Holland & Knight Finds its Business in Bogota Booming

Holland & Knight's new office in Bogota, Colombia, is brimming with business that will benefit the firm, South Florida and other markets. Having opened with a small staff in May, the firm now has six attorneys and four staff in Bogota, with space for 15 more people.

"Things have changed so much here," said Colombia Practice Co-Chair Enrique Gómez-Pinzón. "It's a competitive business environment, but they are welcoming to foreigners." Holland & Knight is only the second U.S. law firm to open an office in Bogota.

"In the past year, we've done $5 million in Colombian transactions and disputes," said International and Cross Border Transactions Chair George Mencio. "We have access to the whole firm, obviously, but we are not a one-stop shop there, by any means," said Mr. Mencio. "We can handle tax, labor and energy - oil, gas and mining - and obviously hospitality."