Araújo Ibarra — Colombia

About

- Araújo Ibarra International Consultants We are the leading Colombian firm in investment and international trade, recognized by the most prestigious global rankings. We advise local and international businesses, as well as governments and agencies, in identifying and seizing business opportunities through the design of strategies that enhance their competitiveness in a globalized environment. With a global network of partners and an interdisciplinary team, we provide economic and legal advisory services in Free Zones and Special Economic Zones, International Trade Mechanisms, Sustainability, Special Import-Export Systems (Plan Vallejo), International Trade Strategy, Customs Law, Foreign Exchange, Criminal Customs and Exchange Law, Trade Remedies and Commercial Policy, Corporate Law, and Tax Planning. We have led the optimization of some of the most important investment projects in Colombia’s history and actively participate in the design of investment and foreign trade strategies across major emerging economies worldwide. Our broad network in Latin America, North America, Asia, and Europe enables us to support our clients anywhere in the world. - Main Areas of Practice - International Trade Mechanisms With over 50 years of experience, Araújo Ibarra’s International Trade Mechanisms area advises clients on the design and implementation of mechanisms that promote competitiveness, efficiency, and profitability in industrial and service operations. In the past three years alone, our strategies have saved clients over USD 20 million in operational costs. Our firm strengthens clients’ savings capacity and minimizes risks through the structuring of transnational operations that optimize timing and ensure full compliance with Colombia’s exchange regime. Araújo Ibarra is also a leader in trade facilitation and in optimizing customs and logistics processes, helping over 300 national and foreign companies avoid fines and seizures. - Customs, Exchange and Criminal Law We provide comprehensive advisory services to ensure full compliance with customs and exchange obligations in international trade operations, optimizing procedures and mitigating risks. Our specialized Criminal Customs and Exchange Law team offers expert guidance in administrative and criminal proceedings related to customs and exchange infractions, providing representation and defense before authorities. The firm’s comprehensive approach ensures preventive strategies, efficient case management, and risk reduction for companies involved in international operations. - Special Import-Export Systems “Plan Vallejo” For more than 30 years, we have helped clients reduce import taxes and tariffs on raw materials and equipment by 19% to 25%, leveraging our expertise in the customs regime and special mechanisms to boost competitiveness. - Trade Remedies & Commercial Policy We represent companies in unfair trade investigations for the application of anti-dumping, countervailing duties, and safeguard measures, while optimizing the use of Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) to strengthen international competitiveness. Our firm achieved Colombia’s first general safeguard measure for wire rod imports and the first anti-dumping duty due to the threat of injury from Chinese imports. - Internationalization Strategies Using innovative tools and methodologies, we support businesses, regions, and governments in identifying opportunities, assessing economic and social impacts, and implementing high-impact strategies for internationalization and investment attraction. - Corporate Law We offer integrated consulting services in corporate and commercial law, assisting investors in establishing and structuring entities, drafting bylaws, shareholder agreements, corporate governance codes, and designing national and international contracts. - Free Zones Go Global Through our Free Zones Go Global initiative, developed in alliance with the World Trade Centers Association (WTCA), we help transform free zones into world-class business destinations. By combining the WTCA’s global brand and connections with more than five decades of experience in international trade and free zones, we design and implement strategies that position free zones as hubs for innovation, sustainability, and global investment. - Sustainability We drive responsible business development through strategic solutions that integrate sustainability, inclusion, and operational excellence. Our Sustainability Division designs investment strategies that incorporate environmental, social, and governance (ESG) criteria—transforming challenges into opportunities for growth and market positioning. We assist companies in implementing effective sustainability, energy transition, and compliance strategies aligned with global standards. - Leadership ### Managing Partners - Martín Gustavo Ibarra Pardo, Carolina Ibarra, Andrés Ibarra, Juliana Villegas ### Partners Martín Gustavo Ibarra Pardo, Nicolás Gómez, María Josefina Ibarra Pardo, Patricia Mendoza De Galofre, Olga Lucía Salamanca ### Directors Andrea Caicedo Langhton, Juliana Villegas, Patricia Mendoza De Galofre, Nicolás Gómez, María Josefina Ibarra Pardo, Juliana Villegas Restrepo, Olga Lucía Salamanca - Number of partners: 5 - Number of other lawyers: 14 ### Languages - English - Espanol ### Memberships - World Trade Centers Association (WTCA) – Strategic Alliance Partner - Bogotá Chamber of Commerce – Active Member and Advisor - National Business Association of Colombia (ANDI) – Member, Foreign Trade and Free Zones Committees - Bogotá Chamber of Commerce – Member, Internationalization Commission - World Free Zones Organization (WFZO) – Member - AmCham Colombia (American Chamber of Commerce) – Member - Colombo-Chilean Chamber of Commerce and Industry – Member Pacto de las Oportunidades – Member - CAF – Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean – Strategic Collaboration Partner ### Staffing Figures - 5 Partners - 6 Directors - 5 Managers - 7 Senior Associates / Senior Consultants - 11 Associates / Junior Consultants - 0 Support Staff (Administrative, Paralegal, etc.)

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Practice areas

Lawyers in this office

Andrea Caicedo

Director of Customs and Exchanges Lawyer with over 20 years of experience in international trade, customs law, and exchange regulations. Recognized in Band 3 by Chambers and Partners 2025 for her outstanding work in Customs and International Trade in Colombia, she stands out for her deep expertise and strategic approach in the field. She holds a Law degree from Universidad de La Sabana and a specialization in Customs Law from Universidad Externado de Colombia. Throughout her career, she has advised national and international clients on customs planning, foreign trade structuring, and compliance with exchange regulations, ensuring efficient strategies aligned with legal frameworks. Her experience includes representing companies in customs and exchange disputes before administrative and judicial authorities, successfully resolving complex cases and achieving favorable outcomes for her clients. She focuses on strategic planning, team leadership, and building lasting relationships with clients and colleagues, founded on trust and mutual understanding. · International Trade

Martín Ibarra

Socio economist lawyer from Universidad Javeriana in Colombia. He has a master in comparative law from University of Texas and in Exports Promotion from ICE in Italy. He is a a renowned lawyer in Latin America in the fields of international trade, free trade zones and national and international arbitration. He has a wide experience in free zones development and in international economic law. The Free Zones he has sponsored in Colombia generate together more than 30.000 direct jobs. · International Trade

Olga Salamanca

Partner – Director of Trade Remedies and Commercial Policy economist with over 15 years of experience in international trade and economic relations, she has been instrumental in helping national and international companies optimize their commercial strategies. With a strong academic background, she holds a degree in Economics from the National University of Colombia and a Master’s in Analysis of Contemporary Political, Economic, and International Issues from the Externado University of Colombia. This foundation has enabled her to develop a profound understanding of global markets and trade policy instruments. As a Partner and Director of the Trade Policy and Commercial Defense Unit at Araújo Ibarra, she has led key processes in the commercial defense of companies, advising on antidumping investigations and safeguard measures. She also represents businesses in export promotion, leveraging free trade zones, and implementing Free Trade Agreements (FTAs), ensuring they maximize the benefits of these trade instruments. Her public sector experience includes coordinating the negotiation of the Pacific Alliance and serving as Deputy Negotiator for FTAs with the United States, Chile, Canada, the Northern Triangle, and EFTA. Additionally, she has acted as a trade policy advisor for the Colombian Cattle Ranchers Federation (Fedegán), contributing to the defense and strengthening of Colombia’s livestock sector. Her expertise is further reinforced by specialized studies in trade policy and international trade from institutions such as the World Trade Organization (WTO), the World Bank, and the Organization of American States (OAS). Throughout her career, she has combined technical knowledge with a strategic vision, empowering companies to grow and compete on a global scale. · International Trade