# VA Abogados

> Boutique legal firm in Barranquilla serving foreign investors, companies and individuals. Corporate law, wealth structuring, intellectual property, real estate and immigration with tax analysis.

Source: https://vaabogados.com.co/en/

## Comprehensive Legal with Tax Insight

Boutique firm in Barranquilla integrating corporate law, wealth structuring, intellectual property, real estate and immigration, with tax impact analysis on every decision.

## About Us

VA Abogados advises companies, business owners, family groups and foreign investors operating in Colombia. Born in tax law, that foundation runs through everything we do: we do not incorporate a company without projecting its tax burden, we do not close a property purchase without calculating the seller's capital gains exposure, and we do not file a visa application without telling the client the exact date they become a Colombian tax resident.

That is the practical difference between hiring separate legal specialists and hiring a firm that integrates them. We take on a controlled number of matters, the responsible lawyers handle clients directly, and we do not work from templates.

## Our Mission

Provide comprehensive high-quality legal counsel, evaluating every decision through the tax lens to reduce risks, ensure regulatory compliance and maximize fiscal efficiency.

## Nine practices, one lens

We are a tax firm that handles the rest of the matter as well. Each practice has a defined scope, and coordinating them is our job rather than the client's.

- **[Tax Planning](https://vaabogados.com.co/en/services/tax-planning/)** — Tax strategy before the transaction: effective burden, dividends, tax residency, double taxation treaties and transfer pricing.
- **[Tax Controversy](https://vaabogados.com.co/en/services/tax-controversy/)** — Defence before the DIAN and local authorities: assessment notices, administrative appeals, judicial review, coercive collection and penalties.
- **[Customs Law](https://vaabogados.com.co/en/services/customs-law/)** — Tariff classification and advance rulings, valuation, rules of origin, customs regimes, free trade zones and preventive audits.
- **[Foreign Exchange](https://vaabogados.com.co/en/services/foreign-exchange/)** — Foreign investment registration with the Central Bank, currency channelling, compensation accounts and exchange control remediation.
- **[Corporate Law](https://vaabogados.com.co/en/services/corporate-law/)** — Company and branch formation, bespoke bylaws, shareholders' agreements, commercial contracting, employment matters and public procurement.
- **[Intellectual Property](https://vaabogados.com.co/en/services/intellectual-property/)** — Trademark registration before the SIC, patents, copyright and software, oppositions and infringement actions, and licence and franchise agreements.
- **[Wealth Structuring](https://vaabogados.com.co/en/services/wealth-structuring/)** — Holding companies, the Colombian commercial trust, wills and succession planning, family protocols and marital property regimes.
- **[Real Estate](https://vaabogados.com.co/en/services/real-estate/)** — Title studies, promise agreements and closings, residential and commercial leases, and representation as attorneys-in-fact for buyers abroad.
- **[Immigration](https://vaabogados.com.co/en/services/immigration/)** — Visitor, Migrant and Resident visas, foreigner ID card, employer obligations for hiring foreign staff, and naturalization.

A single matter almost never fits into one practice. The client engages the firm; coordination is our problem.

## Our Team

### Emil Vilardy Agudelo

*Principal Attorney*

Tax law specialist with over 12 years of experience. Has advised major companies on tax structuring and regulatory compliance. Expert in comprehensive fiscal planning and defense in contentious proceedings.

Education: Specialist in Tax Law - Javeriana University. Attorney - University of Cartagena

### Suad Bitar Marañón

*Counsel*

Specialized in commercial law and exchange control regulation. Experience advising export and import companies. Expert in international transaction regulations and compliance requirements with Banco de la República.

Education: Specialist in Commercial Law - University of the North. Attorney - Atlantic University