international Colombia lawyer
Clients whose legal matters span the United States and Colombia need coordinated guidance across two distinct legal systems. Law Offices of SRIS, P.C., a US law firm with an international clientele, helps businesses, families, and individuals navigate the US-Colombia legal intersection — from commercial transactions and family law to immigration and judgment enforcement. Our principal attorney, Mr. Sris, is admitted to practice in Virginia, Maryland, the District of Columbia, New Jersey, and New York, and he collaborates with our Colombia-focused Of Counsel network to address cross-border needs efficiently. Call (888) 437-7747 to discuss your situation with a knowledgeable US-licensed attorney who understands the Colombian context.
What This Cross-Border Practice Area Covers
An international Colombia lawyer is not a single admission that covers both countries. Instead, the role coordinates the work of a US-licensed attorney and a Colombian-licensed attorney. At Law Offices of SRIS, P.C. we handle the U.S. side of cross-border matters, while our Of Counsel network addresses Colombian law. Typical engagements include:
- Business and commercial law: forming US subsidiaries of Colombian companies, drafting supply and distribution agreements, compliance with the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) as it intersects with Colombia’s Estatuto Anticorrupción, and advising on OFAC sanctions (as of 2026).
- Family and matrimonial law: recognition of foreign marriages under the doctrine of lex loci celebrationis, international divorce when one spouse resides in Colombia, child custody matters involving the 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction, and spousal support orders that cross borders.
- Immigration and visa matters: securing US visas (L-1, E-2, H-1B, EB-5) for Colombian nationals, navigating consular processing at the US Embassy in Bogotá, and coordinating with our Colombia-admitted liaison for any necessary Colombian immigration documentation.
- Judgment and arbitration enforcement: serving process under the 1965 Hague Service Convention — to which Colombia is a party — and enforcing US court orders or arbitral awards in Colombia, or vice versa.
How Mr. Sris and His Of Counsel Network Handle These Matters
Mr. Sris is the responsible US attorney for every matter we undertake. He and his Of Counsel colleagues divide the work carefully to respect each attorney’s licensure. For a matter that involves both U.S. and Colombian law, the US-law portion — whether it is filing a lawsuit in Virginia, preparing an H-1B petition, or analyzing FCPA obligations — is led by Mr. Sris or another US-licensed attorney at the firm. The Colombian-law portion is managed by a Colombian-licensed attorney through our Of Counsel network.
Eric Duport Jaramillo, Of Counsel for Colombia matters at Law Offices of SRIS, P.C., serves as the firm’s primary Colombia liaison. Licensed in Colombia. Not admitted in any US state bar. His role is limited to matters of Colombian law and to coordinating with the firm’s US-licensed attorneys on behalf of clients. When SRIS engages additional Of Counsel in Colombia, those attorneys will similarly handle the Colombian-law side under their own licensure.
Because we do not currently employ a Colombia-admitted attorney as a direct practitioner, any representation that requires Colombian law advice is referred to an independent Colombian attorney, with Mr. Sris and the firm’s US team maintaining close collaboration. Our approach ensures that every client benefits from seamless case management while complying with the unauthorized-practice-of-law rules in both jurisdictions.
About Mr. Sris and the Law Offices of SRIS, P.C. Of Counsel Network
Mr. Sris founded Law Offices of SRIS, P.C. in 1997, and today he is its Owner, CEO, and Managing Attorney. Admitted to practice in Virginia, Maryland, the District of Columbia, New Jersey, and New York, Mr. Sris is a former prosecutor who built the firm into a practice that serves clients across the United States and internationally. He has testified before the Virginia House Courts of Justice Committee in support of 2019 HB 635 (chief patron Del. David Bulova) and was involved in the introduction of Virginia’s Pongal Day resolution (HJR 573). His ability to manage cross-border matters stems from decades of hands-on litigation and a cultivated network of foreign-licensed colleagues.
The firm’s Of Counsel network includes attorneys like Eric Duport Jaramillo, whose background — including leadership at the Pereira Chamber of Commerce and diplomatic service as Minister Counselor at the Embassy of Colombia to the European Union — brings substantial international business and legal insight. While Mr. Jaramillo is not admitted in the United States, his Colombian licensure and experience ensure that the Colombian-law aspects of our clients’ matters are handled by a capable, well-credentialed professional. The firm continues to expand its network to serve the growing US-Colombia economic relationship.
Frequently Asked Questions
What types of cases does an international Colombia lawyer handle?
An international Colombia lawyer coordinates US and Colombian law for clients whose issues cross borders. Typical cases include cross-border business transactions, FCPA and anti-corruption compliance, international divorce and child custody, US immigration for Colombian nationals, and enforcement of judgments between the two countries. The attorney does not need to be licensed in both countries; rather, the US-licensed lawyer partners with a Colombian-licensed lawyer to deliver full-scope representation. At Law Offices of SRIS, P.C., Mr. Sris leads the US side while his Of Counsel network, including Colombian-licensed Eric Duport Jaramillo, manages the Colombian law components.
Do I need a lawyer licensed in both the U.S. and Colombia for a cross-border matter?
No single lawyer needs to hold dual licensure; instead, two licensed lawyers collaborate. A US-licensed attorney handles the U.S. legal work, and a Colombian-licensed attorney handles the Colombian legal work. Coordinating the two through one firm like Law Offices of SRIS, P.C. eliminates the need for the client to manage separate relationships. We pair Mr. Sris (licensed in five US states) with a Colombian Of Counsel — currently Eric Duport Jaramillo — for matters requiring Colombian-law advice, ensuring each side is fully compliant with its jurisdiction’s licensing requirements.
How does Law Offices of SRIS, P.C. handle a case that involves both U.S. and Colombian law?
We divide the representation clearly: Mr. Sris or another US-licensed attorney manages the US-law portion, and a Colombian Of Counsel attorney manages the Colombian-law portion. For example, if a Colombian company is setting up a US subsidiary, Mr. Sris will advise on corporate formation, federal tax identification, and compliance, while the Colombian Of Counsel will ensure that the Colombian parent’s board resolutions and notarizations meet Colombian legal standards. Regular collaboration between the two attorneys keeps the client’s goals aligned without crossing anyone’s licensure boundaries.
What makes working with an international Colombia lawyer different from hiring separate U.S. and Colombian lawyers?
Working through a single firm that coordinates both lawyers reduces duplication, miscommunication, and strategic gaps. When you hire separate lawyers, you must brief each independently and manage their schedules yourself. At Law Offices of SRIS, P.C., we maintain active communication between our US and Colombian professionals, so the client deals with one point of contact and receives consistent advice that respects both sets of laws. This integrated approach is especially valuable for time-sensitive matters like cross-border business negotiations or international custody disputes.
Can the firm assist with service of process in Colombia under the Hague Service Convention?
Yes, we can facilitate service through Colombia’s designated Central Authority under the 1965 Hague Service Convention. Colombia is a contracting party, so standard Hague Service Convention procedures apply. We prepare the required translations, assemble the request in the form prescribed by the Convention, and submit it through a competent US authority to the Colombian Central Authority. The timing depends on the Central Authority’s current workload, and we monitor progress throughout. For matters where time is critical, we also evaluate alternative service methods available under the law of the US forum state.
What should I bring to an initial consultation about a US-Colombia legal matter?
Bring a brief summary of the cross-border issue, any existing contracts or court orders, and identification documents for the relevant individuals or entities. If the matter involves a Colombian divorce or custody issue, provide the marriage certificate and any prior Colombian court orders. For business matters, bring the Colombian company’s cédula de ciudadanía of its legal representative, the certificado de existencia y representación legal (or equivalent), and draft transaction documents. Mr. Sris will review the US-law aspects, and we will prepare a summary for the Colombian Of Counsel, enabling an efficient, well-structured initial assessment of your case.