do business in Colombia legal counsel
Law Offices of SRIS, P.C. assists US and international clients who plan to do business in Colombia or whose Colombian ventures require US-side legal guidance. Our firm is a US law firm founded in 1997, with locations in Virginia, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, and Pereira, Colombia. While Mr. Sris and our US-licensed attorneys are not admitted to practice Colombian law, we coordinate closely with Colombian-licensed Of Counsel — when our network is fully engaged — to provide a dual-jurisdiction approach. At present, we are developing our Of Counsel presence in Colombia and expect to welcome Eric Duport Jaramillo, a Colombian-licensed attorney, as our Colombia practice liaison. Mr. Duport Jaramillo is licensed in Colombia and not admitted in any US state bar; his future role will be limited to Colombian law and serving as a liaison with US-licensed attorneys. For now, this page offers general legal information from a US perspective on doing business in Colombia. If you require immediate Colombian law representation, you should retain an attorney admitted by the Colombian Consejo Superior de la Judicatura. To discuss how we can help with the US components of your Colombia-facing business — or to be notified when Colombian-side counsel becomes available — reach our firm at (888) 437-7747.
What this cross-border practice area covers
Doing business in Colombia involves absorbing Colombian corporate, tax, labour, and regulatory law, while simultaneously managing US compliance obligations that may apply extraterritorially. A US-based business entering Colombia, or a Colombian company expanding into the US, frequently needs counsel in both countries. The matters that fall within this cross-border practice include entity formation (sociedad anónima, sociedad por acciones simplificada), contract negotiation and enforcement, intellectual property protection, import/export licensing, and employment law structuring. For US companies, anti-corruption compliance under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) is a critical overlay whenever business is conducted through Colombian agents or distributors. Similarly, US Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctions — which change frequently — require ongoing monitoring. The Colombian Estatuto Anticorrupción (Ley 1474 de 2011) and related regulations impose additional local standards. Because no single attorney can be licensed in both the US and Colombia, a coordinated approach is essential: a US-licensed attorney handles the US aspects while a Colombian-licensed lawyer manages Colombian requirements.
A cross-border business engagement may also raise immigration considerations. If US personnel will manage operations in Colombia, they may need Colombian business visas (e.g., the TP-4 visa under Colombian immigration law) and, conversely, Colombian investors or executives entering the US will need appropriate US non-immigrant visas (E-2 treaty investor, L-1 intracompany transferee, or B-1 business visitor). Our firm’s US-licensed attorneys manage US visa petitions, and — once our Colombia Of Counsel is onboarded — our Colombia practice liaison can guide visa matters under Colombian law. In all cases, the firm provides transactional, regulatory, and risk-management advice grounded in US law, with the commitment to bridge clients to competent Colombian counsel when the matter demands.
How Mr. Sris and his Of Counsel network handle these matters
Mr. Sris, the Owner and Founder of Law Offices of SRIS, P.C., leads the US-side representation. He is admitted in Virginia, Maryland, the District of Columbia, New Jersey, and New York. His practice includes structuring international business transactions, advising on FCPA and OFAC compliance, and coordinating cross-border legal teams. When a Colombian matter involves US law, Mr. Sris and our US-licensed Of Counsel provide the necessary US legal services — drafting agreements governed by US law, preparing US immigration petitions, and delivering compliance opinions that satisfy U.S. regulatory expectations.
On the Colombian side, we currently operate in a pre-arrangement phase. Eric Duport Jaramillo, our designated Colombia practice liaison, is licensed in Colombia and not admitted in any US state bar. Until his engagement is finalized, Law Offices of SRIS, P.C. does not provide Colombian legal representation. However, once the engagement is effective, Mr. Duport Jaramillo will handle matters of Colombian law — entity formation, local contracts, labour law, and regulatory issues — while continuing to serve as a bilingual liaison for our international clientele. Clients who engage us now for US-side work will be positioned to seamlessly add Colombian-side representation when available. We maintain a location in Pereira, Colombia, by appointment only, which will host client meetings once Colombian counsel is in place. For clients who need Colombian law representation today, we recommend consulting an attorney admitted by the Consejo Superior de la Judicatura.
About Mr. Sris and the Law Offices of SRIS, P.C. Of Counsel network
Mr. Sris, a former prosecutor, founded Law Offices of SRIS, P.C. in 1997 and has built the firm into a US law practice with an international clientele. He is admitted in Virginia, Maryland, the District of Columbia, New Jersey, and New York. Mr. Sris testified before the Virginia House Courts of Justice Committee in support of 2019 HB 635 (chief patron Del. David Bulova), the bill that became the 2019 revision to Va. Code § 20-107.3(g). In cross-border business matters, he brings over two decades of experience advising clients on US regulatory frameworks, cross-border transactions, and FCPA/OFAC compliance. Mr. Sris and his Of Counsel bring extensive combined legal experience, though individual results vary and no prior outcome guarantees a similar result in any other matter.
Eric Duport Jaramillo, our prospective Of Counsel for Colombia practice, is licensed in Colombia and not admitted in any US state bar. His background includes service as Minister Counselor at the Embassy of Colombia to the European Union and Executive President of the Pereira Chamber of Commerce. He holds a law degree from Pontificia Universidad Javeriana and is fluent in Spanish, English, and French. Once engaged, Mr. Duport Jaramillo’s role will be exclusively to handle Colombian law and to serve as a liaison between our US-licensed attorneys and clients operating in Colombia. For now, he is listed as our designated Colombia liaison as we complete the engagement process.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a Colombian lawyer to do business in Colombia?
Yes, a Colombian-licensed attorney is essential for any matter governed by Colombian law, such as forming a Colombian company, negotiating local contracts, or complying with Colombian tax and labour regulations. A US lawyer who is not admitted in Colombia cannot give legal advice on Colombian law. Our firm’s approach is to pair a US-licensed attorney (for US-law matters) with a Colombian-licensed Of Counsel for the Colombian-law components. Until our Colombian Of Counsel engagement is live, we recommend retaining a lawyer admitted to practice by the Colombian Consejo Superior de la Judicatura for immediate needs.
Can a US lawyer help me set up a business in Colombia?
A US lawyer can advise on the US legal implications of the business — US tax treatment, OFAC sanctions screening, FCPA compliance, and US immigration issues for executives — but cannot incorporate a Colombian entity or draft Colombian-law documents. You will need a Colombian-licensed lawyer for entity formation, Colombian tax registration, and local regulatory filings. Our firm’s US-licensed attorneys can prepare the US side of the transaction while coordinating with Colombian counsel, ideally our future Of Counsel, Eric Duport Jaramillo, who is licensed in Colombia.
What US laws affect my business in Colombia?
The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) is the primary US anti-bribery statute applicable to US companies and individuals doing business abroad, including Colombia. The FCPA’s anti-bribery provisions prohibit paying foreign officials to obtain or retain business. The books-and-records provisions require accurate financial records and internal controls. Additionally, US Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctions — which change over time — may affect dealings with certain Colombian individuals or entities. Because these sanctions lists can be updated without advance notice, it is critical to verify current sanctions status as of the date of any proposed transaction. US export controls may also apply. Our US-licensed attorneys can help you design a compliance program that addresses these obligations.
How do I get a visa for Colombia for my US employees?
US employees who will work in Colombia typically need a Colombian business visa, such as the TP-4 visa, issued by the Colombian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Migración Colombia. The specific requirements depend on the nature and duration of the work. Because Colombian immigration law is distinct from US law, a Colombian-licensed lawyer or a qualified Colombian immigration attorney will be required for the visa process. Once our Colombia Of Counsel is active, that attorney will assist with Colombian visa matters. For now, you should engage a Colombian immigration practitioner directly. For the reverse situation — Colombian nationals needing US work visas — our US-licensed attorneys can prepare and file the appropriate petition with USCIS.
What is the process for forming a company in Colombia?
Forming a company in Colombia generally involves selecting a corporate form (e.g., sociedad anónima or sociedad por acciones simplificada), drafting the articles of incorporation under Colombian law, registering with the Cámara de Comercio, obtaining a Colombian tax identification number (NIT), and opening a Colombian bank account. This process is governed entirely by Colombian law and requires the involvement of a Colombian-licensed attorney. Law Offices of SRIS, P.C. cannot currently handle these steps; we will be able to offer coordinated Colombian-side representation once Eric Duport Jaramillo is fully engaged. In the interim, we can assist with the US legal and tax structuring of the parent company and coordinate with a Colombian attorney you retain.
What taxes will my business face in Colombia and the US?
Colombia imposes corporate income tax, value-added tax (IVA), and municipal industry and commerce taxes, while the US taxes its residents on worldwide income, subject to foreign tax credits and special rules for controlled foreign corporations. The interplay of the two tax systems can be complex. You will need a Colombian tax advisor to handle Colombian filings, and a US tax professional to manage US obligations, including the potential application of Subpart F of the Internal Revenue Code. Our US-licensed attorneys can help coordinate the US tax components with your Colombian tax advisor and can assist with selecting an entity structure that minimizes double taxation.