Dutch investor counsel for Colombia
Law Offices of SRIS, P.C. provides US legal counsel to Dutch investors and businesses with interests in Colombia. Our cross-border practice addresses the US-law dimensions of structuring investments, navigating anti-corruption compliance under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), and coordinating with Colombian legal professionals. Mr. Sris, the firm’s founder and a US-licensed attorney admitted in Virginia, Maryland, the District of Columbia, New Jersey, and New York, leads the US-side representation. For Colombian-law matters, the firm collaborates with Eric Duport Jaramillo, Of Counsel, who is admitted to practice law in Colombia and not admitted in any US state bar; his role is limited to Colombian-law matters in collaboration with the firm’s US-admitted attorneys.
Cross-border investment counsel for Dutch investors
Dutch investors pursuing opportunities in Colombia often encounter a web of US legal considerations, particularly when the investment involves a US entity, US-based financing, or US persons. The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act imposes anti-bribery and accounting provisions that can reach conduct outside the United States if a sufficient US nexus exists. A Dutch parent company that lists securities on a US exchange, or that conducts business through a US subsidiary, may find itself subject to FCPA jurisdiction. Our firm advises on structuring transactions to mitigate FCPA risk, including due diligence on local partners and the design of internal compliance programs.
Beyond anti-corruption, US law affects the choice of investment vehicle. A Dutch investor may form a US limited liability company or corporation to hold Colombian assets, raising questions of US tax classification, reporting obligations, and securities regulation. We guide clients through entity selection, operating agreements, and the interplay between US and Colombian corporate formalities. When the investment involves a US-based executive or a US visa for the investor, we also address immigration options such as the E-2 treaty investor classification, available to nationals of the Netherlands under the USCIS E-2 treaty investor program.
How Mr. Sris and his Of Counsel network handle these matters
Mr. Sris and the firm’s US-admitted attorneys manage all US-law aspects of a Dutch investor’s Colombia-focused engagement. This includes FCPA analysis, US entity formation, US immigration petitions, and any US litigation or regulatory exposure. For Colombian-law issues—such as local corporate registration, Colombian tax compliance, or Colombian regulatory approvals—the firm works with Eric Duport Jaramillo, Of Counsel, who is admitted to practice law in Colombia and not admitted in any US state bar. Mr. Duport Jaramillo’s role is limited to Colombian-law matters in collaboration with the firm’s US-admitted attorneys. The two sides maintain strict jurisdictional separation: US lawyers do not practice Colombian law, and the Colombian Of Counsel does not practice US law.
This division ensures that each component of a cross-border investment receives counsel from a professional licensed in the relevant jurisdiction. The firm coordinates the work streams so that the US and Colombian legal strategies align, but the client retains separate, jurisdiction-specific representation. For Dutch investors, this model provides a single point of contact for the US side while ensuring that Colombian-law advice comes from a qualified Colombian attorney.
About Mr. Sris and the firm’s Of Counsel network
Mr. Sris founded Law Offices of SRIS, P.C. in 1997. He is admitted to practice in Virginia, Maryland, the District of Columbia, New Jersey, and New York, and he leads the firm’s cross-border practice. His background includes testimony before the Virginia House Courts of Justice Committee in support of 2019 HB 635, the bill that revised Va. Code § 20-107.3(g). Mr. Sris brings decades of experience to complex US legal matters involving international parties.
For Colombia-related engagements, the firm collaborates with Eric Duport Jaramillo, Of Counsel, who is admitted to practice law in Colombia and not admitted in any US state bar. Mr. Duport Jaramillo’s practice with the firm is limited to Colombian-law matters and to serving as a liaison for international clients with the firm’s US-admitted attorneys. The firm’s location in Pereira, Colombia (by appointment only) facilitates coordination with Colombian institutions and local counsel.
Frequently asked questions
What US legal services does the firm offer to Dutch investors with Colombian interests?
We provide US legal counsel on entity formation, FCPA compliance, US immigration for investors, and cross-border transaction structuring. Our US-admitted attorneys handle the US-law dimensions of a Dutch investor’s Colombian project, including the choice of a US holding company, US tax classification, and compliance with the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. We also assist with E-2 treaty investor visas for Dutch nationals who wish to direct their US investment from within the United States. For Colombian-law matters, we coordinate with Eric Duport Jaramillo, Of Counsel, who is admitted in Colombia and not admitted in any US state bar.
Do I need a US lawyer if my investment is entirely in Colombia?
You may need US counsel if the investment touches US persons, US entities, US financing, or US securities laws. Even a purely Colombian operating company can trigger US legal obligations if, for example, it raises capital from US investors, enters into contracts governed by US law, or has a US-based director. Our firm evaluates the US nexus and advises on the applicable US regulatory framework. For the Colombian-law side, we engage Eric Duport Jaramillo, Of Counsel, who is admitted to practice law in Colombia and not admitted in any US state bar.
How does the firm coordinate with Colombian counsel?
We maintain a structured collaboration with Eric Duport Jaramillo, Of Counsel, who is admitted in Colombia and not admitted in any US state bar. Mr. Duport Jaramillo handles Colombian-law matters—such as local corporate filings, Colombian tax registrations, and Colombian regulatory approvals—while our US-admitted attorneys manage the US-law components. Mr. Sris and the Of Counsel share information under a joint engagement framework, but each attorney practices only in the jurisdiction where they are licensed. This model gives Dutch investors a coordinated cross-border strategy without any unauthorized practice of law.
What FCPA risks should a Dutch investor consider when entering Colombia?
The FCPA can apply to a Dutch investor if the investor, or an agent acting on its behalf, uses US interstate commerce or has a sufficient US nexus. The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act prohibits bribery of foreign officials and requires accurate books and records for issuers. A Dutch company that is listed on a US exchange, or that conducts a transaction through a US bank, may fall within FCPA jurisdiction. We help clients design compliance programs, conduct due diligence on Colombian partners, and structure transactions to reduce FCPA exposure. For Colombian anti-corruption law, we refer to Eric Duport Jaramillo, Of Counsel, who is admitted in Colombia and not admitted in any US state bar.
Can the firm help with a US visa for a Dutch investor managing a Colombian project?
Yes, we assist Dutch nationals with E-2 treaty investor classification when the investment qualifies under US immigration law. The Netherlands is a treaty country for E-2 purposes, and a Dutch investor who makes a substantial investment in a US enterprise may be eligible to live in the United States to direct that enterprise. Our US-admitted attorneys prepare the E-2 petition, document the source of funds, and demonstrate that the investment is not marginal. We do not handle Colombian immigration matters; for Colombian visas, we coordinate with Eric Duport Jaramillo, Of Counsel, who is admitted in Colombia and not admitted in any US state bar.
How do I get started with cross-border investment counsel?
Contact Law Offices of SRIS, P.C. at (888) 437-7747 to schedule a consultation. During the initial discussion, we will identify the US-law issues relevant to your Dutch-Colombian investment, explain how our US-admitted attorneys and Colombian Of Counsel work together, and outline a preliminary strategy. All consultations are by appointment only. We serve clients from our principal location in Virginia and our location in Pereira, Colombia (by appointment only).
For guidance on related cross-border matters, contact Law Offices of SRIS, P.C. at (888) 437-7747.