SRIS Colombia counsel
Law Offices of SRIS, P.C. provides US-substantive counsel to clients with Colombian legal matters, acting as a bridge between Colombian law and US courts. For a Colombian citizen doing business in the United States, or a US resident with a legal issue that spans Colombian borders, you need an attorney who is admitted to practice in the relevant US jurisdictions and who understands how to collaborate with Colombian-licensed lawyers. Our lead attorney, Mr. Sris, is admitted in Virginia, Maryland, the District of Columbia, New Jersey, and New York. He handles the US-side aspects of your cross-border matter, working with Eric Duport Jaramillo, our Of Counsel admitted by the Colombian bar, who manages Colombian-law dimensions. Eric Duport Jaramillo is licensed in Colombia and is not admitted in any US state bar; his practice with the firm is limited to Colombian law and to serving as a liaison for international clients with Mr. Sris and other US-licensed attorneys. From our location in Pereira, Colombia, to our principal US location in Virginia, by appointment only, we serve international clients who require counsel they can rely on across both legal systems. For guidance on your cross-border matter, reach our Colombia intake line at +57 63419197 or our US toll-free number at (888) 437-7747.
US Counsel for Colombian Cross-Border Matters
When your legal situation involves both Colombian and US jurisdictions, you need a US attorney who can handle the US-law components of your case and coordinate effectively with Colombian-licensed counsel. This is the principal role of Law Offices of SRIS, P.C. as Colombia counsel. We do not practice Colombian law directly — only an attorney admitted by the Consejo Superior de la Judicatura may do so — but we provide the US-licensed representation that Colombian clients and US clients with Colombian affairs require in US forums. This includes handling Hague Service Convention requests, apostille authentication of Colombian public documents under the 1961 Hague Apostille Convention, and enforcement of foreign judgments where the applicable US state recognizes a Colombian decree. Colombia is a contracting party to the Apostille Convention, so Colombian public documents such as birth certificates, marriage records, and judicial orders may be authenticated by apostille rather than by consular legalization when they are to be used in a signatory country such as the United States. Every cross-border matter is different, but our approach always respects the jurisdictional boundary between US and Colombian law. Mr. Sris and his Of Counsel bring extensive combined legal experience to these cases.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Law Offices of SRIS, P.C. have a physical location in Colombia?
Yes, we maintain a location in Pereira, Colombia, by appointment only, at Carrera 7 # 18-80, Oficina 606, Edificio Centro Financiero. This location serves as a meeting point for our Colombian clientele and as a base for our Of Counsel, Eric Duport Jaramillo. It is important to understand that while we have a location in Pereira, the firm itself is a US law firm. All US-licensed attorneys work from US locations. When you meet with us in Pereira, you meet with our Colombia-licensed Of Counsel who collaborates directly with Mr. Sris on the US-law dimensions of your matter.
Is Eric Duport Jaramillo a US attorney or a Colombian attorney?
Eric Duport Jaramillo is licensed to practice law in Colombia and is not admitted in any US state bar. He serves as Of Counsel for Colombia Practice at Law Offices of SRIS, P.C. Licensed in Colombia, Mr. Duport Jaramillo handles the Colombian-law aspects of cross-border matters, while Mr. Sris, admitted in Virginia, Maryland, the District of Columbia, New Jersey, and New York, handles the US-law aspects. Mr. Duport Jaramillo’s role is limited to Colombian law and to acting as a liaison for international clients with the firm’s US-licensed attorneys. This division ensures that every aspect of your case is handled by an attorney properly licensed in the relevant jurisdiction.
How does Colombia handle international service of process under the Hague Service Convention?
Colombia is a contracting party to the Hague Convention of 15 November 1965 on the Service Abroad of Judicial and Extrajudicial Documents, commonly called the Hague Service Convention. Service of process on a party in Colombia for US litigation is typically executed through the Colombian Central Authority. Rather than relying on private process servers or direct mail, which may not be valid under Colombian procedural law, the US litigant transmits the request through the designated US authority to Colombia’s Central Authority, which then serves the documents. The timing for completion depends on the Central Authority’s current caseload and Colombia’s domestic procedural rules; no specific day or month range can be stated as a uniform guarantee. Mr. Sris and Mr. Duport Jaramillo work together to ensure that process is served efficiently and in full compliance with Colombian procedural requirements.
Can Colombian public documents be apostilled for use in the US?
Yes. Colombia has been a contracting party to the 1961 Hague Apostille Convention since 2001. A Colombian public document — such as a birth certificate, a judicial sentence, or a notarial act — may be authenticated for use in the United States by obtaining an apostille from the competent Colombian authority, rather than going through the traditional chain-legalization process. The competent authority varies by document type, but once the apostille is issued, the document is presumptively authentic under the Convention and should be accepted by US authorities without further consular authentication. If you are unsure whether your specific document qualifies, contact us for a consultation.
Can a US attorney represent me in a Colombian court?
No. A US attorney, even one licensed in multiple US states, is not authorized to represent clients before Colombian courts or to provide legal advice on Colombian law. Unauthorized practice of law (UPL) rules prohibit this. At Law Offices of SRIS, P.C., we handle the US-side components of your cross-border matter. When your case requires Colombian-law representation — for instance, filing a lawsuit in Bogotá, registering property in Pereira, or navigating a Colombian family law dispute — our Colombia-licensed Of Counsel, Eric Duport Jaramillo, steps in. He is a Colombian abogado who collaborates with Mr. Sris to ensure that your interests are fully protected on both sides of the border, but no US-licensed attorney at the firm pretends to practice Colombian law.
How do I reach SRIS Colombia counsel for a consultation?
You can reach our Colombia practice directly at +57 63419197 for our Pereira location. International clients may also reach our US intake line at +1 (888) 437-7747 or write to colombia@sriscounsel.com. Consultations are by appointment only. Our staff, fluent in both English and Spanish, will direct your inquiry to the appropriate attorney based on your legal needs. If your matter requires Colombian-law representation and we do not currently have an Of Counsel attorney available in the specific practice area you need, we will advise you promptly and may assist you in identifying alternative Colombian counsel. If you would like to be notified when SRIS engages additional Of Counsel in Colombia, please provide your contact information when you call or write.
What if my Colombian matter involves a US immigration or visa question?
For Colombian clients with US immigration or visa concerns, Mr. Sris serves as the US-licensed attorney of record on the US matter. Our Colombia-licensed Of Counsel draws on her former experience as a Senior Visa Specialist at the U.S. Embassy Bogotá to support clients as a liaison and to assist with Colombian-side documentation, but she is licensed in Colombia and is not admitted in any US state bar. Her role is to ensure that your Colombian-sourced records are complete and properly apostilled, that your Spanish-language documents are accurately translated, and that you understand the process from both the US and Colombian perspectives. The advice on US immigration law, USCIS petitions, and consular processing comes from Mr. Sris, who is admitted in Virginia, Maryland, the District of Columbia, New Jersey, and New York.
About Mr. Sris and the SRIS Of Counsel Network
Atchuthan Sriskandarajah — Mr. Sris — founded Law Offices of SRIS, P.C. in 1997. He serves as the firm’s Owner and Managing Attorney, admitted to practice in five US jurisdictions: Virginia, Maryland, the District of Columbia, New Jersey, and New York. A former prosecutor, Mr. Sris has built a firm that handles US legal matters with the depth of experience that international clientele require. He testified before the Virginia House Courts of Justice Committee in support of 2019 HB 635 (chief patron Del. David Bulova). On cross-border matters, Mr. Sris works with Of Counsel attorneys who are admitted in their respective foreign jurisdictions. Eric Duport Jaramillo, Of Counsel for our Colombia practice, is licensed in Colombia and is not admitted in any US state bar. Mr. Duport Jaramillo’s practice with the firm is limited to Colombian law and to serving as a liaison for international clients with our US-licensed attorneys. Together, they ensure that the US-Colombia legal intersection is handled with precision. Contact our Colombia practice at +57 63419197 or our US line at (888) 437-7747 to schedule a consultation.