Horst Law launches as boutique firm focused on Energy, Oil & Gas and regulated industries

Bogotá D.C., May 2026 — Álvaro Yáñez Peñaranda, Álvaro Josué Yáñez Alsina and Daniela Vergel Riascos, partners who led the Energy and Natural Resources practice at CMS Rodríguez-Azuero, announce that, following their departure from the firm, they are founding Horst Law together with the full team that has accompanied them. The firm launches as a high-level boutique practice specialized in transactions and industries where regulation is not a constraint, but a strategic opportunity, with a focus on Energy, Oil & Gas, Mining, Environmental Law and Sustainability.

The name is not arbitrary. In geology, a horst is the structure that rises above the surrounding terrain through forces acting from within, the sustained pressure that defines precisely where the ordinary ends and what stands out begins. At Horst Law, elevation is a work of foundations: without them, there is no growth, no surpassing, no genuine standing out.

"We wanted the name to reflect what we do: work from the deepest layers of the industry — energy, oil & gas, mining, environmental — and elevate the quality of legal counsel beyond the standard. A horst is not formed at the surface. It is formed under pressure, with structure," said Daniela Vergel Riascos, Founding Partner.

Horst Law advises companies and investors operating in sectors where regulation shapes the business. Its practice is concentrated in five highly specialized areas: Energy, Oil & Gas, Mining, Environmental Law & Sustainability, and Corporate & Transactional Law.

The firm’s strength lies at the intersection of regulatory and transactional work. It combines deep knowledge of each sector with the practical ability to structure operations, close transactions and manage risks.

The firm supports its clients at every stage: from project structuring and contract negotiation to the resolution of complex disputes, always with a focus on the business outcome.

"In highly regulated sectors, the difference is made by those who understand the business before they understand the rule. That is what we have built at Horst Law," said Álvaro Josué Yáñez, Founding Partner.

Horst Law holds a unique position in the regional market: an active and consolidated practice in Venezuela, at a time when the country is undergoing a process of economic opening and investment in the energy sector. In a complex environment full of opportunities, the firm supports the entry and operation of companies and investors seeking to structure their presence with legal rigor and strategic vision.

Horst Law is led by Álvaro Yáñez P., Álvaro Josué Yáñez and Daniela Vergel Riascos, who came together with their full team to found the firm. They are joined by Alex Flórez, Valentina Restrepo, Sebastián Avendaño, Edna Guillén and María Clara Cortés in the legal practice, and Ana María Cuervo in administrative management.

Contact: info@horst-law.com | www.horst-law.com | Bogotá D.C., Colombia.