foreign direct investment Colombia lawyer
Law Offices of SRIS, P.C. is a US law firm founded in 1997 that assists US and international clients with the US legal dimensions of foreign direct investment into Colombia. The firm’s US-admitted attorneys, led by Mr. Sris, handle the US-side structuring, regulatory, and compliance work, while the firm’s Colombia Of Counsel, Eric Duport Jaramillo, provides Colombia-law support. Mr. Duport Jaramillo is admitted to practice law in Colombian bar 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. For a consultation on your cross-border investment matter, reach Law Offices of SRIS, P.C. at (888) 437-7747.
What a Foreign Direct Investment Colombia Lawyer Handles on the US Side
A foreign direct investment Colombia lawyer addresses the US legal and regulatory requirements that apply when a US person or entity invests in a Colombian business or project. The US legal framework for outbound investment includes the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (15 U.S.C. § 78dd-1 et seq.), which prohibits bribery of foreign officials and requires accurate books and records. US investors must also consider export-control regulations administered by the Bureau of Industry and Security and the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls, as well as US tax reporting obligations for foreign entities under the Internal Revenue Code. The US attorney’s role is to structure the investment vehicle, draft the US-side agreements, and ensure compliance with these US laws, while the Colombia-law aspects—such as local corporate formation, foreign investment registration with the Banco de la República, and Colombian tax treatment—are handled by Colombia-admitted counsel.
Because Colombia is a civil-law jurisdiction, the legal concepts and documentation differ from those in the US. The firm’s approach is to provide a coordinated cross-border service: Mr. Sris and the US-admitted attorneys manage the US-side work, and Eric Duport Jaramillo, Of Counsel, admitted to practice law in Colombian bar and not admitted in any US state bar, handles the Colombia-law side. This division ensures that each component of the investment is addressed by an attorney licensed in the relevant jurisdiction.
How Mr. Sris and the Colombia Of Counsel Collaborate on FDI Matters
When a client engages the firm for a foreign direct investment into Colombia, the US-admitted attorneys and the Colombia Of Counsel work in parallel under a clear jurisdictional division. Mr. Sris also drafts the US-law-governed documents, such as shareholder agreements, subscription agreements, and US-side disclosure schedules. Simultaneously, Eric Duport Jaramillo, Of Counsel, admitted to practice law in Colombian bar and not admitted in any US state bar, advises on Colombian corporate law, foreign investment registration, and local regulatory approvals. The two sides exchange information as needed, but each attorney practices only in the jurisdiction where they are admitted.
This collaborative model allows the firm to offer a seamless cross-border service without any attorney practicing law in a jurisdiction where they are not licensed. Clients receive US legal advice from a US-admitted attorney and Colombian legal advice from a Colombia-admitted attorney, with the firm coordinating the overall engagement. The firm’s location in Pereira, Colombia (by appointment only) serves as a point of contact for in-country meetings, but all US legal work is performed by the US-admitted attorneys from the firm’s US locations.
About Mr. Sris and the Colombia Of Counsel
Mr. Sris, Owner and Founder of Law Offices of SRIS, P.C., is admitted to practice law in Virginia, Maryland, the District of Columbia, New Jersey, and New York. He has handled cross-border matters since the firm’s founding in 1997 and 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). Mr. Sris leads the US-side work on foreign direct investment matters and serves as the responsible US attorney for all sriscounsel.com content.
Eric Duport Jaramillo, Of Counsel, admitted to practice law in Colombian bar and not admitted in any US state bar, brings substantial experience in Colombian corporate and commercial law. His practice with the firm is limited to matters of Colombian law and to serving as a liaison for international clients with the US-admitted attorneys. Mr. Duport Jaramillo’s background includes service as a former Minister Counselor at the Embassy of Colombia to the European Union and as Executive President of the Pereira Chamber of Commerce, giving him deep insight into the Colombian business environment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need both a US lawyer and a Colombian lawyer for a foreign direct investment into Colombia?
Yes, a foreign direct investment into Colombia typically requires both a US-admitted attorney and a Colombia-admitted attorney because the legal issues span two jurisdictions. The US attorney handles US regulatory compliance, tax structuring, and US-law-governed contracts, while the Colombia attorney handles Colombian corporate formation, foreign investment registration, and local regulatory approvals. Law Offices of SRIS, P.C. provides both through Mr. Sris (US-admitted) and Eric Duport Jaramillo (Colombia-admitted), with each attorney practicing only in their licensed jurisdiction. For guidance on your specific cross-border situation, reach Law Offices of SRIS, P.C. at (888) 437-7747.
What US laws apply when a US company invests in a Colombian business?
The primary US laws governing outbound investment into Colombia include the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), US export-control regulations, and US tax provisions for controlled foreign corporations. The FCPA (15 U.S.C. § 78dd-1 et seq.) prohibits bribery of foreign officials and requires accurate books and records. Export controls may apply if the investment involves technology or goods subject to the Export Administration Regulations or International Traffic in Arms Regulations. US tax law, including Subpart F and the Global Intangible Low-Taxed Income (GILTI) provisions, may affect the US tax treatment of the Colombian entity. The firm’s US-admitted attorneys advise on these US-law aspects.
How does the firm handle the division between US law and Colombian law on an FDI matter?
The firm maintains a strict jurisdictional division: Mr. Sris and the US-admitted attorneys handle all US-law aspects, and Eric Duport Jaramillo, Of Counsel, admitted to practice law in Colombian bar and not admitted in any US state bar, handles all Colombia-law aspects. The two sides coordinate through the firm’s case-management system, but each attorney’s work is limited to the jurisdiction where they are licensed. This structure ensures compliance with US bar rules and Colombian legal-ethics requirements. 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 Colombia FDI matter?
For an initial consultation on a foreign direct investment into Colombia, you should bring a summary of the proposed investment, the identities of the parties involved, and any existing corporate documents or term sheets. If the investment involves a US entity, bring the entity’s formation documents and tax ID. If the target is a Colombian business, bring any available Colombian corporate records, though the Colombia Of Counsel will obtain official Colombian registrations as part of the engagement. The US-admitted attorney will also need to understand the source of funds and the intended use of the investment to assess FCPA and anti-money-laundering compliance. For a consultation on cross-border counsel, reach Mr. Sris and his Of Counsel at (888) 437-7747.
Does the firm have a location in Colombia?
Yes, the firm maintains a location in Pereira, Colombia (by appointment only) to facilitate in-country meetings and coordination with the Colombia Of Counsel. The Pereira location is not a separate law office; all US legal services are provided by the US-admitted attorneys from the firm’s US locations. The Colombia location supports client meetings and document exchange for Colombia-law matters handled by Eric Duport Jaramillo, Of Counsel, admitted to practice law in Colombian bar and not admitted in any US state bar. For guidance on your specific cross-border situation, reach Law Offices of SRIS, P.C. at (888) 437-7747.
Can the firm help with both the US and Colombian sides of an FDI transaction?
Yes, the firm can assist with both the US and Colombian legal aspects of a foreign direct investment through its US-admitted attorneys and its Colombia Of Counsel. The US-admitted attorneys, led by Mr. Sris, handle US regulatory, tax, and contractual matters. Eric Duport Jaramillo, Of Counsel, admitted to practice law in Colombian bar and not admitted in any US state bar, handles Colombian corporate, regulatory, and tax matters. The firm coordinates the two workstreams so that the client receives integrated cross-border counsel without any attorney practicing outside their licensed jurisdiction. To discuss the details of your international matter, contact Law Offices of SRIS, P.C. at (888) 437-7747.