José Vicente Zapata Lugo

Partner counsel in mining, environmental, corporate and commercial law matters, José Vicente Zapata Lugo is now further recognised as a leading practitioner in mining and oil and gas (upstream and downstream) ventures. Mr Zapata has served as legal counsel to many of the most important multinational corporations in the mining, oil, and gas sectors. Among his practice, he carries out specialised legal audits, accompanying numerous companies in obtaining mining concessions and in their compliance with current legal norms applicable to this area, having participated in multiple negotiations related to structuring of mining operations and divestures and acquisitions in Colombia. He is an expert in contract negotiations in the mining and hydrocarbon sector, including exploration and exploitation contracts, joint operating agreements, and Farmouts, among others. Similarly, Mr Zapata has served as legal counsel in the structuring of foreign investment transactions, mergers and acquisitions, as well as reorganisation of corporations in Colombia. Mr Zapata has been a member of various boards of directors of multinational corporations. He has also acted as of counsel to various ministries in Colombia. Mr Zapata Lugo has ample practice in class action litigation.

Mr Zapata graduated from Universidad Javeriana, holds an LLM from McGill University and undertook doctoral studies also at McGill.

He speaks Spanish, English and French.