According to many, Lloreda Camacho & Co. is ‘the must-go-to team for life sciences within the Colombian market’. Acting for an enviable portfolio of major domestic and multinational pharmaceutical, healthcare, cosmetics, medical devices and food and beverage companies, the group continues to grow its market share and added Becton Dickinson and Galderma — among numerous others — to its roster during 2024/25. Department head Ana María Castro is hailed by clients as an ‘A+ life sciences expert’; she provides ongoing advice to a string of global pharma corporations on patent work — including Gilead Sciences and Incyte — and she also advises on regulatory matters. Daniel Cardona specialises in health legislation, where he contributes ‘deep understanding of the scientific and technical aspects of the sector’; he advises on an array of regulatory compliance matters including new products, advertising, competition and consumer protection-related issues. The practice further draws on regulatory partner Enrique Álvarez, whose work encompasses life sciences, competition and data privacy law. At senior associate level, sources highlight ‘outstanding professional’ Paula Romero, who stands out for her specialist focus on regulatory, sanctioning and health system law. In June 2025, associate director María Alejandra De Los Ríos left to join Sanofi.

OlarteMoure’s comprehensive life sciences offering attracts praise for its ‘ability to solve cases and propose alternatives’. The team is particularly distinguished by its deep bench, which leverages five partners and 22 additional lawyers dedicated to supporting clients in the life sciences industries. Combining the firm’s signature skill sets in IP and regulation, the practice advises on the full spectrum of related work, including patents, litigation (including compulsory licensing defence), transactional matters and compliance. Key figures include senior partner Carlos Olarte, who is also a qualified biomedical and mechanical engineer. Olarte specialises in patent drafting, prosecution and litigation, and recently acted in conjunction with patent head Mónica Guevara to advise Velvack Panacea on multi-jurisdictional patent strategy. Alexander Agudelo chairs the regulatory affairs area and recently represented Polymedicure in an annulment action against a Colombian B Braun patent. Catalina Jiménez Abadía, who spearheads the compliance division, is also recommended at partner level. The department further benefits from a deep pool of non-partners, which includes patent litigation director Liliana Galindo, who has experience in compulsory licence litigation; and qualified lawyer and pharmaceutical chemist Mauricio Ávila, who was promoted to director of the regulatory affairs unit in January 2025.

The life sciences practice at Baker McKenzie S.A.S. is lauded by clients for its ability to ‘anticipate regulatory changes and design preventive strategies’. The team acts for a broad base of multinational pharma, medical devices, cosmetics, and food and beverage companies, which it supports on a wide array of regulatory and sanitary law, IP, consumer protection and transactional matters. Juan Pablo Concha Delgado heads the life sciences, regulatory and patents department, and is recommended for providing ‘tailored strategies’; he contributes experience in IP enforcement, market authorisations, pricing issues, advertising law and clinical trials, among others. Mid-level associate Andrés Hidalgo leads the pharmaceuticals and healthcare group, where he draws praise for his knowledge of the ‘subtleties and intricacies of the rules and issues’. In February 2024, associate Sara Merizalde left to join Baxter International.

The ‘highly specialised, dynamic, and efficient’ practice at Cavelier advises life sciences clients across the full suite of regulatory compliance, IP portfolio management, data protection and litigation. Notably, its contentious work took centre stage during 2024/25, when the team was engaged to represent ViiV Healthcare, GSK and Shionogi & Co in administrative and judicial proceedings stemming from the Ministry of Health’s decision to grant a compulsory licence for antiretroviral drug Dolutegravir. Department head Andrés Rincón leads the Dolutegravir litigation and is highlighted for his ‘extensive knowledge, leadership and client commitment’. The group further draws on a strong second line of associates including senior Carolina Vargas, who specialises in patent work; and senior Eliana Portilla, who serves as associate co-ordinator of the patents area.

‘A team of experts with outstanding technical expertise’, CMS Rodríguez-Azuero’s life sciences practice is a key pillar of its firm-wide offering. Well weighted between healthcare, and food and beverage clients, the group is distinguished by its focus on regulatory rather than pure patent work. Among its areas of expertise, the group handles the full product life cycle — from approval procedures, through to consumer law, advertising issues and litigation. Department head Karl Mutter, who also co-leads the IP team, advises on regulatory matters concerning food products, alcoholic beverages, cosmetics, dietary supplements, medical devices and pharmaceuticals. Luz Helena Vargas serves as associate director of the sanitary regulation area, overseeing the prosecution and management of portfolios of health registrations at the national and international levels.

Dentons Cardenas & Cardenas impresses with its ‘global integration and deep local knowledge, especially in life sciences and IP’. The group leverages its formidable international network to bring cutting-edge experience across key life sciences sectors, with an emphasis on the pharma, cannabis and healthcare industries. Well balanced between IP and regulatory law, the team routinely supports on patent applications, health registrations, data privacy and corporate governance. Department co-head Mónica Bonnett is an ‘expert in the field’; she is noted for her track record in managing large portfolios of sanitary registrations in Latin America. Also recommended are fellow co-head Luz Helena Adarve, who advises life sciences clients on IP, regulation and commercial matters; Juanita Acosta, who focuses on IP, data privacy and consumer protection; and senior associate María Elisa Quintero, who specialises in sanitary regulations.

Pérez-Llorca, which entered the market in July 2025 following its merger with local firm Gómez-Pinzón Abogados, possesses a broad life sciences offering that stands out for its ‘connections with regulatory and oversight bodies’. Forming a key part of the wider regulatory affairs practice, the group assists clients with regulatory filings with authorities, compliance matters, drug pricing strategy, distribution contracts and patent law, among other areas. Senior associate Andrea Pieschacón specialises in health and sanitary regulation and IP law, and is highlighted for her ‘availability for critical situations’. Competition, IP and TMT partner Mauricio Jaramillo co-heads the department together with Pieschacón.

Posse Herrera Ruiz’s life sciences practice is embedded within the firm’s wider IP department, where it is recognised for its ability to ‘address the sector’s challenges with innovative and well-founded solutions’. The team acts for a diverse roster of life sciences clients — including companies operating in the pharmaceutical, medical devices, agriculture, and food and beverage spheres — while its independent status also marks it as a popular referral choice for international law firms. IP specialist Helena Camargo heads a department that also includes senior associate Juan Sebastián González, who advises on IP and entertainment law.

As a boutique firm specialising in healthcare and IP law, Aristizabal y Jiménez Abogados’ strong life sciences expertise ‘significantly enriches regulatory interactions and processes’, according to clients. The practice is distinguished by its impressive track record in representing major life sciences multinationals — including Pfizer, Merck & Co, and AstraZeneca – as well as food and beverage companies, on regulatory compliance, IP and corporate matters. High-profile department head Rubby Aristizábal is widely regarded as a ‘national expert in Colombian regulation’.

According to some, Brigard Castro houses a group that ‘redefines the traditional scope of the life sciences area’. Drawing on regulatory, corporate and tax lawyers, the team is recognised for its broad industry support. The multidisciplinary practice is co-steered by IP head Juan Pablo Cadena; corporate partner Álvaro Iván Cala; customs specialist José Francisco Mafla; and corporate and commercial partner Johann Schomberger. Clients also highlight administrative law associate Álvaro Samuel Arias; and Feisar Santiago Castro, who specialises in corporate and health law.

The life sciences offering at Philippi Prietocarrizosa Ferrero DU & Uría is primarily oriented towards IP work, while also encompassing sanitary matters, consumer protection and unfair competition litigation. Key contacts include IP head Mauricio Patiño, whose work additionally spans competition, TMT and dispute resolution; notably, he leads the practice in dealings with the sanitary authorities. Also recommended are Gerardo Flórez, who advises on IP, advertising, consumer protection and healthcare law; and director Camilo Suárez, who is recognised for IP and consumer law litigation.