Korean investor counsel for Colombia
Law Offices of SRIS, P.C. is a US law firm founded in 1997 that assists Korean investors with the US legal dimensions of investing in Colombia. The firm’s US-admitted attorneys, led by Mr. Sris, handle US regulatory, tax, immigration, and anti-corruption matters, while Colombia-law issues are managed through 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. For a consultation on cross-border investment counsel, reach the firm at (888) 437-7747.
What This Cross-Border Practice Area Covers
Korean investors pursuing opportunities in Colombia face a distinct set of US legal obligations that extend beyond the transaction itself. The United States regulates outbound investment through a framework of tax, anti-corruption, and trade laws that apply to US persons and, in some cases, to foreign investors with US connections. A Korean investor structuring a Colombian venture must consider the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (15 U.S.C. § 78dd-1 et seq.), which prohibits bribery of foreign officials and imposes accounting requirements on issuers.
On the trade side, the United States-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement Implementation Act (Public Law 112-42) provides preferential tariff treatment for qualifying goods, creating opportunities for Korean investors who manufacture in Colombia for the US market. US immigration law also offers pathways for Korean nationals who invest in or manage a Colombian enterprise that has a US nexus, including the E-2 treaty investor visa under the US-Korea Treaty of Friendship, Commerce and Navigation (USCIS E-2 Treaty Investors). The firm advises on each of these US-law components, coordinating with Colombia-admitted counsel on the Colombian side.
How Mr. Sris and His Of Counsel Network Handle These Matters
Mr. Sris, the firm’s founder and managing attorney, leads the US-law side of every cross-border engagement. He is admitted to practice in Virginia, Maryland, the District of Columbia, New Jersey, and New York, and brings decades of experience in US regulatory and litigation matters. For the Colombia-law dimension, the firm works 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 division ensures that each jurisdiction’s legal work is performed by an attorney licensed in that jurisdiction, consistent with US bar rules and Colombian professional regulations.
The firm’s location in Pereira, Colombia (by appointment only) facilitates direct coordination with Mr. Duport Jaramillo and local institutions. When a Korean investor needs, for example, to form a Colombian subsidiary, Mr. Sris advises on the US tax and reporting implications while Mr. Duport Jaramillo handles the Colombian corporate registration and local regulatory approvals. The two sides share information as needed but maintain strict jurisdictional separation. The firm does not practice Colombian law directly; all Colombian legal services are provided by the Of Counsel attorney under his own professional license.
About Mr. Sris and the firm’s Of Counsel Network
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). Mr. Sris and his Of Counsel bring extensive combined legal experience across US and foreign jurisdictions.
Eric Duport Jaramillo, Of Counsel for Colombia matters, is admitted to practice law in Colombian bar and not admitted in any US state bar. His practice with the firm is limited to Colombian law and to serving as a liaison for international clients with the firm’s US-admitted attorneys. 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, giving him deep insight into the Colombian business and regulatory environment.
Frequently Asked Questions
What US legal issues should a Korean investor consider when investing in Colombia?
A Korean investor must evaluate US anti-corruption, tax, and trade laws that may apply to the investment. The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (15 U.S.C. § 78dd-1 et seq.) can reach conduct outside the United States if the investor has a US connection. US tax rules, including the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) and the Foreign Investment in Real Property Tax Act (FIRPTA), may impose reporting or withholding obligations. The US-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement Implementation Act offers tariff benefits for goods that meet origin rules, and US export controls may restrict technology transfers. The firm’s US-admitted attorneys analyze each of these areas in light of the investor’s specific structure and goals.
Do I need both a US lawyer and a Colombian lawyer for my investment?
Yes—a cross-border investment typically requires counsel licensed in each jurisdiction. The US-law aspects (tax, immigration, FCPA compliance, trade) must be handled by a US-admitted attorney. The Colombia-law aspects (corporate formation, local permits, labor law, Colombian tax) must be handled by a Colombian-admitted attorney. Law Offices of SRIS, P.C. provides the US-law representation through Mr. Sris and coordinates with Eric Duport Jaramillo, Of Counsel, admitted to practice law in Colombian bar and not admitted in any US state bar, for the Colombian side. This dual-counsel model keeps each attorney within their licensed jurisdiction. For a consultation, call (888) 437-7747.
How does the firm handle the US-Colombia cross-border aspects of an investment?
The firm separates the US and Colombian legal workstreams while maintaining a single point of coordination. Mr. Sris and the US-admitted attorneys handle all US regulatory, tax, and immigration matters. Eric Duport Jaramillo, Of Counsel, admitted to practice law in Colombian bar and not admitted in any US state bar, handles the Colombian corporate, regulatory, and litigation matters. The two sides share information under a joint engagement letter that clearly delineates each attorney’s role. The firm’s location in Pereira, Colombia (by appointment only) supports in-person coordination when needed. This structure complies with US bar rules and Colombian professional regulations.
What is the FCPA and how does it apply to Korean investors in Colombia?
The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act is a US statute that prohibits bribery of foreign officials and requires accurate books and records for issuers. The FCPA’s anti-bribery provisions (15 U.S.C. § 78dd-1 for issuers, § 78dd-2 for domestic concerns, and § 78dd-3 for certain foreign persons acting in US territory) can apply to a Korean investor if the investor is a US issuer, a US domestic concern, or takes an act in furtherance of a bribe while in US territory. Even if the investor is not directly subject to the FCPA, US partners, banks, or acquirers may require FCPA compliance as a condition of doing business. The firm advises on FCPA risk assessment, due diligence, and compliance program design for cross-border investments.
Can the firm assist with US immigration for Korean investors in Colombia?
Yes—the firm’s US-admitted attorneys handle US immigration matters for Korean nationals whose business activities have a US nexus. A Korean investor who needs to travel to the United States to manage a Colombian subsidiary that does business with the US may qualify for an E-2 treaty investor visa under the US-Korea Treaty of Friendship, Commerce and Navigation. The firm prepares E-2 petitions, advises on consular processing, and addresses admissibility issues. For immigration matters that involve Colombian documentation, the firm coordinates with Eric Duport Jaramillo, Of Counsel, admitted to practice law in Colombian bar and not admitted in any US state bar, to obtain and authenticate the necessary Colombian records. Reach the firm at (888) 437-7747 to discuss your situation.
Does the firm provide legal advice on Colombian law directly?
No—Law Offices of SRIS, P.C. does not practice Colombian law. All Colombian legal services are provided by Eric Duport Jaramillo, Of Counsel, who is admitted to practice law in Colombian bar and not admitted in any US state bar. The firm’s role is to provide US-law counsel and to coordinate the Colombian-law work through Mr. Duport Jaramillo. This separation is required by US bar rules and Colombian professional regulations, and it protects the client by ensuring that each jurisdiction’s law is handled by a licensed practitioner. The firm’s engagement letter clearly identifies which attorney is responsible for each aspect of the matter.