Biography: Oil and Gas

Mr Urrutia is a partner of Posse, Herrera & Ruiz. His practice focuses on natural resources and energy and M&A.

Mr Urrutia received an LLM from Harvard Law School and a Law degree from Universidad de los Andes. His professional career has alternated between working as external and internal counsel and has held important corporate positions in leading companies, including president of Legis (the leading Colombian publisher of legal materials), vice president of Panamco (Coca-Cola bottlers), and legal department manager and coal marketing division manager of Esso Colombiana Ltd. He was also deputy director general of taxes and adviser to the minister of finance. He is currently on the board of directors of several companies and of the Colombian American Chamber of Commerce.

Some of the M&A transactions Mr Urrutia has worked on include the Vale acquisition of Argos coal, railroad and port assets; the merger of Indra with Soluziona and Azertia and the Colombian due diligence related to the 3i investment in Grupo Prisa. He has also advised in the restructuring of the Termobarranquilla power generation joint venture and in Vale's potential investment in power generation for an aluminium smelter, the acquisition of global mining concessions for a Canadian company in the process of an IPO, in the acquisition of Tubos del Caribe by Maverick Tube and the later acquisition of Maverick by Tenaris; the acquisition by Saxon Energy of the Colombian Parker Drilling assets, and the due diligence for multiple acquisitions in the oil service industry and mining rights, among others.

Biography: Mining

Francisco Urrutia's practice is focused on oil and gas, mining, energy and M&A.

Mr Urrutia received an LLM from Harvard Law School and a law degree from the University of the Andes. His professional career has alternated between working as external and internal counsel and has held important corporate positions in leading companies, including board member of Ecopetrol (the state-owned oil and gas company); president of Legis (the leading Colombian publisher of legal materials); vice president of Panamco (Coca-Cola bottlers); and legal department manager and coal marketing division manager of Esso Colombiana Ltd. He was also deputy director general of taxes and advisor to the minister of finance. He is currently on the board of directors of several companies, and is on the board of directors of the Colombian American Chamber of Commerce.

Some of Mr Urrutia's current clients include Williams & Co affiliate Apco; C&C Energy; Pioneer Drilling Company; Saxon Energy Services; and Vale. He is also director of Cerro Matoso SA, a nickel producer.

Among others, Mr Urrutia has advised in: the acquisition by Saxon Energy of the Colombian Parker Drilling assets; the due diligence for two different acquisitions in the oil service industry; in the acquisition of Tubos del Caribe, the principal oil pipe manufacturer in Colombia, by Maverick Tube and the later acquisition of Maverick by Tenaris; the restructuring of the Termobarranquilla power generation joint venture; Vale's potential investment in power generation for an aluminium smelter; and the acquisition of global mining concessions for a Canadian company in the process of an IPO.

He is a member of the Oil and Mining Lawyers Association; of the Association of International Petroleum Negotiators (AIPN); and of the International Bar Association (IBA).

Other Practice Areas

Francisco Urrutia also features in the following practice areas:

• Mergers and Acquisitions