Colombia labor lawyer
Law Offices of SRIS, P.C. is a US law firm with an international clientele, assisting businesses and individuals with cross-border labor and employment matters that involve Colombia. US labor laws apply to US employers and employees regardless of nationality, and Colombian nationals working in the United States or US companies with operations in Colombia often face overlapping legal obligations. The firm’s US-admitted attorneys, led by Mr. Sris, handle the US-law side of these matters, while the firm’s Colombia Of Counsel provides guidance on Colombian labor law. Whether you need to ensure compliance with the Fair Labor Standards Act, address a wrongful termination claim, or structure an employment contract for a Colombian executive, the firm can help. Reach Law Offices of SRIS, P.C. at (888) 437-7747 to discuss your cross-border employment needs.
Cross-border labor law covers US employment statutes and Colombian labor regulations when a matter spans both countries.
When a Colombian national works in the United States, US federal and state employment laws govern the relationship. Key statutes include the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), which sets minimum wage and overtime rules; Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, and national origin; the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA); and the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). These laws apply to all employees working in the US, regardless of immigration status. For US companies employing workers in Colombia, Colombian labor law—including the Código Sustantivo del Trabajo—governs the employment relationship, and the firm’s Colombia Of Counsel can advise on those requirements.
Cross-border labor issues also arise when a US employer transfers a Colombian employee to a US location, when a Colombian company hires a US citizen to work remotely, or when a dispute involves conduct in both countries. The firm helps clients navigate wage-and-hour compliance, employment discrimination claims, restrictive covenants, and termination procedures under US law, while coordinating with Colombian counsel on the Colombian-law dimensions. Because US labor law is complex and fact-specific, early consultation with a US-admitted attorney is essential to avoid costly missteps.
Mr. Sris and the firm’s US-admitted attorneys handle all US-law aspects of cross-border labor matters, while the firm’s Colombia Of Counsel addresses Colombian labor law.
Law Offices of SRIS, P.C. approaches cross-border employment matters with a clear jurisdictional division. Mr. Sris, admitted to practice in Virginia, Maryland, the District of Columbia, New Jersey, and New York, leads the US-law side. He and the firm’s other US-admitted Of Counsel attorneys advise on federal and state employment statutes, represent clients in US administrative proceedings before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and the Department of Labor, and litigate employment disputes in US courts. For matters involving Colombian labor law, the firm collaborates with Eric Duport Jaramillo, Of Counsel, admitted to practice law in Colombian bar and 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 structure ensures that each legal issue is handled by an attorney licensed in the relevant jurisdiction. Mr. Sris does not practice Colombian law, and Mr. Duport Jaramillo does not practice US law. The firm’s location in Pereira, Colombia (by appointment only) serves as a liaison point for clients in the region, but all US legal advice is provided by the firm’s US-admitted attorneys. Clients benefit from coordinated counsel that addresses both the US and Colombian dimensions of their employment matter without unauthorized practice of law concerns.
Mr. Sris founded the firm in 1997 and leads a network of Of Counsel attorneys who bring extensive combined legal experience to cross-border employment matters.
Mr. Sris, Owner and Founder of Law Offices of SRIS, P.C., is a former prosecutor admitted in Virginia, Maryland, the District of Columbia, New Jersey, and New York. He 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). His practice includes employment litigation, business disputes, and cross-border counseling for international clients. Mr. Sris and his Of Counsel bring extensive combined legal experience to every matter.
The firm’s Of Counsel network includes Eric Duport Jaramillo, Of Counsel, admitted to practice law in Colombia and not admitted in any US state bar. Mr. Duport Jaramillo’s 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 provides Colombian-law insight on labor regulations, employment contracts, and dispute resolution under Colombian law, working in coordination with the firm’s US-admitted attorneys. Together, the firm offers a practical, jurisdictionally sound approach to cross-border labor issues.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a Colombia labor lawyer do?
A Colombia labor lawyer handles employment law matters that involve Colombian law or Colombian parties, often in coordination with US counsel when the matter crosses borders. At Law Offices of SRIS, P.C., the US-admitted attorneys manage the US-law side—such as FLSA compliance, discrimination claims, or contract disputes under US law—while the firm’s Colombia Of Counsel, Eric Duport Jaramillo, advises on Colombian labor statutes, including the Código Sustantivo del Trabajo. This dual-counsel model ensures that each jurisdiction’s laws are properly applied without any attorney practicing outside their licensure. For a Colombian national working in the US, the US-admitted attorney is the lead; for a US company with Colombian employees, the Colombia Of Counsel provides the Colombian-law analysis.
Do I need a US employment lawyer if I am a Colombian national working in the United States?
Yes, if you have a US employment dispute or need advice on your rights under US law, you should consult a US-admitted employment lawyer. US labor laws protect all employees working in the United States, regardless of nationality. A US-admitted attorney can advise on wage claims, discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and wrongful termination under statutes like the FLSA, Title VII, and the ADA. Law Offices of SRIS, P.C. represents Colombian nationals in US employment matters, with Mr. Sris and the firm’s US-admitted attorneys serving as counsel of record. The firm’s Colombia Of Counsel can assist with related Colombian-law questions, such as the enforceability of a Colombian employment contract in the US, but the US-law representation is handled exclusively by US-licensed attorneys.
How does Law Offices of SRIS, P.C. handle cross-border employment disputes involving Colombia?
The firm divides the matter by jurisdiction: US-admitted attorneys handle the US-law claims, and the Colombia Of Counsel handles the Colombian-law claims, with coordination between them. For example, if a Colombian employee of a US company alleges both US wage violations and Colombian severance-pay violations, the firm’s US-admitted attorneys would pursue the FLSA claim in US court or before the Department of Labor, while Eric Duport Jaramillo, Of Counsel, would advise on the Colombian labor-law claim under Colombian procedures. The two sides share information as needed but maintain strict jurisdictional separation. This approach avoids unauthorized practice of law and ensures each claim is handled by an attorney licensed in the relevant country.
What US labor laws apply to Colombian employees working in the US?
All US federal, state, and local employment laws apply to Colombian employees working in the United States, just as they apply to US citizens. Key federal statutes include the Fair Labor Standards Act (minimum wage, overtime), Title VII (discrimination), the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act, and the Age Discrimination in Employment Act. State laws may provide additional protections. Immigration status does not exempt an employer from these obligations. The firm’s US-admitted attorneys can assess which laws apply to a specific situation and advise on compliance or litigation strategy.
How can I consult with a Colombia labor lawyer at the firm?
You can reach Law Offices of SRIS, P.C. at (888) 437-7747 to schedule a consultation about your cross-border employment matter. During the consultation, the firm will determine whether your issue involves US law, Colombian law, or both, and will assign the appropriate attorney. If the matter requires Colombian-law advice, Eric Duport Jaramillo, Of Counsel, will be engaged for that portion, while Mr. Sris or another US-admitted attorney handles the US-law aspects. Consultations are by appointment only. The firm’s location in Pereira, Colombia, is available for in-person meetings by prior arrangement, but all US legal services are provided from the firm’s US locations.
What should I bring to a consultation about a cross-border employment matter?
Bring any employment contracts, offer letters, pay stubs, termination notices, and correspondence related to the dispute or question. If the matter involves both US and Colombian elements, bring documents from both jurisdictions. For US-law claims, relevant documents include any EEOC charge, Department of Labor complaint, or court filings. For Colombian-law aspects, bring any Colombian employment contract, settlement agreement, or communication with Colombian labor authorities. The firm’s attorneys will review the materials to identify the applicable laws and jurisdictions. Having these documents ready helps the consultation be more productive and allows the firm to provide a clearer assessment of your options.