Chambers Latin America Awards 2024: Celebrating legal excellence across the region

The prestigious Chambers Latin America Awards 2024 took place on November 22, 2024, at The Ritz-Carlton, South Beach in Miami, honoring top national and international law firms for their outstanding achievements in the legal profession. Based on extensive research for the Chambers Latin America Guide, the awards recognized excellence in legal work, strategic growth, client service, and contributions to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).

The event was hosted by Monica Tantalean, Latin America Research Director at Chambers and Partners.

For the first time in the history of the Awards, a Colombian firm won the Latin America Law Firm of the Year Award, which went to Brigard Urrutia.

Carlos Fradique-Méndez, Managing Partner of Brigard Urrutia, said: ’We believe that being recognised as the best law firm in Latin America and, for the sixth consecutive year, the best law firm in Colombia, reflects our commitment to professional excellence, the close and friendly relationship we have with our clients, colleagues and friends, and our constant search for value.   

Fradique-Méndez added: "That Brigard Urrutia is the first Colombian law firm to receive Chambers and Partners’ most important recognition in the region fills us with deep satisfaction and gratitude, especially as this award coincides with the celebration of our 90th anniversary. In addition, we were fortunate to be represented at the ceremony by a delegation of six Brigard Urrutia lawyers who reflect the culture and values of the entire team of our firm, including the youngest lawyers, whose enthusiasm, professionalism and constant effort honour our tradition of excellence and innovation’. 

Finally, the firm’s Managing Partner added: "These kind recognitions, which we always receive with humility and gratitude, are only possible thanks to our exceptional team, our culture of service and excellence, and our constant adherence to the highest ethical and professional standards that govern the practice of our noble profession.

- WINNERS -

Latin America Law Firm of the Year: Brigard Urrutia

Argentina
  - Winner: Marval O’Farrell Mairal
  - Client Service: Bruchou & Funes de Rioja
 
Bolivia
  - Winner: Moreno Baldivieso
 
Chile
  - Winner: Carey
  - Client Service: Claro & Cía
 
Colombia
  - Winner: Brigard Urrutia
  - Client Service: Posse Herrera Ruiz
 
Costa Rica
  - Winner: BLP
 
Cuba (International Counsel)
  - Winner: Akerman LLP
 
Dominican Republic
  - Winner: Headrick Rizik Álvarez & Fernández
 
Ecuador
  - Winner: Pérez Bustamante & Ponce
 
El Salvador
  - Winner: Arias
 
Guatemala
  - Winner: Alta QIL 4 ABOGADOS
 
Honduras
  - Winner: Consortium Legal
 
Mexico
  - Winner: Creel, García-Cuéllar, Aiza y Enríquez
  - Client Service: Galicia Abogados
 
Nicaragua
  - Winner: Consortium Legal
 
Panama
  - Winner: Morgan & Morgan
 
Paraguay
  - Winner: Vouga Abogados
 
Peru
  - Winner: Rodrigo, Elías & Medrano Abogados
  - Client Service: Payet, Rey, Cauvi, Pérez Abogados
 
Puerto Rico
  - Winner: McConnell Valdés LLC
 
Uruguay
  - Winner: Guyer & Regules
  - Client Service: Ferrere Abogados
 
Venezuela
  - Winner: D’Empaire

International Counsel Winners

Corporate Finance
  - Winner: Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton
 
International Arbitration
  - Winner: Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer
 
Project Finance
  - Winner: Paul Hastings
 
Regional Practice Winners

Regional Central American Practice of the Year:
  - Winner: Consortium Legal
 
Regional South American Practice of the Year
  - Winner: Baker McKenzie


The Chambers Latin America Awards 2024 also celebrated significant achievements in diversity and inclusion (DEI), highlighting individuals and firms committed to fostering an equitable legal community across the region.


DEI Individual Awards

DEI: Future Leader

•⁠  ⁠Winner: Matias Chaves – FERRERE (Paraguay) 

•⁠  ⁠Nominees included: 
  - Andrea Jaramillo - PPU (Colombia) 
  - Anna Albano - Colombara Estrategia Legal (Chile) 
  - Franco Di Miele - InterJuris Abogados (Venezuela) 
  - Lina Maria Moya Ortiz - Gómez-Pinzón Abogados (Colombia) 
  - Marcelo Castilla Baez - Payet, Rey, Cauvi, Pérez Abogados (Peru) 
  - Perla Salgado - Greenberg Traurig (Mexico) 
  - Renato Guerrieri - Guyer & Regules (Uruguay) 
  - Susan Perdomo - Consortium Legal (Guatemala) 
  - Uriel Balladares - Arias (Nicaragua) 

DEI: Outstanding Contribution

•⁠  ⁠Winner: Giovanna Garcia Saavedra - Payet, Rey, Cauvi, Pérez Abogados (Peru) 
•⁠  ⁠Highly Commended: Mariana Herrero - Galicia Abogados (Mexico) 

•⁠  ⁠Nominees included: 
  - Alix Airam Trimmer Espinosa - LAIN Laboral Interseccional (Mexico) 
  - Ana Clara Gomez Casadei - Mitrani Caballero (Argentina) 
  - Diego Hernandez – FerradaNehme (Chile) 
  - Ines Baca - Estudio Echecopar (Peru) 
  - Maria Cecilia Romoleroux – CorralRosales (Ecuador) 
  - Sebastian Ramos – FERRERE (Uruguay) 
  - Valentina Villa - Creel, Garcia-Cuéllar, Aiza y Enriquez, S.C. (Mexico) 
  - Vanessa Franyutti J. - Nader Hayaux y Goebel (Mexico) 

DEI Firm Awards

Environment and Sustainability: Outstanding Firm

•⁠  ⁠Winner: Carey (Chile) 

•⁠  ⁠Other nominees included: 
  - Alta Batalla (Costa Rica) 
  - ARAQUEREYNA (Venezuela) 
  - Arias (El Salvador) 
  - BARLAW (Peru) 
  - Gómez Pinzón Abogados (Colombia) 
  - Hogan Lovells (Mexico) 
  - Mijares, Angoitia, Cortés y Fuentes, S.C. (Mexico) 
  - Payet, Rey, Cauvi, Pérez Abogados (Peru) 
  - Von Wobeser y Sierra (Mexico) 

Pro Bono: Outstanding Firm

•⁠  ⁠Winner: PPO Abogados (Bolivia) 
•⁠  ⁠Highly Commended: FERRERE (Bolivia, Paraguay, and Uruguay) 

•⁠  ⁠Other nominees included: 
  - Alta Batalla (Costa Rica) 
  - FerradaNehme (Chile) 
  - Guyer & Regules (Uruguay) 
  - Hogan Lovells (Mexico) 
  - Marval, O’Farrell & Mairal (Argentina) 
  - PBP Pérez Bustamante & Ponce (Ecuador) 
  - Provoste Matamala Abogados (Chile) 
  - Von Wobeser y Sierra (Mexico) 

DEI: Outstanding Firm

•⁠  ⁠Winner: Miranda & Amado (Peru) 

•⁠  ⁠Other nominees included: 
  - Baker McKenzie (Latam-wide) 
  - Beccar Varela (Argentina) 
  - CMS (Latam-wide) 
  - EY (Costa Rica) 
  - Gómez-Pinzón Abogados (Colombia) 
  - MENPA (Venezuela) 
  - Olarte Moure & Asociados (Colombia) 
  - Payet, Rey, Cauvi, Pérez Abogados (Peru) 
  - Sarmiento Walker y Garcia Abogados (Chile) 

The awards highlighted the importance of diversity and inclusion in the legal profession and recognized the efforts of individuals and firms making significant contributions to these values across Latin America.

With a focus on recognizing excellence and innovation, the Chambers Latin America Awards 2024 highlighted the achievements of firms that continue to lead the way in the legal profession. For more details about the event and the winners, visit the Chambers website.