The Bogota (Colombia) office of Diaz Reus International Law Firm, as well as Marcela Blanco, Marta Colomar-Garcia, Michael Diaz, Jr., Javier Coronado and Marcelo Buendía have been recognized by the international legal guide The Legal 500 Latin America 2025, Colombia chapter, in Compliance and White-Collar Crime; and Corporate / M&A.
In the Compliance & White-Collar Crime practice area, Javier Coronado has been named a “Next Generation Partner”, and Marcelo Buendía a “Rising Star”.
The Legal 500 commented:
The white-collar crime and compliance team at Diaz Reus International Law Firm is composed of ‘excellent lawyers, who have extensive knowledge’. Distinguished by its cross-border capability, the Bogotá arm of the USA-headquartered firm provides access to an international network of attorneys and other experts, including a team of former US prosecutors and government agents. The Colombia group alone contributes strong experience in representing high-profile business figures and corporations in white-collar investigations — both as defendants and victims. It also handles a significant volume of corporate governance and compliance matters. Qualified in Florida, New York and Colombia, up-and-coming specialist Javier Coronado splits his time between Bogotá and Miami; he is noted for his expertise in anti-corruption, tax evasion law, anti-money laundering and OFAC sanctions. Other key names include Bogotá office head Marcela Blanco, who is admitted in Florida, Kansas and Colombia; and associate Marcelo Buendía Vélez, who was formerly a prosecutor at the Office of the Attorney General.
Regarding the Corporate / M&A department, the Legal 500 added:
‘A firm that truly gives personalised attention to clients’, Diaz Reus International Law Firm’s growing corporate practice added six new companies to its roster during 2023/24, including World Freight Company and Manuport Logistics. Forming a key part of the Miami-headquartered firm’s extensive global offering, the Bogotá group acts for a wide range of multinational and domestic corporations, with a focus on cross-border work.
Some of the clients surveyed commented:
• ‘The team offers excellent services. It is also composed of excellent lawyers, who have extensive knowledge that they demonstrate on their cases.’
• ‘It is a firm that is always available to the client and charges quite competitive fees for the market.’
• ‘We value the team for its diversity, fully bilingual lawyers, experience in federal law and procedure, personal responsibility and ability to work closely with clients.’
• ‘A team of honest, transparent lawyers, who always act within the framework of legality, even in a complex world such as criminal law. The team includes lawyers who were prosecutors, which ensures their strategies are informed by their understanding of the relevant institutions.’
• ‘Javier Coronado, Marcela Blanco and Marcelo Buendía Vélez develop effective communication with their clients, which ensures that they conduct the case effectively. Communication is direct with them.’
• ‘Lawyers are always available, they immediately update us with news about the process. They are also very transparent in the process.’
• ‘The team is friendly, it explains the processes simply to non-lawyers, it is knowledgeable and it shares information constantly.’
•. ‘It is a firm that truly gives personalised attention to clients from senior attorneys.’
• ‘Marcela Blanco is very studious and accurate in her work and her legal opinions.’
