Your customers require it
Multinationals and exporters ask suppliers for codes of conduct, environmental and social clauses, and proof of compliance.
Corporate law and sustainability · Bogotá
ESG and sustainability lawyer in Colombia built on solid ground
Customers, investors and partners are asking about your environmental, social and governance practices. We help your Colombian operation answer with facts and cut the legal risk of talking about sustainability.
- Setting up or converting to a BIC company
- Corporate governance and sustainability policies
- Sustainable contracts and ESG due diligence
Reply in under 3 business hours. Online anywhere or in person in Bogotá by appointment.
Why now
Sustainability is now a condition for doing business
Every new requirement comes with documents, obligations and legal risks that need careful handling.
Investors assess it
Funds and banks review ESG criteria before they lend or invest. Strong corporate governance opens doors.
Regulation is moving
Reporting duties, Colombia’s Green Taxonomy and international standards are raising what is expected of companies.
Getting the message wrong is costly
Calling a product "eco friendly" without backup can be misleading advertising. Greenwashing carries legal and reputational risk.
Services
ESG and sustainability legal advice for your business
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BIC companies
We set up your company as a BIC or convert your existing one, with clear bylaws and reporting duties.
ESG corporate governance
Board structure, committees, sustainability policies and directors’ duties regarding ESG risks.
Sustainable contracts
ESG clauses, supplier codes of conduct and responsible supply chain agreements.
ESG due diligence
Environmental, social and climate risks in transactions, investments and suppliers.
Compliance and reporting
Environmental compliance, GRI and SASB reports and review of your green claims.
Green brands and technology
Registering sustainable brands and protecting clean innovation through intellectual property.
How we work
How we support your company
01First conversation
Tell us the requirement or goal: a customer, an investor, a BIC conversion or a report.
02Assessment
We review your bylaws, contracts, policies and current risks.
03Plan and documents
We deliver our recommendations and draft the documents you need.
04Ongoing support
We advise you through implementation and any changes your customers or regulators ask for.
We work online with clients anywhere and meet in person in Bogotá by appointment.
BIC companies
Set up or convert your company as a BIC
A BIC (Benefit and Collective Interest) company is Colombia’s version of a benefit corporation. Under Law 1901 of 2018, any company can adopt BIC status. It is not a new entity type: it is a status written into the bylaws that commits the company to positive impact as well as profit.
We handle it at incorporation or through a bylaw amendment, help you choose impact activities you can actually deliver and guide you on the required annual management report.
Commit only to what you can deliver and report on.
The 5 dimensions of a BIC company
- Business model
- Corporate governance
- Labor practices
- Environmental practices
- Community practices
Compliance and reporting
Report and communicate sustainability without legal risk
More and more companies must report environmental, social and governance information, either by law or because customers and investors ask for it. We make sure what you report and advertise matches what your company really does.
Environmental compliance
The environmental obligations that apply to your operation, and responses to authority requests.
GRI and SASB reports
We prepare your sustainability reports under these international standards.
Greenwashing
We review messages, packaging and campaigns under Colombia’s Consumer Protection Statute before they go live.
Clients
Client experiences
“I am the CEO of Pharol in Chile and Colombia, a company that sells health products. We were very pleased to have Alejandro Quintana as our lawyer to register our trademarks with the SIC and to launch this project in Colombia.”
Felipe Fleiderman
Pharol“Soft Group provides marketing services across Latin America. Alejandro Quintana’s support was essential for us to register our trademark in Colombia.”
Aldo Pareto
Soft Group Colombia
The statements in this section were made by their authors and are published with their permission. They reflect personal, individual experiences and are not a promise or guarantee of results in other matters. Each case depends on its own facts, evidence, authorities, third parties and applicable law. Results obtained in past matters do not guarantee future results. Translated from the original Spanish.
Your lawyer
Alejandro Quintana Vega
Lawyer from Universidad del Rosario with 13+ years advising growing companies, digital businesses and startups. He handles every case personally.
- Specialist in Commercial Law, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana
- Master’s in Intellectual Property, Industrial Law and New Technologies, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid
- Master’s in Artificial Intelligence, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid
- Lecturer at universities in Colombia, Mexico and Poland
FAQ
What clients usually ask us
What is a BIC company?
A Colombian company that, besides seeking profit, commits in its bylaws to positive impact on its business model, corporate governance, labor, environmental and community practices. It is governed by Law 1901 of 2018.
Can my existing Colombian company become a BIC?
Yes. Any company can adopt BIC status by amending its bylaws. You do not need to set up a new entity.
What does a BIC company have to do?
Carry out the impact activities written into its bylaws and file an annual management report on them. We help you pick realistic commitments.
Why is a customer asking me to sign ESG clauses?
Large companies are accountable for risks in their supply chain and pass those requirements on to suppliers. We review the clauses so they are reasonable and achievable.
What is greenwashing?
Making environmental claims you cannot prove. In Colombia it can be treated as misleading advertising under the Consumer Protection Statute and can hurt your reputation.
Do I have to publish a sustainability report?
It depends on the type of company and its sector. Some have regulatory duties, others report because customers or investors require it. We look at your case.
Can we work in English?
Yes. We work online and in English with companies operating in Colombia.
How much does it cost?
It depends on the scope. We send you a quote after the first conversation.
Other services