A former associate of Elite firm Philippi Prietocarrizosa Ferrero DU & Uría (Colombia) has returned as counsel in its finance and capital markets practices following a stint as a visiting lawyer at Latham & Watkins LLP in New York.
Ana María Bernal Rueda joined PPU’s Bogotá office on 3 August.
Bernal was most recently a visiting lawyer in Latham’s New York office. Before that, she served for almost seven years as general counsel at Colombian investor Pei Asset Management.
Earlier in her career, she was director of regulatory affairs at Colombia’s financial regulator, and a senior associate at PPU and Highly Recommended firm Dentons Cardenas & Cardenas.
She advises domestic and international financial institutions, investment funds and issuers on banking, finance and capital markets transactions, with experience spanning both Colombian and international markets.
PPU Colombia country manager Hernando Padilla says Bernal’s arrival strengthens the firm’s banking and finance capabilities. “Her strong international academic background, experience in complex transactions involving key players in the financial sector across Latin America and deep understanding of Colombia’s regulatory environment, make her a strategic addition to the firm and to our clients.”
The Colombia office of PPU rarely makes external hires. According to Latin Lawyer news reporting, the last senior hire by the firm was in 2020, when it absorbed a local boutique and appointed a counsel to lead its new insurance practice.
However, other PPU offices have brought new senior talent to the regional firm recently. Just a few weeks ago, Philippi Prietocarrizosa Ferrero DU & Uría (Peru) hired a public law partner from local boutique MOAR Abogados. That followed the hiring of two partners from Peruvian firm Rubio Leguía Normand in November.
