Colombia construction lawyer
Construction projects that cross between the United States and Colombia raise legal questions that do not fit neatly into one country’s legal system. A US contractor pursuing a claim against a Colombian subcontractor, a Colombian developer financing a project with US-based lenders, or an investor resolving a construction dispute with parties in both countries each needs counsel who understands how US construction law interacts with Colombian legal requirements. Law Offices of SRIS, P.C., founded in 1997, is a US law firm with an international clientele. The firm’s US-admitted attorneys handle the US-law dimensions of cross-border construction matters, and the firm collaborates with Colombia-admitted Of Counsel on the Colombia-law side.
What cross-border construction counsel covers
Cross-border construction representation addresses the legal issues that arise when a construction project, contract, or dispute involves parties, property, or performance in both the United States and Colombia. These matters frequently involve contract formation and enforcement across different legal systems, payment disputes where one party is in the US and the other in Colombia, project finance with cross-border security interests, and dispute resolution that must account for the procedural rules of both jurisdictions.
On the US-law side, construction contracts are governed by state contract law and, where applicable, federal statutes such as the Miller Act (40 U.S.C. §§ 3131–3134), which requires payment and performance bonds on federal construction projects. Dispute resolution clauses in cross-border construction contracts often designate arbitration under the rules of the International Chamber of Commerce or the American Arbitration Association. The Federal Arbitration Act (9 U.S.C. § 1 et seq.) governs the enforcement of arbitration agreements in US courts. A cross-border construction lawyer must evaluate which forum, which governing law, and which dispute-resolution mechanism protects the client’s interests given the specific facts of the project and the jurisdictions involved.
How Mr. Sris and his Of Counsel network handle cross-border construction matters
Law Offices of SRIS, P.C. approaches cross-border construction matters with a clear jurisdictional division: US-admitted attorneys handle all US-law aspects, and Colombia-admitted Of Counsel handle Colombia-law aspects. Mr. Sris, the firm’s Owner and Founder, is admitted to practice law in Virginia, Maryland, the District of Columbia, New Jersey, and New York. He and the firm’s US-admitted Of Counsel address the US-law dimensions of a cross-border construction matter — contract interpretation under US state law, federal construction statutes, US-based arbitration, and litigation in US courts.
For the Colombia-law side, the firm works with Eric Duport Jaramillo, Of Counsel for Colombia matters. Mr. Duport Jaramillo is admitted to practice law in Colombia and is not admitted in any US state bar; his role is limited to Colombia-law matters in collaboration with the US-admitted attorneys of the firm. This division ensures that each component of a cross-border construction matter receives attention from an attorney admitted in the relevant jurisdiction. The two sides coordinate on matters that span both legal systems — for example, a construction contract that must be enforceable under both US and Colombian law, or a dispute where evidence and assets are located in both countries.
About Mr. Sris and the sriscounsel Of Counsel network
Mr. Sris, Owner and Founder of Law Offices of SRIS, P.C., has practiced since 1997 and is admitted in Virginia, Maryland, the District of Columbia, New Jersey, and New York. He serves as the responsible US attorney for the firm’s cross-border construction practice, addressing contract disputes, project finance issues, and US-based arbitration and litigation. 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).
Eric Duport Jaramillo serves as Of Counsel for Colombia matters. Mr. Duport Jaramillo is admitted to practice law in Colombia and is not admitted in any US state bar; his role is limited to Colombia-law matters in collaboration with the US-admitted attorneys of the firm. His background includes service as Minister Counselor at the Embassy of Colombia to the European Union and as Executive President of the Pereira Chamber of Commerce. He brings substantial experience with Colombian commercial and regulatory frameworks to cross-border construction matters. The firm’s location in Pereira, Colombia, is available by appointment only.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need both a US-admitted lawyer and a Colombia-admitted lawyer for a cross-border construction dispute?
In most cross-border construction disputes, having counsel admitted in each relevant jurisdiction is essential because no single attorney is licensed to practice law in both the United States and Colombia. A US-admitted attorney handles US-law questions — contract enforcement in US courts, federal construction statutes, US-based arbitration — while a Colombia-admitted attorney addresses Colombia-law questions such as local regulatory compliance, Colombia-based contract claims, and enforcement of Colombian judgments. Law Offices of SRIS, P.C. provides the US-admitted counsel and collaborates with Colombia-admitted Of Counsel on the Colombia-law side, so the client has coordinated representation across both legal systems without any single attorney practicing outside their licensure. For guidance on your specific cross-border construction situation, reach Law Offices of SRIS, P.C. at (888) 437-7747.
What should a US contractor include in a construction contract with a Colombian counterparty?
A well-drafted cross-border construction contract should address governing law, dispute resolution, currency and payment terms, and the allocation of regulatory compliance responsibilities between the parties. The governing-law clause determines which country’s substantive law applies to contract interpretation. The dispute-resolution clause should specify whether disputes will be resolved through litigation in a designated court or through arbitration, and if arbitration, under which institutional rules. Payment provisions should address currency, exchange-rate risk, and the mechanics of cross-border transfers. The contract should also allocate responsibility for obtaining permits, complying with local building codes, and satisfying tax obligations in each jurisdiction. Because the enforceability of these provisions depends on the law of both countries, the contract should be reviewed by counsel admitted in each relevant jurisdiction before execution. To discuss the details of your cross-border construction contract, contact Law Offices of SRIS, P.C. at (888) 437-7747.
How are cross-border construction disputes typically resolved?
Cross-border construction disputes are most often resolved through international arbitration rather than litigation in national courts, because arbitration awards are more readily enforceable across borders. Many cross-border construction contracts designate arbitration under the rules of the International Chamber of Commerce, the American Arbitration Association’s International Centre for Dispute Resolution, or another recognized arbitral institution. The arbitration clause typically specifies the seat of arbitration, the governing law, the language of the proceedings, and the number of arbitrators. In the United States, the Federal Arbitration Act (9 U.S.C. § 1 et seq.) provides the statutory framework for enforcing arbitration agreements and confirming arbitration awards. The choice between arbitration and litigation, and the specific terms of the arbitration clause, can significantly affect the cost, duration, and outcome of a dispute. For a consultation on cross-border construction dispute resolution, reach Mr. Sris and his Of Counsel at (888) 437-7747.
What role does project finance play in cross-border construction between the US and Colombia?
Cross-border construction projects frequently involve financing from lenders in one country for a project located in the other, which requires legal structuring that satisfies the regulatory and security-interest requirements of both jurisdictions. A US-based lender financing a construction project in Colombia needs to understand how to perfect its security interest under Colombian law while ensuring that the loan documentation is enforceable under US law. Conversely, a Colombian developer borrowing from a US lender must navigate US lending regulations and Colombian foreign-investment rules. The legal work includes drafting loan agreements, security documents, intercreditor agreements, and guarantees that function across both legal systems. Each jurisdiction’s counsel addresses its own country’s law, and the two sides coordinate to ensure the overall financing structure is coherent and enforceable. For guidance on your specific cross-border construction situation, reach Law Offices of SRIS, P.C. at (888) 437-7747.
Can a US court enforce a Colombian judgment related to a construction dispute?
Enforcement of a foreign-country judgment in a US court is governed by the law of the state where enforcement is sought, and the specific requirements vary by state. Most US states have adopted some version of the Uniform Foreign-Country Money Judgments Recognition Act, which sets out the grounds on which a US court will recognize and enforce a judgment from another country. The party seeking enforcement must demonstrate that the foreign court had jurisdiction, that the proceedings were fundamentally fair, and that the judgment is final and conclusive under the law of the issuing country. The process typically requires filing a domesticated judgment action in the appropriate US state court. Because the procedural requirements differ by state and because the underlying Colombian judgment must meet US recognition standards, both US-admitted counsel and Colombia-admitted counsel play important roles in the enforcement process. To discuss the details of your international matter, contact Law Offices of SRIS, P.C. at (888) 437-7747.
What should I bring to an initial consultation about a cross-border construction matter?
For an initial consultation on a cross-border construction matter, bring the construction contract and any amendments, relevant correspondence between the parties, payment records, project specifications, and any notices of claim or dispute that have already been exchanged. If the matter involves a dispute, bring any demand letters, arbitration notices, or court filings. If the matter involves project finance, bring the loan agreement, security documents, and any correspondence with lenders. Having these documents available allows counsel to assess the governing law, the dispute-resolution mechanism, the key contractual obligations, and the jurisdictional issues that will shape the legal strategy. The consultation is an opportunity to understand which legal issues fall under US law and which fall under Colombian law, and how the firm’s US-admitted attorneys and Colombia-admitted Of Counsel would collaborate on the matter. For a consultation on cross-border construction counsel, reach Mr. Sris and his Of Counsel at (888) 437-7747.