editions of Chambers Latin America and Latin Lawyer 250, reflecting the standing of its teams and practice areas in the region’s key markets.

Key facts

• Pérez-Llorca is relocating Colombian partners Juan David Quintero and Alejandro Sanabria to New York and Madrid, respectively.

• Both will continue to practise Colombian law from their new locations.

• The moves form part of Project Scala, aimed at consolidating an integrated Ibero-American legal platform and strengthening multi-jurisdictional advice.

• Quintero will reinforce relationships with US firms and transactions and investments involving Latin America from New York.

• Sanabria will support Spanish and European investors pursuing opportunities and expansion strategies in Colombia and other Latin American markets from Madrid.

• The relocations are part of Pérez-Llorca’s broader strategy to connect its Latin American capabilities with major international financial centres.